CINCINNATI -- The Cubs planned to use the Trade Deadline to address immediate needs while also adding building blocks for the future. The North Siders have made moves on both fronts as the Deadline approaches.

Ahead of Tuesday’s 5 p.m. CT Deadline, the Cubs reached a deal with the Yankees that would send late-inning reliever Mark Leiter Jr. to the Bronx, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Chicago would be netting pitching prospect Jack Neely and infield prospect Ben Cowles in the trade.

TRADE DETAILS
Cubs receive: RHP Jack Neely (Yankees' No. 22 prospect), INF Ben Cowles (Yankees' No. 29 prospect)
Yankees receive: RHP Mark Leiter Jr.

The deal comes in the wake of a couple of moves that were more focused on Chicago’s Major League roster. The Cubs acquired All-Star Isaac Paredes for Christopher Morel and two prospects on Sunday and also landed reliever Nate Pearson from the Blue Jays for two prospects on Saturday.

Leiter grew into a trusted bullpen piece for the Cubs over the past few seasons, but he was also a prime trade chip for contending clubs. It was a way for Chicago to inject some more talent into its highly touted farm system, and both Neely and Cowles are climbing closer to the big leagues.

Neely, who was ranked No. 22 on Pipeline’s Top 30 Prospects list for the Yankees, is a 24-year-old righty who was drafted out of Ohio State in the 11th round of the 2021 Draft. In 31 games this season between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Neely has logged a 2.81 ERA with 63 strikeouts and 16 walks in 41 2/3 innings. Armed with a fastball and slider, Neely has averaged 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings in his four Minor League seasons.

Cowles (No. 29 on Pipeline’s Yankees list) was a 10th-round pick in the 2021 Draft out of Maryland, where he was teammates with Cubs No. 2 prospect Matt Shaw. Cowles, 24, has moved between shortstop (523 1/3 innings), third base (154) and second (76) this season for Somerset.

In 88 games at Double-A this season, Cowles has slashed .294/.376/.472 with nine home runs, 25 doubles, 51 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. The right-handed batter has also cut his strikeout rate down to 17.7%, following marks of 28% in 2023, 29% in ‘22 and 35.2% in ‘21.