We’ve been waiting the last couple days on Ryan Pressly’s decision as to whether he’ll accept a trade to the Chicago Cubs. I am 90%, “Hey, this is an enormous decision for Ryan Pressly and his family. Give them the time and space they need.” And I’m 10%, “OMG JUST ACCEPT THE TRADE ALREADY.”
Figured you’d been waiting today, too, so a night-time update with what little we have felt appropriate.
For one thing, Ken Rosenthal guessed this evening that the trade will eventually happen:
"His pride was wounded."@Ken_Rosenthal expects a Cubs reunion for Ryan Pressly. pic.twitter.com/mmQlzUHPWc
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 26, 2025
Ignore the weird use of the word “reunion” in the post – I think that had to be a typo – and instead just note that Rosenthal says Pressly was stung by losing the closer’s job to Josh Hader, and, with the Cubs, he’d have a chance to get that job back. Ultimately, Rosenthal thinks Pressly will accept the trade.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are still looking at other later-inning reliever options, too:
The Braves and Cubs are among the teams with interest in Ryne Stanek, per sources.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) January 26, 2025
Although it’s plausible that the Cubs could fit Stanek together with Pressly, it’s harder to see with another guy they have been connected to, by way of Bruce Levine:
Ageless David Robertson has talked to Cubs about returning as a backend bullpen man. Robertson is one of the few players who does not use an agent.Cubs had interest in Paul Seward before he signed with Cleveland.Robby pitched for Cubs in 2022.99 K in 72 innings in 24.— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) January 24, 2025
"They've been talking to (Ryne Stanek)."
"(David Robertson) is also someone they have talked to."
"We'll see if they can add another piece (depending on how much they have to pay for Pressly.)"@MLBBruceLevine on @670TheScore— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) January 25, 2025
By all available accounts – which, hey, could be wrong – the Cubs have about $20 million left in funds to work with this offseason. They may well be done on the positional side after adding Jon Berti, and if Pressly costs them just $10 million or so, then, yeah, maybe Robertson fits, too. Feels like a squeeze, and Stanek (who probably gets $5-ish million?) is more realistic as a second addition. If the Cubs make one.
That is to say, Robertson feels more like a back-up plan if Pressly rejects the trade. Although Robertson is a few years older, he is coming off a stronger season than Pressly, and projects just as well in 2025. Not a bad fall-back plan – or, in a dream scenario, a second addition.