Cubs acquire an elite prospect Dodgers acquire reliever Almonte and busch.
The Cubs declared that they had acquired right-handed reliever Yency Almonte and infielder Michael Busch (who is ranked No. 44 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list) from the Dodgers. To complete the transaction, Chicago sent outfield prospect Zyhir Hope and pitching prospect Jackson Ferris to Los Angeles.
The Cubs designated catcher Brian Serven for assignment in order to free up a space on the 40-man roster.
TRADES PRICING INFORMATION
Cubs are awarded 3B. RHP’s Michael Busch (the Dodgers’ No. 2) Yency Almonte
Received by Dodgers: LHP OF Zyhir Hope, and Jackson Ferris (Cubs’ No. 8)
Chicago acquires Busch, an intriguing left-handed power bat who made his Major League debut last year and who, according to MLB Pipeline, checked in as the Dodgers’ No. 2 prospect. With six MLB seasons under his belt, the 29-year-old Almonte provides the Cubs with an element to bolster a bullpen in need of support.
The Dodgers selected Busch, who was rated as “one of the best all-around offensive prospects” by Pipeline, with the 31st overall choice in the first round of the 2019 Draft. The prospect has moved throughout the infield in his Minor League career, raising doubts about where he would settle down on the diamond.
The Cubs have opportunity for improvement at both infield corners and at-bats that might be available in the designated hitter spot as things stand in the Major League Baseball. Although Busch, 26, has choices in the Minor Leagues, his offensive style positions him to contend for a spot on Opening Day in Spring Training.
Over the previous season, Busch hit.323 with 27 home runs, 26 doubles, and 90 RBIs in 98 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Among all eligible Minor League batters, his slugging percentage of.618 placed him fourth, while his on-base percentage of 1.049 him eighth. Busch also shown excellent plate discipline, recording a 13.9% walk rate in addition to an 18.8% strikeout rate. His lifetime OPS in the Minors is.919.
The Cubs will now have to determine where Busch fits in the best position strategically, which is the issue the Dodgers were attempting to solve. Although he mostly played second base during his Minor League career, in 2023 he moved to third base. Busch has also been tested in left field and can even play first base.
Ferris, who was No. 8 on Pipeline’s Top 30 list for the club, had to go in order for the Cubs to sign Busch, a highly-touted bat. Ferris, who turns 20 on Monday, made his professional debut with Single-A Myrtle Beach last year, going 3.38 in his 56 innings pitched with 77 strikeouts. Ferris was selected in the second round in the 2022 Draft out of IMG Academy.
The Cubs selected Hope, who turns 19 on January 19, in the 11th round of the previous summer’s draft. Last season, he participated in 11 games in the Arizona Complex League, alternating between the three outfield positions and finishing with an OPS of.962.
Almonte ought to assist a Cubs bullpen that, after hitting a brick block in 2023, needed additional depth for the next season. By accepting a $1.9 million deal for ’24, the 29-year-old right-hander avoided arbitration with the Dodgers in November.
Almonte has a 4.51 ERA in 196 Major League games with the Dodgers and Rockies. The right-hander posted a 5.06 ERA in 49 games last year, with 49 strikeouts and 24 walks in 48 innings, after spinning a 1.02 ERA in 33 games in 2022. Almonte’s fastball (sinker and four-seamer) has a velocity of 95โ96 mph, but in 2023, a sweeper (50.1%) accounted for the majority of his arsenal’s usage.
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