The Chicago Cubs acquired right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, deepening their bullpen through another trade in an offseason full of activity.
In return, the Dodgers receive a player to be named later or cash. The Dodgers said they also sent cash to the Cubs as part of the deal.
Brasier, 37, was designated for assignment last week when the Dodgers’ deal with right-handed reliever Kirby Yates was finalized. He was a solid contributor on Los Angeles’ World Series-winning team, throwing nine innings during the postseason after posting a 3.54 ERA in 28 regular-season innings.
Los Angeles’ acquisitions of two closers — Yates and Tanner Scott — as well as re-signing Blake Treinen edged Brasier out of the Dodgers’ bullpen mix and gave Chicago the opportunity to add him to a bullpen that has been significantly strengthened in recent weeks. In addition to Brasier, the Cubs added closer Ryan Pressly in a trade with Houston, and earlier this winter acquired right-hander Eli Morgan.
Chicago’s biggest deal of the winter was for outfielder Kyle Tucker, a perennial MVP candidate who is set to hit free agency after the 2025 season. Chicago signed left-hander Matthew Boyd to a two-year, $29 million contract, gave catcher Carson Kelly $11.5 million over two years, locked up right-hander Colin Rea on a one-year, $5 million deal and added left-hander Caleb Thielbar ($2.75 million) and utilityman Jon Berti ($2 million) on one-year pacts.
With a mid-90s fastball, a biting slider and a cutter, Brasier weathered early-career scuffles to turn in solid performances throughout his 30s. Though his fastball velocity dipped slightly last year, his precision — he walked only five batters and struck out 25 — served him well.
Brasier, who will make $4.5 million this season in the second season of a two-year contract, joins a bullpen that should have strong competition for spots when spring camps open in just over a week. In addition to Brasier, Pressly, Morgan and Thielbar, the Cubs return right-hander Porter Hodge — who was the closer toward the end of the 2024 season — as well as right-hander Tyson Miller, who had a 2.15 ERA in 50⅓ innings.
Other options in the Cubs’ bullpen include right-handers Nate Pearson, Keegan Thompson, Julian Merryweather, Ethan Roberts, Caleb Kilian and potentially Ben Brown, a starter who could prove a late-inning weapon if he does not crack Chicago’s rotation.