{"id":56702,"date":"2025-05-22T00:53:47","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T00:53:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=56702"},"modified":"2025-05-22T00:53:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T00:53:47","slug":"grading-cubs-offseason-moves-after-first-quarter-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=56702","title":{"rendered":"Grading Cubs Offseason Moves After First Quarter of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The Chicago Cubs went all-in this past winter and got super aggressive.<\/p>\n

They have been rewarded by looking like one of baseball’s best teams.<\/p>\n

After the season’s first quarter, it’s time to grade their most notable moves with the added context from the year.<\/p>\n

This was a massive swing. The Cubs shipped away a top prospect in Cam Smith, a young slugger in Isaac Paredes and a promising pitcher in Hayden Wesneski to the Houston Astros for potentially just one season of Tucker.<\/p>\n

Smith and Paredes have had muted starts with the Astros while Wesneski looked solid before being lost for the year with Tommy John surgery.<\/p>\n

Tucker has looked like an MVP candidate, which was the best-case scenario when Chicago added him.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old has a .278\/.387\/.552 slash line with 12 home runs and 14 stolen bases. He’s on pace to have a shot at a 40\/40 season, which would be remarkable.<\/p>\n

How much they gave up to get him could really hurt if he does leave after this year, but early returns look great.<\/p>\n

Grade: A-<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trading for Ryan Pressly<\/h2>\n

Pressly’s overall season numbers look bad, but that was really just from one very poor outing.<\/p>\n

He gave up eight earned without recording an out in an extra-innings loss to the San Francisco Giants, but he has been mostly solid outside of that.<\/p>\n

The veteran could still end up being an important bullpen piece down the stretch with a lot of playoff experience.<\/p>\n

Grade: C+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking of players who look like MVP candidates, Kelly has had a very surprising year at the plate. Catcher had been a weakness for the Cubs, but it has turned into a strength.<\/p>\n

He has posted a .289\/.417\/.588 slash line with eight home runs and 23 RBI. He’s also drawn 21 walks with just 17 strikeouts.<\/p>\n

Grade: A+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trading Cody Bellinger<\/h2>\n

This is a weird one.<\/p>\n

Chicago only got Cody Poteet back in return for Bellinger, who is already off the team, but there wasn’t much room on the roster for Bellinger.<\/p>\n

Now with the New York Yankees, the slugger has posted a .258\/.330\/.453 slash line with seven home runs.<\/p>\n

Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong have all been better.<\/p>\n

Getting more would have been preferred, but saving the money that was owed on his contract has been a win in itself.<\/p>\n

Grade: C+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Giving Boyd a two-year, $29 million deal was a high-risk, high-reward move.<\/p>\n

So far, they’ve been rewarded.<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old has a 2.98 ERA through nine starts with a 1.227 WHIP and ERA+ of 133. With the injury issues in the starting rotation, he has been very needed.<\/p>\n

Grade: A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Overall<\/h2>\n

This has been a fantastic start for the Cubs, and the offseason moves they made have certainly played a role.<\/p>\n

While some other additions of Jon Berti and Justin Turner haven’t worked out quite yet, those aren’t super impactful misses.<\/p>\n

Grade: B+<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Cubs went all-in this past winter and got super aggressive. They have been rewarded by looking like one of baseball’s best teams. 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