There was always the thought that the Cubs were able to gain some flexibility in payroll after trading Cody Bellinger to the Yankees, enabling the front office to go out and spend more to improve the roster. Well, that never really happened in the offseason and after a trade with the Orioles that Bellinger trade is a complete embarrassment for the Cubs.
The Cubs acquired right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet from the Yankees in exchange for Bellinger and most of his remaining salary. There weren't really any expectations for Poteet, but he's a reminder of how the Bellinger trade was a pure salary dump by the big-market Cubs, who didn't really use any of the money saved from the deal to further improve the team heading into the 2025 season.
Now, Poteet is with the Orioles, traded to Baltimore in exchange for cash considerations.
We have made the following trade: pic.twitter.com/4lrTkwNWNB
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 29, 2025
Poteet was designated for assignment on Opening Day by the Cubs to make room for non-roster invitee Brad Keller.
(Previous Update)
We finally who the Cubs are cutting loose on the 40-man roster to make room for Brad Keller and it's right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet. He was acquired from the New York Yankees in the Cody Bellinger trade this past offseason in what was essentially a salary dump move by the Cubs.
Poteet has not had the opportunity to get many innings in the majors, tossing a total of 83 innings in parts of three seasons. He's had injuries, but last year the righty showed some promise, posting a 2.22 ERA in 24.1 innings in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery.
The Cubs have DFA’d pitcher Cody Poteet who they acquired from the Yankees for Cody Bellinger.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 27, 2025
Poteet made two appearances for the Cubs in spring training before he was assigned to minor league camp. As always when a player gets DFA'd, there's a chance Poteet remains in the organization if he's not traded or passes through waivers unclaimed within the next week.
The 30-year-old righty has been a journeyman throughout his pro career, coming up to the big leagues in the Miami Marlins minor league system. Poteet was drafted in 2015, picked in the fourth round out of UCLA and after spending parts of six seasons in the minors he made his MLB debut in 2021.
Poteet made seven starts with the Marlins from the mid-May to the last week in June. Overall he struggled, posting a 4.99 ERA in 30.2 innings.
Yet, Poteet actually had a good stretch to begin his MLB career, allowing only two earned runs through his first three starts. The wheels fell off for Poteet, who then gave up 15 earned runs in his next 13.2 innings. He did suffer a leg during his first trip to the majors, landing on the IL with a sprained right MCL in early June and was then sidelined again with a knee sprain a few weeks later. Poteet's 2021 season ended after he made a rehab start in August.
Poteet made Miami's 2022 Opening Day roster and was once again showing some promise as he had a 0.43 ERA through his first 20.2 innings. However, by the end of May Poteet was back on the injured list and this time it was an elbow injury. He did return for one more appearance in July, but three weeks later the team determined that the pitcher needed Tommy John surgery.
The right-hander spent almost all of the 2023 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and only made one appearance for the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Kansas City Royals Triple-A affiliate. The Royals released Poteet after the 2023 season and then the Yankees signed him in Jan. 2024.
Poteet began the 2024 season at Triple-A and was called up a few times by the Yankees throughout the year. Overall, Poteet tossed 24.1 innings in a Yankees uniform and posted a 2.22 ERA in five total appearances, which included four starts. In his first full year back from Tommy John surgery, Poteet logged 53 additional innings in the minor leagues. That included a pretty good 28% strikeout rate across those 13 starts in the minors.
Cody Poteet:
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) December 18, 2024
1.06 ERA in first 3 MLB starts, (17 IP) then knee injury derails his 2021 season.
0.43 ERA in 21 IP to begin 2022 season, elbow injury, eventually has Tommy John surgery in the summer.
2.22 ERA in 24.1 IP in 2024, his first year back from TJS.
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