Cubs trade Mark Leiter Jr. to Yankees for pair of prospects

CINCINNATI — Mark Leiter Jr. becoming a piece contenders want to add to their team at the trade deadline is a tale the Chicago Cubs will use to show how they can help pitchers reach another level of success.

The Cubs traded Leiter to the New York Yankees, a ballclub looking for bullpen help as it tries to go on a World Series run. In return, the Cubs received right-handed relief prospect Jack Neely and infield prospect Ben Cowles. MLB Pipelines ranks the two Nos. 22 and 29, respectively, in the Yankees’ system.

Leiter, 33, is a prime example of a pitcher who blossomed at a later age after finding his role and often times dominating with his best weapon.

When Leiter first came up to the Cubs in April 2022 (he’d signed a minor league contract with them the previous December), he struggled. In the first half of that year, he posted a 5.35 ERA in 14 appearances (four starts). But he did show some flashes, particularly in his outings of two innings or less (perhaps a sign of things to come). In the second half of that year, he flourished. He put up a 2.17 ERA in 21 games, striking out 32 batters and walking just 11 across 29 innings.

Despite the second-half success, Leiter was DFA’d in January 2023. He went unclaimed by the 29 other teams, elected free agency and re-signed with the Cubs on a minor league deal at the end of that month. Then, he went out and put together his best season in the majors, posting a 3.50 ERA over 69 appearances while striking out 77 batters and walking 24 across 64 1/3 innings, He was integral part of the bullpen, though he slowed down toward the end of the season due to a heavy workload over the summer.

This year, he’s been even better. Don’t let the 4.21 ERA fool you. Leiter’s 2.11 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) suggests some bad luck, and he’s also striking out more hitters (34.9 percent strikeout rate) and walking fewer (8.6 percent walk rate) than he did in 2023. And since coming off the injured list on July 9, Leiter has thrown 7 2/3 perfect innings across seven appearances, striking out 14 of the 23 batters he’s faced.

“Right now, he’s probably pitching as well as he’s pitched,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Since coming off the injured list, he’s pitching really, really well. Understandable that there was interest in Mark.”

Much of his success has come from his increased use of his splitter over the last two seasons. Leiter has thrown it much more in 2023 (34 percent) and 2024 (33.3 percent) than at any other point in his career, and hitters hit just .134 and .053 against those pitches in those two seasons, respectively. It’s also generating a 62.7 percent whiff rate this year.

Leiter has turned into a strong reliever, one who’s dominated lefties the last two years (.555 OPS) and has even matched that success against righties this year (.528 OPS). He should quickly become a key member of New York’s bullpen.

“The one thing Mark does really well, and what’s unique about him, is that he’s been very good against left-handed hitters,” Counsell said. “I think that type of reliever is often very popular at this time of year.”

“To bring [Leiter] in as a minor league free agent, really change his profile as a pitcher, work with him on just emphasizing his split,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “He’s become a really good reliever, and he dominates lefties. It was fun for us to watch Mark develop into a steady big leader with us, and I wish him luck.”

On the other side, the Cubs got back a pair of intriguing prospects.

In 31 appearances across Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, Neely has posted a 2.81 ERA. Though his strikeout rate has dropped to a still-solid 26.7 percent since reaching the top level of the minors, his walk rate has dropped a touch as well. According to MLB Pipeline, Neely’s success stems from a tight slider — “a plus-plus weapon” — paired with a fastball that “parks at 95 mph and peaks at 97 with significant armside run and induced vertical break, though it generates more weak contact than empty swings.”

Though he’s only nine appearances into his first Triple-A stint, there’s certainly a chance Neely, 24, can make his MLB debut and impact the Cubs’ bullpen later this season.

“Whenever you get rid of a reliever like Mark, you try to get another reliever in the deal,” Hoyer said. “Jack Neely was a huge right-hander for them. He’s been performing well in Triple-A and is close to the big leagues. … To get a reliever like Neely back in the deal was something that was important to us, and we’re glad to land him.”

Cowles, 24, has put together a strong season in Double-A, hitting .294 with a .848 OPS in 378 plate appearances (88 games). According to MLB Pipeline, “Cowles doesn’t have a standout offensive tool but can do a little bit of everything.” He drives balls in the air and draws a fair amount of walks. He’s also lowered his strikeout rate dramatically.

He has experience at second base, third base and shortstop, and Pipeline said he draws praise for his work ethic and baseball IQ. A former teammate of Cubs prospect Matt Shaw at Maryland in 2021, Cowles was placed on the minor league seven-day injured list Saturday (retroactive to Friday) after being hit on his right wrist, and he probably won’t play again during the regular season, according to Hoyer.

“We really liked the profile,” Hoyer said. “He’s had really good offensive success in the minor leagues. He’s done everything well — run the base well, played good defense in the infield. Just had a really good year in Double-A.”