Ryan Tepera traded to White Sox as Cubs embark on likely busy deadline
It figures to be a busy 24 hours or so for the Cubs and they kicked it off in the 2nd inning of Thursday’s game against the Reds.
The Cubs sent right-handed reliever Ryan Tepera to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league lefty Bailey Horn ahead of Friday afternoon’s trade deadline.
“It’s been a pleasure, man, just playing here at Wrigley Field in front of the fans and enjoying this atmosphere and just being a part of history, honestly,” Tepera said. “It’s been awesome. It’s a good group of guys.”
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer informed Tepera of the trade Thursday morning before their finale against the Reds. He met Tepera in the players’ lunchroom at Wrigley Field and told him he was headed across town.
“It’s kind of a unique thing for a trade to happen between the crosstown rivals and I’m excited,” Tepera said. “I’ve been telling everybody that [it’s] pretty simple and easy. I can stay at the same apartment.”
Horn was the White Sox’ fifth round pick in the 2020 draft from Auburn is 2-3 with a 5.63 ERA. He has a 10.6 strikeouts-per-9 across both levels of Single-A. He has 45 strikeouts to 18 walks in 14 games.
Opponents are hitting just .226 off Horn with a .657 OPS.
Tepera, 33, was having a career year for the Cubs. He had a 2.91 ERA and a 0.785 WHIP, both the best of his career. Together with Craig Kimbrel and Andrew Chafin, who was traded to the A’s on Monday, the trio formed one of the better backs of the bullpens in baseball this season.
Chafin was traded to the A’s on Monday night for minor leaguers Greg Diechmann and Daniel Palencia.