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Cubs Predicted to Make Ryan Pressly Decision Amid Rough Start

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Conor Liguori | Last updated May 9, 2025 4:30 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs pulled off the best offseason MLB trade, acquiring outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros, who is at the forefront of a potent Cubs' offense.

An additional trade the Cubs made with the Astros during the winter has not had the same positive results.

The Cubs acquired two-time All-Star Ryan Pressly from the Astros in January, and believed he would take complete control of the ninth inning. The righty recorded a career high 33 saves in 50 games in 2022.

In 2025, Pressly has struck out just five batters in his first 13 innings in a Cubs uniform and has a 7.62 ERA. Devin Williams of the New York Yankees is the only closer who changed teams this past offseason and can be considered off to a worse start.

Closers are supposed to be strikeout pitchers, but Pressly's 8.1 strikeout rate is the second lowest among pitchers who have thrown 10 or more innings this season, per Daniel Fox of The Sporting News.

ESPN's David Schoenfield believes the Cubs could soon remove Pressly from the closer role if his numbers don't improve.

"Still, the lack of strikeouts and swing-and-misses is alarming," Schoenfield wrote about Pressly Friday. "The rest of the Chicago bullpen hasn't exactly been locking it down either, as it ranks 28th in win probability -- but, at this point, it's hard to envision Pressly remaining the closer unless he can improve his strikeout rate."

Manager Craig Counsell has other bullpen options if he's seen enough of Pressly in the ninth inning: Porter Hodge, who had nine saves with the Cubs in 2024, and/or lefty Caleb Thielbar.

The Cubs could also re-enter the trade market, with names like the Los Angeles Angels' Kenley Jansen and the Baltimore Orioles' Gregory Soto, free agents at season's end.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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