Reports: All-Star closer Ryan Pressly mulling move from Astros to Cubs

As the Cubs search for a back-of-the-bullpen arm to round their reliever corps, the answer could come up to one player’s decision.
The Athletic, citing league sources, said All-Star closer Ryan Pressly is still mulling whether to approve or reject a trade from the Astros to the Cubs. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale and 670 the Score and Marquee Sports Network contributor Bruce Levine also reported the news. Pressly has a full no-trade clause due to his 10-and-5 rights — he has 10 years of service time and has spent at least the last five consecutive years with the Astros. The return for Pressly is not known.
But the righty has one year and $14 million left on a three-year contract and the Astros’ projected payroll for 2025 is expected to be over the first luxury tax threshold of $241 million, per Cot’s Contracts. The Astros have made it no secret they’re trying to stay under that number and moving Pressly would aid in that.
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That’s part of the reason they were OK moving Kyle Tucker to the Cubs last month in a blockbuster deal that saw third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski and 2024 1st-round pick Cam Smith go to Houston.
“I said all along that we were going to be creative and try to do what we can do to maneuver, make moves, whether it’s the trading of Tucker or the acquisition of [first baseman Christian] Walker,” Astros general manager Dana Brown told media on the eve of Astros FanFest. “I said we were going to be creative to try to do what we can do. I never took anything off the table. But [if] there is an opportunity that we can make another trade; we’ll exercise that opportunity.
“But right now, as of today, Ryan Pressly is still an Astro.”
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Pressly was the Astros’ closer in 2022 when they won the World Series and from 2021 to 2023 racked up 90 saves. But Houston added another All-Star closer — Josh Hader — last offseason and demoted Pressly to setup duties where he racked up 25 holds.
He struggled a bit in that role — his WHIP spiked to 1.34, an increase from the previous two seasons (0.89 in 2022, 1.07 in 2023) and opponents hit .259 against him, an increase from .178 in 2022.
If he accepts the move, Pressly would immediately move into pole position for the Cubs’ closer role this season. While they have added plenty of volume in the bullpen, they haven’t added a bonafide, veteran and backend option. Porter Hodge has the most saves of any pitcher on the 40-man roster after he picked up 9 in his breakout rookie campaign.
Pressly has 112 saves in 12 big-league seasons and a lifetime 3.27 ERA.