With the MLB trade deadline quickly approaching, deals are happening all over the league. The Chicago Cubs are perhaps the biggest sellers this season. Earlier in the week, they sent reliable reliever Andrew Chafin to the Oakland Athletics. Now, they have decided to trade Ryan Tepera to their crosstown rivals. In return, the Chicago White Sox gave up left-handed pitching prospect Bailey Horn.
Cubs Acquire Prospect Bailey Horn
Horn was drafted by the White Sox in the 5th round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He played baseball collegiately, first at McLennan Community College, before transferring to Auburn in 2019. The 23-year-old pitcher has already undergone Tommy John surgery, which hurt his production in college. In his senior season at Auburn, he made his way into their starting rotation. Horn posted a 2.08 ERA in four starts.
Unfortunately, just as he started to dominate on the mound, his season was cut short because of the pandemic. Since being drafted, he hasn’t been overly impressive in the minors, but he’s only logged 10 starts. It’s likely that the Cubs have scouted him thoroughly in the past year, as they attempt to develop and acquire more pitching arms. Horn certainly has a lot of potential, and the Cubs got him for a reliever on an expiring contract. It was a good deal for both sides.
Horn Prospect Profile
Bailey Horn was the 23rd ranked prospect in the White Sox system and will crack the top 30 for the Cubs. He looks to be a couple of years away from the majors. While he has started in the minors, Horn could end up being featured in the bullpen. The left-handed prospect has a four-pitch mix. He throws a four-seamer, slider, change-up, and curveball.
Horn is one of five lefty pitchers that the Cubs are excited about in the minors. His fastball tops out at 98 mph and his slider is quite effective as well. However, control has been an issue for Horn. As a result, he struggled for the White Sox High-A affiliate. In 11 innings, he walked 11 batters and gave up 16 earned runs. On the bright side, he struck out 13 batters in that same span. Like most young pitchers, he is a work in progress.
Cubs Fire Sale
The Cubs are completely dismantling their bullpen, which has been one of the best in MLB. With Tepera and Chafin gone, star closer Craig Kimbrel is likely next. The three-headed monster that terrorized opposing lineups is no more. Chicago will continue to be active in the trade market as they build for the future. The bullpen definitely won’t be the only unit undergoing a massive change in the next 24 hours.
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