It seems that the Houston Astros are ready to shake up things. Next up on their to-do list is putting Ryan Pressly on the chopping block. Pressly was once a trusted closer but now finds himself at a crossroads. Right now, Houston just wants to get rid of his $14 million salary and avoid breaching the luxury tax threshold. But there is a speed bump—Pressly isn’t going to go anywhere without a say in this.

Several teams seem to be interested in Pressly. However, the only one seen as a strong contender to clinch him is the Chicago Cubs. However, for Pressly, being 35 years old, it’s not just a move that matters. It’s also the role that carries weight. Now apparently Pressly is willing to waive his no-trade clause, only if the Chicago Cubs guarantee him the closer job.

Now this demand isn’t stemming randomly. In Houston, he was demoted from his role. Josh Hader had taken over the ninth-inning duties, whereas Pressly was pushed into more of a setup role in 2024.

Well, the Houston Astros might be willing to part ways with the former All-Star. The reason might not just be his huge payroll but also his lackluster performance. Now his numbers aren’t all that bad with a 3.49 ERA over 59 appearances. But maybe, it’s not something the Astros are looking for from a player who earns as much as him. His WHIP climbed to 1.34, and opposing batters hit .259 against him, compared to his 2022 performance when he held hitters to a .178 average.

Last season, his lowest point came during his lone postseason outing in the ALDS. He gave up three runs in 2.3 innings during a crucial game with the Detroit Tigers. However, right now, the Tigers and Cubs will be hanging on what Ryan Pressly finally decides. As Jon Heyman best said about this, “The ball is now in Ryan Pressly’s court.” But it seems like not every fan from the Cubs, at least, is interested in him coming to Chicago.

Fans opposed to seeing Ryan Pressly in Chicago

For several fans, the clause of Pressly seems frivolous. A user said he isn’t comparable to Mariano Rivera, and he is not a prima donna. And well, his numbers sure did dip this season. But even after that, his achievements over his 12-year career have been great. He has racked up 112 saves and has a lifetime ERA of 3.27. From 2021 to 2023, he was one of the league’s most talked about closers. In that span, he collected 90 saves!

A user in X said nothing is guaranteed, and he couldn’t be more right. In baseball, decisions change in split seconds. However, right now for the Chicago Cubs, going with the 35-year-old seems sensible. Their closer spot is wide open after Hector Neris left. Hence Chicago needs Ryan Pressly and the player needs the role — works from both ends. So even if Pressly has few bumps on his resume, he still has credentials to do justice to the role.

One user questioned why Ryan Pressly is being so dramatic and needy. Well, part of the reason can be because he is putting a huge thing on the line – his comfort. Jon Heyman reported that Pressly has a full no-trade clause and never really wanted to leave Houston. This is the place where he and his family live comfortably all year round. So moving will need to be attractive enough for him. Hence the closer role!

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A harsh, bittersweet truth was put forth by a user, and that’s Ryan Pressly’s age. Well, he is in his mid-thirties, and the decline in his performance is already seen. And players in their thirties are anyway prone to injuries and performance deterioration. At the end of the day, while the past and the resume matter, this job requires an appeal of what’s in the future. The Chicago Cubs might be analyzing all these factors, before striking a deal.

So, the Chicago Cubs fans don’t seem to favor the move, with one blatantly shunning the idea on X. If the Cubs decline, Pressly will have other options. But according to Steve Adams of mlbtraderumors.com, he is likely to block any trades that can send him too far towards either coast. Adams mentioned, “He can nix any trade to a location he doesn’t want. That’s of extra note for Pressly as a Texas native who’s playing his home games a bit more than 200 miles south of Dallas, where he was born and raised.”

Well, right now nothing can be said; however, a continuation with the Astros seems less likely.

Where do you think Pressly will end up? Share your thoughts with us!