The New York Yankees acquired Scott Effross in a trade with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs will receive one of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects, Hayden Wesneski. It’s the second trade the Yankees made today. Although, it wasn’t exactly the high-profile trade that both Cubs and Yankees fans have long been hearing about, as there have been countless rumors surrounding the possibility of outfielder Ian Happ on the move. However, it’s still a win-win situation for both parties involved.
After spending six years in the Cubs minor league system, Effross showed that he belonged in the big leagues. He made his MLB debut in 2021, finishing with a 3.68 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. Effross showed respectable improvement this season, again solidifying his position as a major league reliever. His 1-4 record doesn’t tell the full story. While heading to New York, Effross currently possesses a 2.66 ERA with 50 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP. Additionally, 47 games pitched this year have only given up two home runs.
Yankees fans might be wondering where he will fit into their bullpen, and here are some possibilities. When entering the game in the sixth inning, Effross has a 2.53 ERA with a 0.84 WHIP while opponents only have a .175 BA against him. In the seventh inning, his ERA drops to 1.54; however, his WHIP and BA increase to 1.03 and .209, respectively. Due to the Yankees already having a good bullpen, one could assume that Effross could enter the game in either of those situations. At the same time, the likes of Clay Holmes and despite the struggles of Aroldis Chapman, they continue to handle high-pressure situations.
Wesneski’s arsenal consists of five different pitches. A two-seam fastball that ranges from 92-94 mph, a four-seam fastball, a slider with a wicked break, a sinker, and a changeup. For the Cubs, another silver lining of this trade is that Wesneski could make his major league debut very soon.
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Players Mentioned:
Scott Effross, Hayden Wesneski, Ian Happ, Clay Holmes, Aroldis Chapman
