Reinforcement of relief pitching unit by Cubs through All-Star trade deal announced
The Chicago Cubs have made a significant move to strengthen their bullpen, acquiring veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge from the Baltimore Orioles. The deal, aimed at addressing the team's need for a reliable late-inning presence, comes at a pivotal time in the NL Central race [1][2].
Kittredge, a 2021 All-Star with a career 3.45 ERA, brings a wealth of experience and strong strikeout ability to the Cubs. With an 86 DRA- (better than average) this season, he is expected to ease the load on younger relievers like Daniel Palencia and Brad Keller [3].
The 33-year-old reliever's elite control, demonstrated by walking only 8 batters this season, should prove valuable in crucial divisional series against Cincinnati and St. Louis [4]. Manager Craig Counsell is expected to deploy Kittredge strategically as a matchup specialist.
The Cubs' bullpen, which has struggled with a team ERA of 3.96 (ranking 16th in the majors), is expected to see immediate improvement with Kittredge's addition [5]. The acquisition was reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today late Wednesday night [6].
The trade comes with a one-year, $10 million deal for Kittredge, offering the Cubs long-term flexibility with a $9 million club option for 2026 [7]. In return, the Cubs sent a promising young shortstop prospect, Wilfri de la Cruz, to Baltimore, indicating a prioritization of immediate bullpen impact over longer-term prospect development.
This acquisition is the third notable move the Cubs have made in a matter of days, following the acquisition of starter Michael Soroka. These moves collectively improve the Cubs' pitching depth, positioning them well for a stronger playoff push in the competitive NL Central race.
Kittredge, who has pitched in the postseason twice, including a scoreless 4.1-inning stretch with the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals, is poised to make a significant impact in the Cubs' late-inning relief efforts [8].
References: 1. Chicago Cubs trade for Andrew Kittredge 2. NL Central race tightens as Cubs acquire Kittredge 3. Kittredge's acquisition brings stability to Cubs' bullpen 4. Kittredge's expected role in Cubs' divisional series 5. Impact of Kittredge's acquisition on Cubs' bullpen 6. USA Today reports Kittredge trade 7. Financial details of Kittredge's contract 8. Kittredge's postseason experience
Rumors of potential roster moves within the MLB landscape raised eyebrows, especially when it came to the Chicago Cubs. The sports team, situated in the highly competitive NL Central division, made a significant acquisition, bringing in veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge from the Baltimore Orioles. This move followed hot on the heels of their acquisition of Michael Soroka, collectively improving the Cubs' pitching depth, playing a crucial role in their stronger playoff push.
