The Chicago Cubs have had an exceptional offseason with making the necessary moves to form a playoff-caliber roster.
The Cub’s two biggest moves so far this season have come through trades with them trading for superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker and All-Star Closer Ryan Pressly both of whom came from the Houston Astros.
The Cubs have also done well with filling out the edges of the roster by signing depth pieces like utility man Jon Berti and starter/reliever Colin Rea to one-year deals to be key pieces on the Cubs bench and starting rotation/bullpen.
One former General Manager Dan O’Dowd who is a contributor to MLB Network also thought the Cubs had a stellar offseason by ranking them high in his off-season tier list.
Chicago Cubs rank third for the best offseason per O’Dowd
O’Dowd was the former General Manager of the Colorado Rockies from 1999 to 2014 and he recently released his list of who had the best offseason and he ranked the Cubs as having the third best offseason. O’Dowd listed his rationale as being the Cubs adding Tucker who he referred to as an “Aircraft Carrier” and acquiring Pressly.
Thoughts on Dan O'Dowd's list? pic.twitter.com/RTZN1yNFV8
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 28, 2025
The addition of both Tucker and Pressly vastly improved the Cubs roster by giving them a much-needed thump in their lineup and someone who can be trusted to shut games. The Cubs last season ranked 17th in baseball last season in slugging percentage (.393) and 18th in saves (38) so adding both should vastly improve both areas.
What will Tucker and Pressly bring to the Chicago Cubs?
Tucker is coming into this season looking to play more than 78 games with being limited to that number last season after going down with a shin fracture. Even though Tucker played half a season he was on an MVP pace with slashing .289/.408/.585 for an OPS and OPS+ of .993 and 181 as well as being named an All-Star.
Tucker in each of the past three seasons has finished higher and higher in the MVP voting finishing fifth in 2023. Adding Tucker also gives the Cubs a Gold Glover caliber right fielder winning the award in 2022 and being a great hitter with winning the Silver Slugger award in 2023.
As for Pressly he has 112 career saves and has been one of the better closers in baseball. Pressly is also one of the best postseason closers in recent memory ranking 5th all-time with 14 saves in 45.1 career innings in the postseason. Pressly showed a lot of poise when facing pressure situations having a .230 average against runners in scoring position and .200 when the bases are loaded.
Adding Pressly gives the Cubs a three-headed monster in the backend of their bullpen with Pressly, Hodge, and Tyson Miller being their main options. Hodge who as I said already has nine saves under his belt and proved he is capable of handling high-pressure situations should slide into the setup roll with ease and the same goes for Miller.
Adding both brings tremendous value
Both Pressly and Tucker will be core pieces to the Cubs having success this season.
The Cubs will need both to stay healthy and retain their dominance if they are to get back to the postseason this year.
If both can compete at the All-Star levels they are capable of, the Cubs should have a lot of success this season.
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