Today is deadline day. The Major League Baseball Trade Deadline expires at midnight, and a flurry of moves is expected. Last year, there were 36 trades in the final 48 hours before the deadline. The Chicago Cubs just dropped the first bomb:

Cubs Trade Rookie Pitcher Scott Effross

Everyone knew that the Cubs were going to be sellers. After shipping out Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javy Baez at last year's deadline, the only question was what type of return the Cubs would get for free agent to be Willson Contreras. But trading 28-year-old relief pitcher Scott Effross to the Yankees is downright shocking. Effross, a 15th-round pick by the Cubs out of Indiana in 2015, made his Cubs debut last season, appearing in 14 games with a 3.68 ERA. This year, Effross established himself as an upper-tier relief pitcher. In 47 appearances, he struck out more than a batter per inning pitched (50K in 44 innings) with a 2.66 ERA. Check out Effross' 2022 highlight reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkT50uvqDIM

Why Trade An Emerging Weapon In The Bullpen?

This trade is shocking because Effross was under Cubs' control for another five years. Building around cost-controlled, effective major league pitching is generally a strategy that winning teams take. The only justification for making a trade like this is that the Cubs were overwhelmed by the Yankees' offer.

Cubs Get Yankees #7 Prospect, Starter Hayden Wesneski

If there's one thing that's more valuable than upper-tier relief pitching, it's elite starting pitching. That's what Cubs' President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer is hoping he acquired in right-handed starter Hayden Wesneski. The Yankees #7 prospect, Wesneski, is having a solid season at AAA, posting a 3.51 ERA and striking out 83 in 89 innings pitched. Given his track record, a call-up to Wrigley could be in short order.

Cubs Youth Movement Continues In Starting Rotation

Wesneski is 24 years old and four years younger than Effross. Acquiring a young, team-controlled starting pitching prospect on the cusp of reaching the big leagues was worth the price of Effross, a homegrown reliever hitting his stride, for the Cubs. Now Cubs fans can only hope that Wesneski takes the same leap Effross did at the major league level.