AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

The Rundown: Cubs Get Crucial Win in Milwaukee, Hoyer Adds Pitching Depth, Trade Market Accelerates

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterJuly 31, 2025

“Whatcha doin’ tonight? Have you heard that the world’s gone crazy?” – Rockin’ the Paradise by Styx

The big news of the day is that the Cubs beat the Brewers 10-3, moving to within one game of first place in the NL Central. The win also evened up the season series at three games apiece with five tilts left between the two juggernauts, all at Wrigley Field. Head-to-head matchups are the determining factor in the event the two teams finish the season with identical records. Finishing 3-3 in Milwaukee will be considered monumental if Chicago gets the division crown by way of that tiebreaker, making yesterday’s bounce back win to avoid a sweep even bigger.

The Cubs also made a couple of underwhelming trades on the eve of this year’s trade deadline. Chicago acquired swingman Michael Soroka from the Nationals, then traded for reliever Andrew Kittredge of the Orioles. Soroka fills the role that was vacated last year by Drew Smyly, giving the Cubs someone who can spot start and eat innings out of the bullpen. The addition of Kittredge could mean a DFA for Ryan Pressly.

The Nationals used Soroka exclusively as a starter this year, and he pitched to a 3-8 record with a 4.87 ERA. His peripherals are a bit more promising and include an 87:24 strikeout-to-walk ratio plus a .224 batting average allowed, which is right in line with his .218 xBA. Soroka throws a slurve 35% of the time, inducing a .124 batting average allowed. On the flip side, batters are teeing off on the 27-year-old’s four-seam to the tune of a .537 SLG. He found success as a reliever with the White Sox last year, fanning 60 batters in 16 appearances. Soroka was 0-5 with a 6.39 ERA and 24 strikeouts in nine starts for the ChiSox, but his ERA out of the bullpen was 2.75 across 36 innings.

Soroka could get a start or two until one of Javier Assad or Jameson Taillon returns. His acquisition may also present Hoyer with an opportunity to trade or demote Ben Brown. Soroka can also provide the cushion of giving Matthew Boyd an extra day of rest between starts if necessary.

Kittredge comes to Chicago with potentially an extra year of control thanks to a $9 million club option. The 35-year-old righty reliever has a 3.56 ERA, 25.2% strikeout rate, and 6.5% walk rate over 30.1 innings for Baltimore. He gives Craig Counsell an extra arm for a bullpen that has looked a little gassed of late, and a veteran setup man for emerging closer Daniel Palencia.

The cost for both players tells us a lot about market rates heading into the final hours of today’s deadline. Jed Hoyer gave Washington outfielder Christian Franklin, the organization’s No. 14-ranked prospect, and infielder Ronny Cruz, who was ranked 13th in the system by MLB Pipeline. Kitteridge cost Chicago Dominican shortstop prospect Wilfri De La Cruz, who secured a $2.3 million signing bonus earlier this year as an international free agent. The Cubs are expected to be very active today, according to most MLB analysts. Those first two trades may represent a precursor to bigger moves this afternoon.

Soroka and Kittredge did not come cheaply, though I wouldn’t call either trade an overpay. I can’t imagine any of those prospects ever playing for the Cubs, frankly speaking. If Hoyer gets 2-4 wins this year for those three, I’d consider it a very successful start to improving the roster.

Caveat emptor: Don’t be surprised if Hoyer eschews the potential acquisitions of marquee players. He has a newly-minted extension and may therefore choose to keep his top prospects unless he gets controlled players in return, and the cost may be a bit too prohibitive.

Cubs News & Notes

Ball Four

May I quote Hoyer, please? “Sometimes a guy that didn’t have a great first half doesn’t mean he’s not a good player. Maybe he’s due for the rest of it.”

Maturity begins when one makes the decision to lead his brothers, and then acts on that mindset.

Central Intelligence

Let’s Make a Deal

The MLB Draft may pale in comparison to those of the other major sports leagues, but deadline week is arguably second to none. Let’s cover some of the bigger moves of the last 24 hours. As usual, news keeps breaking as I am writing, so I’ll try to keep up.

How About That!

Nine Kansas City relievers — including opener Angel Zerpa — tossed 10 scoreless innings in the Royals’ 1-0 walk-off win over the Braves, tying a Major League record for pitchers used in a 10-inning shutout win in the Modern Era (since 1900).

Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes has a torn hamstring and could miss 6-7 months or more.

Nolan Arenado is weighing his options after St. Louis dealt Helsley away. Perhaps he’s a fit for Houston.

Sports gambling scandals are raising concerns over the game’s integrity.

The Padres are reportedly pursuing outfielders Jarren Duran and Steven Kwan.

Extra Innings

The book on Peralta is to get to him early. Mission accomplished.

They Said It

  • “All the power to Jed and the boys. I love Jed. I’m glad he’s here to stay. I think he does a really good job of putting the right pieces together. I have no clue how this stuff works, but I got all the faith in our front office to go do what they feel is right. And I got all the faith in [my teammates] to just carry on and do what we’re doing.” – Crow-Armstrong
  • “There’s a lot of Cub players who play like [Ryne Sandberg] and they act like Ryno. They come to the plate, they battle, and they’re out to beat you. And they’re quiet and then they go home and go about their business. That was Ryno.” – Shawon Dunston

Thursday Walk-Up Song

More like not enough time on deadline day, am I right?

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterJuly 31, 2025
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