The Chicago Cubs entered the season looking like one of baseball’s emerging contenders, but the past several weeks have raised some doubt.
Injuries, inconsistent pitching and an extended offensive slump have combined to erase what was once a comfortable position near the top of the National League standings.
The recent slide has forced the Cubs to search aggressively for help anywhere they can find it, even if that means taking a chance on players other organizations have decided to move on from. And that approach surfaced again last week when Chicago made a quick move involving a pitcher right after he was cut loose by a division-leading club.
Chicago Cubs Snap Up Former Big-League Righty
“RHP Yosver Zulueta was traded to the Chicago Cubs for a minor league player and cash considerations,” baseball reporter Francys Romero noted on X, formerly Twitter. “Zulueta, 28, had been designated for assignment (DFA) a few days ago by the Seattle Mariners.”
At the time, the Mariners stood atop the American League West division. And the move gave Chicago an opportunity to evaluate a pitcher who still possesses intriguing raw tools despite struggling to establish himself at the upper levels of professional baseball.
“Zulueta was traded from the Mariners to the Cubs in return for cash considerations Sunday,” CBS Sports reported. “The right-hander has posted an inflated 5.75 ERA over 20.1 innings in 22 appearances with Triple-A Tacoma so far this year, but he’s also posted a 9.4 K/9 and averages over 96 mph with his fastball.”
While the transaction might not generate the same attention as a blockbuster deadline deal for a frontline starter, it represents the type of low-risk move teams often make when attempting to strengthen organizational depth during a difficult stretch.
For a Cubs club looking for answers, adding another live arm to the system carries little downside.
Chicago Cubs Looking For Spark During Difficult Stretch
The timing of the acquisition is particularly notable, given the Cubs’ recent struggles.
“Chicago’s bats went quiet and injuries finally took their toll on the pitching staff and, suddenly, the Cubs had traded in their division lead for a spot in the basement,” ESPN’s Jesse Rogers wrote. “After dropping the first two games of a series in Colorado this week, the Cubs became the earliest team by the calendar to fall to .500 after being 15 games over in a season, according to ESPN Research.”
That collapse has increased the urgency surrounding nearly every roster move and the Cubs are certainly evaluating more substantial changes for the near future.
But even though Zulueta’s numbers at Triple-A Tacoma have been uneven, Chicago appears to believe there is still upside worth exploring. With a strong fastball and the ability to throw strikes, he could find himself back in the big leagues soon after his two-year run with the Cincinnati Reds.
In 19 total games with the Reds over the past two seasons, Zulueta posted a 5.32 ERA but he racked up 25 strikeouts in less than 24 innings while closing out 11 games. Those traits help explain why the Cubs were willing to move quickly after the Mariners designated him for assignment.
At 28 years old, Zulueta is no longer a traditional prospect, but pitchers who can miss bats and throw in the upper 90s rarely lack opportunities. For a Cubs organization searching for reinforcements during a difficult stretch, acquiring a Mariners castoff represents another attempt to uncover value before the season slips further away.