Scott Effross' new contract proves Jed Hoyer was a genius for trading him in 2022

The 2022 Chicago Cubs weren't exactly juggernauts, but they had a handful of bright spots. Willson Contreras earned an All-Star selection. Ian Happ joined him at the Mudsummer Classic and also brought home his first Gold Glove in left field. There were some nice performances in the bullpen, as well, including the efforts of right-hander Scott Effross.

Effross built on a brief 14-game sample in his 2021 rookie campaign, establishing himself as a go-to arm in David Ross' bullpen the following season. In 47 appearances, the former 15th-round pick pitched to an impressive 2.66 ERA and 2.18 FIP, averaging north of 10 strikeouts per nine.

Facing an uphill battle in the standings amidst an ongoing rebuild, Jed Hoyer flipped Effross to the New York Yankees for Hayden Wesneski at the trade deadline. Subtracting one of the team's best young relievers - especially one who had years of low-cost team control remaining - was frustrating to a lot of Cubs fans.

He closed out the 2022 campaign in the Bronx pitching well, posting a 2.13 ERA in 13 appearances, but even then, a 3.43 FIP suggested things had already started trending in the wrong direction. That October, he underwent Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the entire 2023 season.

A back injury cost him a chunk of time when he returned in 2024, but he still put up impressive numbers at Triple-A, with a 2.78 ERA in 27 outings. His numbers exploded in all the wrong ways last year. He wasn't sharp in the minors or in limited action with the Yankees and, in November, New York non-tendered him.

Scott Effross signs minor-league deal with the Detroit Tigers

Now, he's found a new home - signing a minor-league deal with the Detroit Tigers, a sign of how much his stock has fallen since that breakout 2022 season. He'll likely get an invite to big-league camp, but he'll have to show he's ready to once again contribute in an MLB bullpen.

Meanwhile, on the Cubs' side of the equation, Wesneski wound up being part of the Kyle Tucker trade last winter - so while he never lived up to his potential in Chicago, he still played an important part in Hoyer's roster-building efforts. At this point, we can safely say that cutting ties with Effross in '22 was a timely move, despite how unpopular it was at the time.