Can the Cubs pull off some bullpen magic two Aprils in a row? Last year, the front office made a move with the Seattle Mariners, trading for Tyson Miller and added him to a struggling bullpen. Now, the Cubs have pulled off another similar, but on a smaller scale, trade for left-handed pitcher Tom Cosgrove from the San Diego Padres.
The Cubs sent some cash over to the Padres for the 28-year-old. Unlike Miller, who immediately joined the big-league club in 2024, Cosgrove has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa following the trade with the Padres. To make room for the lefty on the 40-man roster the Cubs designated right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian for assignment.
The Cubs acquired left-handed pitcher Tom Cosgrove from the San Diego Padres for cash considerations, the team announced. Also, pitcher Caleb Kilian has been designated for assignment. He was acquired for Kris Bryant back in 2021.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) April 10, 2025
Man, that Kris Bryant trade really played out poorly for the Cubs. More on that once Kilian is officially off the Cubs roster. There's always the chance he clears waivers and remains in the organization. Outfielder Alexander Canario, who was also acquired from the San Francisco Giants in the Bryant deal, was traded by the Cubs to the New York Mets earlier this year. Canario is now with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
As for Cosgrove, he's in his final option year and hopefully a change of scenery will help after his struggles in 2024. He had a great rookie season in 2023, posting a 1.75 ERA in 51.1 innings. Cosgrove struck out 44 batters in 54 games and had a 0.97 WHIP.
Yo…Tom Cosgrove is nasty. pic.twitter.com/clEIXSiSIK
— Joe Obvious (@joe__obvious) April 11, 2025
Unfortunately, things went south for Cosgrove in 2024, when he only appeared in 18 games with the Padres and recorded an eye-popping 11.66 ERA in 14.2 innings. Overall in parts of two MLB seasons, Cosgrove has a 3.95 ERA with a 21.0 K% in 66 innings pitched.
San Diego kept Cosgrove in Triple-A for most of the year and that's where he began the 2025 season, failing to make it back on the Padres' Opening Day roster out of spring training.
The Cubs don't have a lot of lefty depth in bullpen. Veteran Caleb Thielbar is the only left-hander on the 26-man roster, while Luke Little is the only other southpaw on the 40-man roster who is at Triple-A.
Cosgrove was selected in the 12th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Padres. The New York native was drafted out of Manhattan College.
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