Cubs Acquire RHP Ryan Brasier from the Dodgers

As the rumors ran wild, the Chicago Cubs finally landed on an upgrade to their bullpen. Ryan Brasier will be the latest pitcher to pair with Porter Hodge and Ryan Pressly. In response, LHP Rob Zastryzny was designated for assignment.

The reliever was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named later or cash considerations on Tuesday. Now, Brasier will be a welcomed addition to a revamped bullpen for the Cubs in 2025.

With much of the talk centering around David Robertson, it begs the question if the former Cubs' asking price was out of the comfort zone for Jed Hoyer. By acquiring Brasier, the team is getting a solid veteran at $4.5 million for the 2025 season.

With his 2024 season shortened due to injury, Brasier was still a solid contributor down the stretch in the regular season. A 5.00 ERA in the postseason was not ideal, but it may have been a blessing in disguise for the Cubs.

Seeing the behemoth Dodgers parting ways with the veteran was another instance of Jed Hoyer seizing the moment. At such a low cost for a reliever, it may give the Cubs even more flexibility to continue adding their final touches to the roster.

A longtime member of the Boston Red Sox, Brasier had productive seasons on the east coast. That includes being a member of the 2018 World Series champion roster. With a postseason pedigree and two World Series rings, the Cubs may have hit a home run with this addition. 

Now that the Cubs have finally added another bullpen arm, the ever-growing possibility of adding Alex Bregman to the fold just became more enticing. With a minimal commitment to Brasier, the team still has quite a bit to work with if they truly are not finished with additions.

As pitchers and catchers report on Sunday, there is growing optimism that the Cubs may not be finished in their pursuits for postseason baseball in 2025.