The Chicago Cubs are moving fast and furiously ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. On Wednesday, they completed trade deals for two pitchers. Chicago needed some bullpen additions as they aim to contend for the division title against the Milwaukee Brewers, but ultimately hope to go deep in the postseason.
The Cubs initially traded for Washington Nationals starting pitcher Michael Soroka. They acquired Soroka in a trade deal that involved teenage infielder Ronny Cruz and Triple-A outfielder Christian Franklin going the other way to sign with the Nats. Late Wednesday night, Chicago made another bullpen addition, acquiring a relief pitcher from the Baltimore Orioles.
Cubs Acquire Andrew Kittredge From the Orioles
The Cubs moved for 35-year-old relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge on Wednesday night. Kittredge is just one of many relievers that Baltimore traded before the deadline. He had signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Orioles during the offseason with a $9 million club option for the 2026 campaign.
Since coming off his minor knee surgery in May, Kittredge has been fairly decent in his mid-game outings this season. He is 2-2 for the campaign, with a 3.45 ERA, 32 strikeouts, and a 1.09 WHIP in 31.1 innings pitched. The Cubs already possess a young high-leverage reliever in Daniel Palencia, and Kittredge will play a decent second fiddle to him.
The Cubs have reportedly acquired RHP Andrew Kittredge from the Orioles. pic.twitter.com/6qOOfawQzT
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 31, 2025
The trade deal comes ahead of Chicago hosting Baltimore for a three-game series at home in Wrigley Field starting Thursday. The Cubs are currently second in the hotly contested NL Central division with a 63-45 record, just one game behind the division leaders, the Brewers.
Cubs Acquire Michael Soroka for Their First Trade Deadline Addition
While many fans were perplexed when the Cubs announced the trade deal for a struggling Soroka, management saw some hope in the RHP’s performance in the remaining campaign. They believe he can flourish well at Wrigley Field. The 27-year-old Canadian started his big league journey with the Atlanta Braves after playing with the White Sox and finally starting the 2025 campaign with the Nats.
#Cubs make their first trade deadline addition – and while a lot of fans are rolling their eyes, here’s why there’s more upside to the Michael Soroka trade than you might think. pic.twitter.com/6l9EKwabvm
— Cubbies Crib (@CubbiesCrib) July 31, 2025
Soroka has a 3-8 overall record with a 4.87 ERA, 87 strikeouts, and a 1.13 WHIP through 16 starts this season. He still possesses decent pitching control on the mound and good pitching variability, which, under the right conditions, can be a boon for the Cubs.
It remains to be seen how Chicago envisions utilizing Soroka’s talents, but one thing is for sure: The ballclub is not willing to sit down and be complacent; instead, it is ready to take the fight to other championship-contending teams.
