Cubs acquire pitcher in trade with Mariners

The Chicago Cubs have dealt with pitching injuries throughout the season. On Monday, the ball club announced a move that will improve their pitching depth. The Cubs acquired right-handed pitcher Yosver Zulueta from the Seattle Mariners for cash. He was optioned to Triple-A, while left-handed pitcher Doug Nikhazy was designated for assignment.

The Cubs will probably look to acquire more pitching depth, but bringing in Zulueta is a move that should not be overlooked.

The 28-year-old has appeared in a total of 19 games at the big league level. He made his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2024 and turned in a 4.96 ERA across 12 outings. In 2025, Zulueta made seven appearances with the Reds and ended up with a 6.14 ERA. However, he did finish the 2025 campaign with a 3.28 ERA in 44 outings at Triple-A.

So far in 22 appearances at Triple-A with the Mariners organization in 2026, though, Zulueta has pitched to a 5.75 ERA. He was designated for assignment on June 10 and now he is set to join the Cubs’ Triple-A team. Despite his struggles, he is a pitcher who could make an impact down the road.

Overall, Chicago is 37-35 this season. The ball club started the year strong, but they have been inconsistent over the past few weeks. Chicago is in third place in the National League Central standings at the moment. The Cubs are currently 7.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the division.

Chicago will look to play better overall baseball this week in a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies. The first contest of the series is scheduled for Monday night at 8:05 PM EST at Wrigley Field.