Cubs Trade Deadline Grade: Did Jed Hoyer Do Enough?
Chicago's aggressive trade deadline secured veteran Kevin Gausman and elite reliever Ryan Zeferjahn, fortifying a postseason-ready pitching staff for a deep October run through the North Side.
Video Transcript
What is up, Cubs fans?
And welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
I'm Joey Polizzi, talking about all things Cubs, and the 2026 MLB trade deadline is officially over, and the Cubs were one of the more active teams at the trade deadline, trying to improve their roster, and they did that.
They acquired Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays, Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor from the New York Mets, Ryan Zepherjon from the Los Angeles Angels, and Braxton Garrett from the Miami Marlins.
And if you're sitting here on Tuesday wondering, "Did the Cubs win the trade deadline?"
Ask yourself, "Did the Cubs improve the roster?
Are they a better team today than they were before yesterday's win over the Dodgers?"
And the answer to that question is, yes.
The rotation gets a boost with Gausman and Holmes.
Gausman is a, a veteran who should fit in quite nicely on this Cubs team.
Although his numbers are a bit disappointing this year, and his numbers have been down recently over the past month and a half, Gausman is a big-time pitcher that the Cubs will need down the stretch and for the postseason.
This is a guy who was great for the Toronto Blue Jays last year in the postseason, and they'll need that version of him this year in Chicago.
Holmes is a extreme ground ball pitcher who should fit in quite nicely pitching behind three former Gold Glove winners in Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, and Nico Hoerner in the infield.
And that didn't even mention the outfield in Pete Armstrong, Gold Glover in center, and Ian Happ, Gold Glover in left.
Holmes, coming back from a fractured fibula, but he should be returning here very soon after he threw five and one-third innings in his last rehab assignment start.
Then the Cubs went out and got a big-time reliever in Ryan Zepherjon, a up-and-coming reliever, a breakout pitcher reliever this year, and he's one of the best swing and miss relievers the Cubs will have in their bullpen this year.
96th percentile whiff rate, 97th percentile s- strikeout rate, and 100th percentile expected batting average against.
And the Cubs also added two minor players, but they'll also be key parts here in Tyrone Taylor, who hits lefties really well, gives the Cubs a right-handed bat off the bench, and Braxton Garrett, who is a controllable starting pitcher.
He might not have an impact on this year's Cubs team, but controllable pitcher who could be fighting for a rotation spot next year.
To get these players, the Cubs obviously had to give up some big-time players, Moises Ballesteros, Jefferson Rojas, but the Cubs did improve their roster this year.
Jed Hoyer went all in and made this roster and team better for the stretch run.
So the Cubs here with the trade deadline grade of an A minus, and let me know what you guys think of your trade deadline grade for this year's Cubs trade deadline.
And as always, guys, go Cubs go.
