The Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles agreed on a trade that sent right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations. Poteet, 30, was designated for assignment by the Cubs earlier in the week after failing to make the active major league roster out of Spring Training. Poteet was acquired in the offseason by Chicago in the deal that sent Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees.
For the Baltimore Orioles, they are adding Poteet to their 40-man roster and have announced the California-born right-hander will report to AAA Norfolk. With room available on their 40-man roster, they jumped on the opportunity to add veteran depth to their pitching staff. For the Chicago Cubs, it’s a positive sign that they did not have room on their roster for Poteet because of the depth and talent that they already have. It is also a negative sign that their return for Cody Bellinger did not make it to April.
Chicago Cubs Trade Cody Poteet
The Chicago Cubs have finalized a trade with the Baltimore Orioles that sends Poteet to the Orioles in exchange for cash considerations. The move comes after Poteet was designated for assignment to make room on the active roster for Brad Keller. Poteet was acquired in the offseason in the trade that sent Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees. The 30-year-old hurler will report to Baltimore’s AAA affiliate in Norfolk after he is added to the Orioles’ 40-man roster.
In his career, Poteet has appeared in 24 games, 13 as a starter, and has compiled a 5-4 record with a 3.80 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 69 strikeouts in 83 innings across three seasons with two organizations. Poteet broke into the majors as a 26-year-old in 2021 with the Miami Marlins but didn’t get consistent work. In his second year in Miami, he was coming into his own in his limited role before heading to the IL with an elbow injury. He would never see the mound for Miami again.
Poteet underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and after rehabbing in 2023 in the Kansas City Royals organization. He began the 2024 season with the New York Yankees organization. He only made five appearances with the team before being traded to the Chicago Cubs in the winter. He will return to the AL East with Baltimore and has a chance to break through and get back to the majors with the litany of injuries on the Orioles pitching staff so far this year.
Final Thoughts
For Baltimore, I understand this move to bolster their reserves in the minor leagues behind an unpredictable pitching staff. Adding Poteet is a low-risk move that can help them later on in the season if they need to patch a hole in their starting rotation or the bullpen. For the Chicago Cubs, this is waiving the white flag on an offseason salary dump. Brad Keller won out in the offseason and Spring Training leaving Poteet without a spot on the 26 or even 40-man roster.
This, to me, is more about the Bellinger trade than this trade in particular. Bellinger could’ve gotten a better return than a veteran arm who couldn’t make it to April. If Poteet was at risk of not making the major league club, then Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs front office needed to do a better job of fielding offers and networking one of their better players if they were so intent on shipping him in the offseason.
