Cubs trade veteran reliever Scott Effross for Yankees prospect Hayden Wesneski

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CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski from the New York Yankees for right-handed pitcher Scott Effross.

Wesneski, 24, has posted a 3.51 ERA (35 ER/89.2 IP) with a 6-7 record in 19 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, walking 28 and striking out 83 with a 1.15 WHIP. He allowed three or fewer earned runs in 17 of his 19 starts and taking away his May 31 outing vs. Lehigh Valley (1.2 IP, 7 ER), Wesneski has pitched to a 2.86 ERA (28 ER/88.0 IP) in his other 18 starts.

The six-foot, three-inch Wesneski was named a MiLB.com Organizational All-Star in 2021 as he went 11-6 with a 3.25 ERA (47 ER/130.1 IP) in 25 games (24 starts) across three levels, beginning with seven starts at High-A Hudson Valley followed by 15 starts at Double-A Somerset and three games (two starts) in his first career action at the Triple-A level.

Between the three clubs, Wesneski walked 36 and struck out 151 batters, good for an average of 10.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. Following the 2021 campaign, he was ranked the Yankees sixth-best prospect by Baseball America.

Selected by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2019 draft out of Sam Houston State, Wesneski was named the Double-A Northeast Pitcher of the Month for September of 2021, going 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP) for Somerset.

Effross, 28, is 1-4 with a 2.66 ERA (13 ER/44.0 IP), 13 holds and one save in 47 games for Chicago this season. He was selected by the Cubs in the 15th round of the 2015 draft out of Indiana University and made his major league debut with Chicago in 2021.

Thank you to @ScottEffross for your time in the #Cubs organization.

Good luck moving forward! pic.twitter.com/2uo3kFsOYA

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 1, 2022

Wishing our friend Hayden Wesneski the best of luck and continued success with the @Cubs https://t.co/ofR89Ddv9S pic.twitter.com/dGk7tCTTqG

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 1, 2022

Hayden Wesneski throws tons of strikes. Plopping his numbers into the Cubs farm system would mean he ranks… (min. 40 IP)

• 6th in Strike% (65.1%)
• 10th in BB% (7.5%)
• 7th in LookingStrike% (16.3%)
• 12th in Pitches/PA (3.84)

— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) August 1, 2022

Here’s the Wesneski changeup when it’s good. Important pitch for a guy whose profile will always mean LHHs are the tougher out. pic.twitter.com/XfZedPfBzU

— Cubs Prospects - Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) August 1, 2022