Cody

Poteet

Poteet was designated for assignment Thursday, and finds a new home a few days later. The right-hander will be a depth piece for Baltimore as long as he stays in the organization.

Poteet was traded to the Cubs from the Yankees in the Cody Bellinger deal this off-season, so we guess that move truly was a salary dump. If Poteet is not claimed by another team, he could return to the Cubs’ minor league system.

The quartet will open the regular season back in the minors as extra organizational depth. Poteet was acquired from the Yankees back in mid-December as part of the Cody Bellinger trade and figures to be on the shortlist to return to Chicago should injuries arise to the starting rotation mix. Kilian made two appearances (one start) last year for the Cubs, while both Hollowell and Neely made a handful of relief appearances last season at the big-league level.

The 30-year-old right-hander also etched his name in the history books, becoming the first player to issue a challenge using the new ABS system in the first inning — getting a ball correctly overturned to a strike against Max Muncy. All of the damage done against him came in the second inning as Eddie Rosario blasted a two-run homer and another run dashed home after Poteet uncorked a wild pitch. Poteet is fighting for a spot in the Cubs’ rotation to start the season, but he’ll need to be much sharper his next couple of times out in order to turn that into a reality.

Poteet is among a handful of options vying for a spot in Chicago’s season-opening pitching stable after coming over from the Yankees in the Cody Bellinger trade. The 30-year-old projects as a versatile swingman for the Cubs after posting a strong 2.22 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 16/8 K/BB ratio across 24 1/3 innings (five appearances, four starts) last year in New York.

Poteet provides the Cubs with a versatile swingman to fortify their starting pitching corps heading into next season. The 30-year-old righty spent most of last year at the Triple-A level, but posted a solid 2.22 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 16/8 K/BB ratio across 24 1/3 innings (five appearances, four starts) for the Yankees. He doesn’t miss a ton of bats and is more of an innings-eating long reliever than someone we’d project as a mainstay in a big-league rotation.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers adds that New York is absorbing all but $5 million of the $52.5 million left on the final two years of Bellinger’s existing deal, which also includes an opt-out following the 2025 season. The versatile 29-year-old slugger gives the Yankees a quality defensive option in center field in addition to a fallback plan at the cold corner. His left-handed pop should fit perfectly in the hitter’s paradise that is Yankee Stadium. The move makes him a logical bounce-back candidate for fantasy purposes after batting just .266/.325/.426 with 18 round-trippers and nine steals in 569 plate appearances last year following a sublime 26-homer, 20-steal Cubs debut. We’re not expecting him to reach the 30-homer threshold, but a return to 20-plus round-trippers with double-digit steals seems within reach.

Poteet was recalled earlier in the week with Nestor Cortes going on the injured list. Now he’s headed back to the minors to make room for Will Warren as a fresh arm for the bullpen.

Poteet takes the roster spot of Nestor Cortes with Cortes on the IL with a flexor strain. Poteet provides the ability to work multiple innings out of the bullpen.

This doesn’t seem good. Cortes has yet to be scratched from tonight’s start, but we’re assuming that’s on the way. Cody Poteet reportedly has joined the Yankees and could be activated. Marcus Stroman hasn’t pitched in eight days, so he can provide innings tonight. Clayton Beeter also hasn’t pitched since being called up.