CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs acquired right-hander Ryan Pressly and cash from the Houston Astros on Tuesday in exchange for minor league pitcher Juan Bello. Pressly will most likely take over as Chicago’s closer, as the team looks to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. He recorded a 3.49 ERA in 59 outings last season as Josh Hader’s setup man. Bello, 20, went 4-5 with a 3.21 ERA in 22 starts for Class A Myrtle Beach last season. In 35 minor league games, he has gone 4-8 with a 3.66 ERA.
To create place for Pressly on the 40-man roster, the Cubs designated right-hander Matt Festa for assignment. Festa, 31, was acquired in a trade with Texas on January 9th. The Pressly acquisition marks Chicago and Houston’s second major offseason agreement. In December, the Cubs acquired All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Astros in a multiplayer transaction.
Pressly waived his no-trade clause to travel to Chicago. Because of his 12 years in the majors and six or more seasons with Houston, he had the authority to stop the transaction. Chicago had been looking for bullpen help since going 83-79 in 2024, when it finished second in the NL Central for the second consecutive year. Tanner Scott was allegedly in the mix before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Cubs are paying $8.5 million of Pressly’s $14 million salary for 2025, the final year of his deal. Pressly’s exit affords Houston with some financial freedom, which it may utilize to continue its pursuit of free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. It could also attempt to improve its outfield. Hader succeeded Pressly as Houston’s closer after signing a $95 million, five-year contract last January. He recorded a 3.80 ERA and 34 saves in 71 games to help the Astros win the AL West for the fourth time in eight years.
With the Pressly deal, Bryan Abreu and Tayler Scott may play a larger part in Houston’s bullpen. Pressly, a 36-year-old native of Dallas, made his big league debut with Minnesota in 2013 and spent his first five-plus seasons with the Twins. He was dealt to Houston in July 2018. Pressly rose to popularity with the Astros, emerging as one of baseball’s top relievers. Between August 15, 2018, and May 23, 2019, the two-time All-Star went 40 games without surrendering a run.
In 2022, he helped Houston win its second World Series victory. He posted a career-high 33 saves and a 2.98 ERA during the regular season before going on a strong run in the playoffs. He saved six postseason games, striking out 13 and surrendering one earned run and four hits in 11 innings across ten outings.
Pressly has a 35-36 record, a 3.27 ERA, and 112 saves in 623 major league games. He has 693 strikeouts and 190 walks over 650 innings.
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