Tom Cosgrove trade is an important in-season reminder for Chicago Cubs fans

In bidding farewell (potentially) to Caleb Kilian, we touched on how the former Chicago Cubs' top pitching prospect was designated for assignment on Thursday after the team acquired left-handed relief pitcher Tom Cosgrove from the San Diego Padres.

Acquiring a relief pitcher such as Cosgrove in-season is a move that the Cubs have excelled at under Jed Hoyer.

The 2024 season was the perfect example of that. As the Cubs dealt with bullpen stability issues during the first few months of last season, the team made two low-risk, high-reward type moves in adding Tyson Miller and Jorge López.

The Cubs traded for Miller in May of the 2024 season after he was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners. Miller thrived in the Cubs' bullpen last season, posting a 2.32 ERA in 49 appearances.

Similarly, Lopez signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs last season after an early season release by the New York Mets. López would go on to post a 2.03 ERA in 24 appearances with the Cubs last season.

Tom Cosgrove continues a trend for the Cubs' front office

The Cubs would trade for Nate Pearson at the MLB Trade Deadline but it was the additions of Miller and López that were most beneficial in resolving their bullpen woes last season.

That would be the best-case scenario for the Cubs when it comes to their trade for Cosgrove. Cosgrove was dominant during the 2023 season with the Padres, posting a 1.75 ERA in 54 appearances. Between the arm-angle with his delivery and a nasty sweeper, it's clear to see why the Cubs' front office took a chance on the 28-year-old southpaw as their change-of-scenery success story for the 2025 season. Given the pitching infrastructure the Cubs have, it's a worthwhile gamble.

Regardless of whether Cosgrove returns to the Major Leagues with the Cubs this season, this is the type of move Cubs fans should be prepared for in the months leading up to the MLB Trade Deadline. There isn't an All-Star closer that the Cubs are going to trade for before July. David Robertson is still a free agent but if the Cubs haven't signed him yet, they likely will not.

If the Cubs bullpen is going to get better before the trade deadline, it will be due to moves like the trade for Cosgrove or someone else emerging that wasn't previously accounted for.