Orioles trade for Cubs pitcher acquired in Cody Bellinger deal

The Baltimore Orioles added pitching depth on Saturday, acquiring right-hander Cody Poteet from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. The 30-year-old was designated for assignment by the Cubs just days earlier to make room for Brad Keller on the 40-man roster. Poteet will report to Triple-A Norfolk, and the Orioles’ 40-man roster now stands at 39.

The Baltimore Orioles added pitching depth on Saturday, acquiring right-hander Cody Poteet from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. The 30-year-old was designated for assignment by the Cubs just days earlier to make room for Brad Keller on the 40-man roster. Poteet will report to Triple-A Norfolk, and the Orioles’ 40-man roster now stands at 39.

Originally a fourth-round pick by the Marlins in 2015, Poteet debuted with Miami in 2021. His initial stint in the majors as a starter was uneven, producing a 4.99 ERA over seven starts. But in a swingman role in 2022, he improved, posting a 3.86 ERA in 28 innings across 12 appearances before undergoing Tommy John surgery late that year.

After missing most of 2023 while rehabbing, Poteet signed with the Yankees and quietly impressed in limited duty. He logged a 2.22 ERA over 24 1/3 innings in 2024, and a 3.40 ERA in 13 Triple-A starts, flashing promise as a depth piece.

Orioles continue to add depth as the 2025 season is in full swing

In December, Poteet was part of the trade that sent Cody Bellinger to the Yankees. That deal, largely seen as a salary dump by the Cubs, brought Poteet to Chicago while clearing Bellinger’s contract from their books. The Cubs had reshaped their outfield with Kyle Tucker and rising star Pete Crow-Armstrong, making Bellinger expendable.

However, Poteet never got a chance to contribute in Chicago. With the Cubs’ rotation depth and the return of Javier Assad looming, the club opted to DFA Poteet before Opening Day. Now, just a few months after being acquired, he’s on the move again.

For the Orioles, this is a low-risk, high-upside move. Poteet offers flexibility as an optionable arm who can serve in either a starting or long-relief role. While the Orioles’ current rotation—featuring Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, Dean Kremer, and Cade Povich—remains intact, injuries have thinned their depth considerably. Poteet could step in if another starter goes down or slot into the bullpen in a multi-inning role.

Veteran swingman Albert Suarez is currently the next man up, but Poteet gives manager Brandon Hyde another layer of protection—something every contender needs during a 162-game grind.

From Chicago’s side, the move raises familiar frustrations among fans. The Cubs offloaded a productive player in Bellinger for financial flexibility but haven’t reinvested that savings into the roster. “So, all in all, Chicago traded away their productive outfielder for money,” Jesse Rogers of ESPN noted, pointing out that the return essentially amounted to cash—and little else.

Unless the Cubs turn around and make aggressive upgrades at the trade deadline, the optics of this series of moves will continue to draw criticism. For now, the Orioles get a versatile arm, and Poteet gets his third team in four months—hoping this stop might offer some stability.

MLB rumors: Orioles open to trade of ex-33 HR star to make room for superstar prospect

The Baltimore Orioles are looking to get back to the playoffs in 2025 and avenge a disappointing Wild Card loss to the Kansas City Royals last season. While doing that, they could be looking to get a little bit younger in the middle of the lineup.

Ryan Mountcastle has been a mainstay at first base and in the middle of the order for the Orioles, but his time with the team could be coming to an end. Triple-A corner infielder Coby Mayo has emerged as a star in the minors, and Mountcastle could soon be moved to make room for the 23-year old according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

“The Baltimore Orioles are letting teams know that first baseman Ryan Mountcastle is available in a potential trade to clear a spot for Coby Mayo,” Nightengale wrote.

Despite coming into the league in just 2020, Mountcastle has been on somewhat of a decline in recent years. He crushed 33 home runs in 2021 but has failed to even approach that mark since and is coming off of a 2024 season where he hit just 13 home runs in 124 games.

Mountcastle is just 1-for-9 in three games this season as the Orioles seek a series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

On the other hand, Mayo is currently the No. 2-rated prospect in the Orioles’ system. He has been in the minor leagues for the majority of his career since 2021 and has a .918 OPS with 82 home runs in that time.

Mayo played in 17 games for the Orioles in 2024 and struggled, but the team is clearly confident that he will be able to put that behind him if he were to get called up again this season. He had 41 at-bats in those 17 games and recorded just four hits, all singles, while striking out 22 times.

If Mayo ends up panning out, he provides the Orioles with a cheaper alternative at first base who also has the versatility to play third if needed. A Mountcastle trade could also net them valuable assets to help fill out the roster elsewhere.

Cubs rumors: Kyle Tucker ‘pressure’ in play after big trades

The Chicago Cubs made a big splash by acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros this past offseason. In the trade, the Cubs sent the Astros All-Star Isaac Paredes and star prospect Cam Smith, who proceeded to make the Opening Day roster after an impressive spring. With Tucker set to hit free agency next offseason, Chicago is facing a crucial 2025 campaign and a huge decision on what to do with him. USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale addressed the Cubs’ predicament on Sunday, speaking to an executive about the situation.

“So, would you have rather have six years of Smith, Paredes and Bellinger,” one executive said, “or one year of Tucker? There’s a lot of pressure for them to keep Tucker now.”