CHICAGO — Of their quest to construct a group able to returning to the postseason, the Cubs are balancing fortifying their future with addressing instant wants. They achieved each in a commerce with the Dodgers on Thursday.
The Cubs introduced that they acquired infielder Michael Busch (ranked No. 44 on MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100 checklist) and righty reliever Yency Almonte from the Dodgers. Chicago despatched pitching prospect Jackson Ferris and outfield prospect Zyhir Hope to Los Angeles to finish the commerce.
To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, catcher Brian Serven was designated for project by the Cubs.
TRADE DETAILSCubs obtain: 3B Michael Busch (Dodgers’ No. 2), RHP Yency AlmonteDodgers obtain: LHP Jackson Ferris (Cubs’ No. 8), OF Zyhir Hope
In Busch, Chicago lands an intriguing left-handed energy bat who checked in because the Dodgers’ No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and acquired his first style of the Majors final 12 months. The 29-year-old Almonte is a veteran of six MLB seasons and provides the Cubs a bit so as to add to a bullpen in want of reinforcements.
Pipeline described Busch as “among the finest all-around offensive prospects” within the 2019 Draft class, which noticed the Dodgers choose him thirty first total within the first spherical. There have been questions on the place the prospect would discover a dwelling on the diamond, and he has bounced across the infield in his Minor League profession.
As issues stand on the MLB stage for the Cubs, there may be room for upgrades at each infield corners and at-bats doubtlessly out there within the designated hitter slot. Busch, 26, has Minor League choices, however his offensive profile places him in place to compete for an Opening Day job in Spring Coaching.
In 98 video games for Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis final season, Busch hit .323 with 27 homers, 26 doubles and 90 RBIs. His .618 slugging proportion ranked fourth amongst all certified Minor League batters, whereas his 1.049 OPS ranked seventh. Busch additionally confirmed robust plate self-discipline, posting an 18.8% strikeout charge to associate with a 13.9% stroll charge. He has a profession .919 OPS within the Minors.
The query the Dodgers have been making an attempt to reply — which is able to now be the Cubs’ activity — is determining the place Busch most closely fits positionally. He has spent most of his Minor League profession at second base, however he shifted largely to 3rd in 2023. Busch can also be able to taking part in first base and has been examined in left area.
In an effort to purchase such a highly-touted hitter in Busch, the Cubs needed to half methods with Ferris, who ranked No. 8 on Pipeline’s Prime 30 checklist for the membership. Ferris, who turns 20 on Monday, was a second-round pick of IMG Academy within the 2022 Draft and had a stable professional debut with Single-A Myrtle Seashore final 12 months (3.38 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 56 innings).
Hope, who will flip 19 years outdated on Jan. 19, was an Eleventh-round choose by the Cubs in final summer time’s Draft. He performed 11 video games within the Arizona Advanced League final 12 months, bouncing between all three outfield spots whereas posting a .962 OPS.
Almonte ought to assist a Cubs bullpen that collectively hit a wall down the stretch in 2023 and required extra depth for the approaching marketing campaign. The 29-year-old right-hander averted arbitration with the Dodgers in November, agreeing to a $1.9 million contract for ‘24.
In 196 profession video games within the Majors with the Rockies and Dodgers, Almonte has a 4.51 ERA. After spinning a 1.02 ERA in 33 video games in 2022, the righty had a 5.06 ERA in 49 video games final 12 months, racking up 49 strikeouts and 24 walks in 48 innings. Almonte sits round 95-96 mph together with his fastball (sinker and four-seamer), however his arsenal was led by a sweeper (50.1% utilization) in 2023.
