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Cubs trade for 3.66 ERA Angels reliever is NL scouts 'favorite' deadline deal
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- Cubs trade for 3.66 ERA Angels reliever is NL scouts 'favorite' deadline deal
Cubs trade for 3.66 ERA Angels reliever is NL scouts 'favorite' deadline deal originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Chicago Cubs made a lot of deals at this year's MLB trade deadline. From Kevin Gausman to Clay Holmes , the Cubs' additions this summer were significant.
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But, one of the more intriguing moves of their deadline was the decision to send Moises Bellesteros in a deal with the Los Angeles Angels for 3.66 ERA reliever Ryan Zeferjahn .
While losing Ballesteros stings, one NL scout told ESPN's Jesse Rogers that the Cubs' trade for Zeferjahn was their "favorite" of the entire MLB trade deadline.
Cubs trade for Ryan Zeferjahn was 'favorite' of deadline for NL scout
"Ryan Zeferjahn to the Cubs. They need guys who miss bats," an NL scout answered in response to what their favorite deal of the trade deadline was.
While Rogers made sure to exclude the Los Angeles Dodgers trade for Tarik Skubal and the Boston Red Sox trade for Adley Rutschman from being the "favorite" move of the deadline, this is still an interesting note for the Cubs.
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A lot of the attention is going to be on Holmes and Gausman, two starting pitching upgrades who have been good starters during their careers at times.
A reliever like Zeferjahn, who's not been in the public consciousness since he's been with the Angels during his big league career, has flown a bit under the radar.
MORE: Cubs land Kevin Gausman in blockbuster trade with Blue Jays
But the flame-throwing reliever is a very intriguing pickup for the Cubs, who are under club control through 2030, and is only 28 years old.
He has already made two appearances for the Cubs, allowing one earned run in 1.2 innings of work against the Dodgers during the Cubs' sweep.
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Zeferjahn is a high upside reliever who earned the distinction of being this NL scout's "favorite" trade of the entire MLB trade deadline.
It's a good sign for the Cubs that their big reliever acquisition was perceived so highly. Hopefully, the new Cubs reliever can live up to this hype, because if he does, then the Cubs will have the kind of team that can beat the Dodgers come the postseason.
