Cubs, Guardians Reportedly Agree To Pitcher Trade
Yesterday at 01:35 PM
The Major League Baseball hot stove continues to percolate as we move further into the offseason.
On Wednesday, the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Guardians agreed to a trade, with ESPN's Jeff Passan breaking the news. The deal was centered around right-handed pitcher Eli Morgan, who is heading to Chicago after pitching effectively for the Guardians in 2024.
"Can confirm @JeffPassan report that Cubs have acquired RH reliever Eli Morgan from Cleveland," added Cubs beat writer Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. "Morgan isn't a power arm, but a solid middle relief arm. Well-rounded arsenal, strong change. Won't wow you, but gets the job done and can do multi-inning stints. A-ball player is return."
In 32 relief appearances this season, Morgan, 28, posted a 3-0 record, 1.93 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 42 innings. A starter when he first broke in with Cleveland in 2021, Morgan has pitched effectively in 142 games out of the bullpen over the last three seasons, compiling a 3.23 ERA in 173 innings.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Morgan has also pitched well in the postseason. He appeared in six playoff games this year and surrendered one earned run in four innings after going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and five strikeouts over 3.1 innings (three appearances) during the 2022 postseason.
Cleveland went 92-69 and won the AL Central in 2024, beating the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS before losing in five games to the New York Yankees in the ALCS.
Meanwhile, the Cubs went 83-79 for the second year in a row, missing the playoffs by six games. Chicago has not qualified for the postseason since the shortened 2020 COVID campaign.
With the MLB Winter Meetings coming up in a few weeks, expect more deals to be made in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and then resuming in early December.
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