The Chicago Cubs have acquired left-handed reliever Tom Cosgrove from the San Diego Padres in exchange for financial considerations, a low-risk move meant to increase bullpen depth. Chicago assigned right-hander Caleb Kilian to clear space on the 40-man roster.
San Diego just DFA’d Cosgrove, 28, after a difficult spring and a sluggish start to the Triple-A season. The southpaw has surrendered three earned runs in four outings for Triple-A El Paso this season, and he gave up seven runs in just five and a third innings during Spring Training. Nevertheless, given that he still has a minor league option, his past success makes him a valuable reclamation project for the Cubs.
Cosgrove was optioned by the Cubs to Triple-A Iowa right away, where he will attempt to recover the form that made him a 2023 rookie sensation. While keeping opponents to a.173 batting average and demonstrating a strong ability to suppress hard contact, Cosgrove recorded a 1.75 ERA in 54 outings for the Padres that season. Although he didn’t have particularly high strikeout or walk rates, his ability to effectively handle batters from both sides of the plate made him an invaluable member of the Padres bullpen.
The Cubs acquire southpaw reliever for bullpen depth
But last season, things fell apart. Cosgrove’s velocity and swing-and-miss numbers significantly declined in 2024, and he recorded an 11.66 ERA across 18 big league appearances. With a 4.85 ERA and a strong 26.8% strikeout rate, he spent the majority of the season in Triple-A. Even though he hasn’t played well lately, the Cubs are wagering that a change of environment could help him improve.
The equivalent roster casualty is 27-year-old Kilian. Kilian, who was formerly thought to be a crucial return piece in the Giants’ 2021 trade for Kris Bryant, has had difficulty making a name for himself in the major leagues. He has pitched to a 9.22 ERA in 27 1/3 innings throughout his eight MLB outings (five of which were starts), walking 20 and striking out just 21. He gave up three home runs and six runs in just 2 1/3 innings during his lone appearance at Triple-A Iowa this season.
Kilian’s failure to consistently miss bats or manage the zone has prevented him from persisting at the Major League Baseball level, despite the fact that he still boasts a fastball in the mid-to-high-90s and a diversified pitch mix. It’s likely that another club might claim him off waivers given his prior prospect credentials and the year left on his option. If not, the Cubs might keep him as organizational depth and outright trade him to Iowa.
With two late-20s pitchers in need of a spark and both out of options after this season, this move essentially amounts to a simple change of scenery. Cosgrove provides much-needed lefty depth to the Cubs and has a solid, if brief, major league track record. And any improvement is nice for a bullpen that hasn’t been reliable.
Additionally, it quietly signals the end of an era. Within a few months, the Cubs will have parted ways with the whole return from the Kris Bryant trade if Kilian is cut on waivers or released.
