Meet the prospects the Cubs added in the Leiter trade

CINCINNATI -- The Cubs were not strictly a buyer or a seller at this year’s Trade Deadline. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer wanted to straddle that line, making moves that helped Chicago’s goal of getting back to contending as soon as possible.

That approach led to reeling in All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes from the Rays and reliever Nate Pearson from the Blue Jays, but the Cubs also wanted to net some future pieces. On Tuesday, the North Siders flipped late-inning reliever Mark Leiter Jr. to the Yankees in exchange for a pair of Pipeline-ranked prospects.

“We wanted to make deals we felt like made sense for 2025 and beyond,” Hoyer explained. “The goal wasn’t just to accumulate assets.”

Here is a look at the two players the Cubs received in return for trading Leiter to New York.

Jack Neely, RHP, Triple-A Iowa
Pipeline ranking: No. 20 on Cubs’ Top 30 list

Pipeline scouting report: Neely pitched at three colleges in three years, bouncing from Texas to Iowa Western CC to Ohio State before the Yankees signed him for a slightly over-slot $150,000 in the 11th round in 2021. New York immediately moved him to the bullpen and he has dominated in that role, ranking fifth among Minor League relievers (minimum: 50 innings) with a 40% strikeout rate in 2022 and fourth with a 39% K-rate last year while climbing to Double-A.

Though Neely's mid-80s slider is a tighter version than the sweeper that's the rage in the Yankees' organization, it's a plus-plus weapon nonetheless. It does feature some two-plane break at times and overwhelmed Double-A hitters in the final six weeks of last season, registering a 57% swing-and-miss rate and a 47% chase rate. He sets it up with a fastball that parks at 95 mph and peaks at 97 mph with significant arm-side run and induced vertical break, though it generates more weak contact than empty swings.

Neely's massive 6-foot-8 frame creates a natural angle and extension that provides deception. He lowered his walk rate from 4.6 per nine innings in his first full pro season to 2.7 in his second. If his slider-heavy attack continues to work against upper-level hitters, he could help Chicago in the near future and eventually settle into a late-inning role.

Organizational fit: In discussing the trade, Hoyer noted that one goal was to acquire a reliever, given the loss of Leiter to the Yankees. Chicago was not looking for low-level prospects, either, because the idea is to build a contender for “2025 and beyond,” as Hoyer has repeated. Neely, 24, is already on the Major League radar and could break through soon, helping build out the depth of a bullpen that will surely see more additions in the coming offseason.

ETA: 2024-25

Benjamin Cowles, INF, Double-A Tennessee
Pipeline ranking: No. 30 on Cubs’ Top 30 list

Pipeline scouting report: Cowles led the Big Ten Conference with 18 homers as a Maryland junior in 2021, when the Yankees drafted him in the 10th round. He had modest success in his first two full pro seasons before leading Arizona Fall League shortstops with a .956 OPS last offseason. He continued to boost his stock by getting off to a fast start in Double-A this year.

A right-handed hitter, Cowles doesn't have a standout offensive tool but can do a little bit of everything. He drives balls in the air, has enough pull power to provide 15 or more homers per season and draws a fair amount of walks. He has some swing-and-miss issues that persisted though Single-A and High-A, but is doing a much better job of making in-zone contact in 2024.

While Cowles has average speed, he can play faster at times and is an opportunistic basestealer. He has bounced around the infield as a pro, showing sure hands and an average arm at both middle infield spots while being much more erratic at third base. He draws praise for his work ethic and baseball IQ.

Organizational fit: Hoyer noted that the 24-year-old Cowles -- a teammate of Cubs No. 2 prospect Matt Shaw at Maryland -- is likely done for the season due to a right wrist injury. Prior to being hit by a pitch on July 25, the infielder had posted a .945 OPS in the previous 15 games to close out the season. Chicago liked his all-around offensive profile, along with his defensive versatility. Cowles has played mostly shortstop in 2024, but has also handled second and third base. At the plate, he cut his strikeout rate to 17.7% this year, following a showing of 28.0% in last season.

ETA: 2025-26