‘Bum’: Chicago Cubs fans upset with trade for aging All-Star pitcher over cash

On Monday, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported the Chicago Cubs front office was exploring outside help to boost the team’s starting pitching rotation and bullpen.

The Cubs were expected to be in the trade market after losing starting pitcher Justin Steele, as the left-hander recovers from Tommy John surgery to repair his left elbow. Chicago also needs to fortify the bullpen to aid one of the hottest offenses in the league.

The Chicago Cubs pulled off a trade

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Cubs traded with the Seattle Mariners for 36-year-old left-hander and reliever Drew Pomeranz.

“Cubs acquiring left-hander Drew Pomeranz from Mariners, sources tell @TheAthletic,” Rosenthal posted on X. “Pomeranz, 36, had been pitching at Triple A – 14 strikeouts, 6 walks and a 4.66 ERA in 9 2/3 innings.”

Cubs acquiring left-hander Drew Pomeranz from Mariners, sources tell @TheAthletic. Pomeranz, 36, had been pitching at Triple A – 14 strikeouts, 6 walks and a 4.66 ERA in 9 2/3 innings.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 21, 2025

Pomeranz will add depth to the bullpen, but he’s not exactly Athletics closer Mason Miller, who Levine suggested the Cubs had an interest in. But Pomeranz is much cheaper than the numerous prospects Chicago would have to fork over for Miller.

Pomeranz earned an All-Star nomination in 2016 and won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. He last pitched in the majors for the San Diego Padres in 2021.

Per Taylor McGregor of MLB Network, the Cubs received Pomeranz in exchange for cash considerations. He will begin his stint with the Cubs in Triple-A.

#Cubs make it official: they’ve acquired LHP Drew Pomeranz from the Mariners in exchange for cash considerations. Pomeranz will report to Iowa.

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) April 22, 2025

Cubs fans are underwhelmed by the Drew Pomeranz trade

Cubs fans took to X to react to the trade. Many think the move won’t help Chicago too much.

“Another cheap bandaid move from a team that’s rolling around in money,” wrote a fan.

“He is a bum,” posted another.

“We finally make a trade and the crowd goes MILD. This would have been cool like 5 years ago,” suggested a fan.

I hope it’s for a bag of skittles or something. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues for lilt 4 years,” complained another.

“He’s good the last time he pitched but unfortunately it was 2021,” posted a fan.

Another 36 plus yr old pitcher: Jed has that market cornered. Too bad he can’t draft and develop a pitcher at all,” wrote a fan on president Jed Hoyer.

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