A Change Will Do You Good

In a move that was expected after last week’s Kyle Tucker trade, the Cubs have sent Cody Bellinger, along with cash considerations, to the Yankees.  In exchange, they receive Cody Poteet, a 30-year-old relief pitcher with 24 career major league appearances.

Bellinger, a former MVP, is owed $52.5 million over the next two seasons, with the Cubs will be sending $5 million to help cover that cost. He hit .286 with 44 home runs and 175 RBIs in his two seasons on the north side.  When he suits up for the Yankees, he, and his father Clay, will become the fourth father/son duo to play for the team, joining Mark Leiter and Mark Leiter Jr., Ron and Ike Davis, and Yogi and Dale Berra.

This is a salary dump, pure and simple.  What, if anything, the Cubs do with that money will determine if this trade is a winner or a loser.

Bellinger’s numbers in a Cubs uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: Continue reading →

Some Minor Deals

The Cubs struck first today, sending Mark Leiter Jr. to the Yankees for Ben Cowles and Jack Neely.  Leiter’s father, Mark Sr., and uncle, Al, both pitched for the Yankees during their major league careers, so this is something of a homecoming for the right-handed reliever.  Cowles, 24, is a middle infielder currently in Double A.  Neely, also 24, is a 6’8″ relief pitcher who has shone at both Double A and Triple A this season.

On the other side of town, the White Sox shipped Paul DeJong to the Royals, their opponent in tonight’s game, in exchange for Jarold Rosado.  DeJong signed with the White Sox this November and currently leads the team in home runs.  Rosado, 21, has made 27 appearances at Class A, putting up a 1.85 ERA with 4 saves and 45 strikeouts.