Cubs trade Mark Leiter Jr. to Yankees

Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty ImagesWith just a few hours to go until today’s MLB Trade Deadline, the Cubs and New York Yankees have made a trade:

Trade news: The New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a trade that will send right-handed reliever Mark Leiter Jr. to the Yankees and infielder Ben Cowles and right-handed reliever Jack Neely to the Cubs, sources tell me and @kileymcd.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2024 Leiter has a 4.21 ERA and 1.101 WHIP in 39 relief appearances for the Cubs this year and overall in three Cubs seasons has posted a 3.85 ERA and 1.123 WHIP in 143 games (four starts), good for 1.7 bWAR.

Ben Cowles was the Yankees’ 10th round pick…