The Houston Astros are in talks to trade relief pitcher Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs, league sources tell KPRC 2 Sports, ending his prolific run as one of Houston’s top bullpen arms. Pressly has waived his no-trade clause to allow a deal to Chicago, sources say.
The Astros will receive Juan Bello, a 20-year-old right-handed pitcher, a league source confirmed.
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Source: #Astros to receive RHP Juan Bello from the #Cubs
— Ari Alexander (@KPRC2Ari) January 26, 2025
The Athletics’ Chandler Rome and ESPN’s Jeff Passan were the first to report the potential deal.
Astros reliever Ryan Pressly will waive his no-trade clause and accept a trade to the Chicago Cubs, source tells @TheAthletic. Pressly, a titan of the Astros' golden era, had a 2.78 ERA in 45.1 postseason innings and got the final out of the 2022 World Series.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) January 26, 2025
The Chicago Cubs are finalizing a trade to acquire closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros, pending medical review, sources tell ESPN. Pressly will waive his no-trade clause to Chicago to facilitate the move, and Houston will send money to help cover his $14 million salary.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 26, 2025
Back in 2022, Pressly signed a two-year $30 million contract extension with the Astros. The contract also included a $14 million vesting option for the 2025 season, which was contingent on Pressly appearing in 50 games in both 2023 and 2024, a threshold the 36-year-old cleared.
Pressly also had a full no-trade clause, which he was willing to waive to get the deal to Chicago done.
Pressly joined the Astros in 2018 after being acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. He was critical in the Astros’ 2022 World Series title, closing out five of the six games against the Philadelphia Phillies, including the final three outs of the Game 4′s combined no-hitter.
After serving as the team’s closer, he was moved to primary setup reliever ahead of the 2024 campaign, after the team signed lefty Josh Hader to be the closer. In 2024, Pressly pitched in 59 games, recording a 0.4 WAR, a 2-3 record and a 3.49 ERA across 56.2 innings of action.
Kat Pressly, Ryan’s wife, released a post on X celebrating their family’s time in Houston, leaving fans to insinuate that Ryan was on the move.
This has been the most difficult decision we have made as a family. It has been an incredible ride. THANK YOU HOUSTON. You have been, and always will be. home. You believed in us and helped us make our dreams come true. From the first pitch to the final out, every moment here has pic.twitter.com/l8YPOF5rgE
— kat pressly (@KatPressly) January 26, 2025
The trade will move forward pending a review of medicals.
