The trading frenzy has begun for the Cubs. 

The team traded Scott Effross to the New York Yankees for pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski. Effross, 28, made his debut with the Cubs last year and had a 2.91 ERA in 61 career games. 

Effross had been a strong, versatile piece for the Cubs’ bullpen this season, pitching early in games (he even has a start) and also working high-leverage, late-inning situations. He picked up his first career save just last week and had 50 strikeouts, 13 holds and a 2.66 ERA in 44 innings this year.

After several years in the Cubs system, Effross was approached about dropping down to a sidearm delivery and wound up turning his career around.

Wesneski is the Yankees’ 7th overall prospect per MLB Pipeline and Baseball America has him ranked as the Yankees’ 4th overall prospect. He posted a 3.51 ERA in 19 starts this season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was taken in the 6th round of the 2019 draft by the Yankees. 

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Wesneski’s two-seam fastball sits between 92-94 mph and has a four-seam fastball that has touched 98. Current Cubs assistant pitching coach Daniel Moskos was the pitching coach for the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate in Somerset last season when Wesneski pitched there.

Here’s a look at Wesneski’s stuff:

Hayden Wesneski, Sick 82mph Frisbee Slider. 🥏

22" of horizontal break. pic.twitter.com/2hTbO0E9xG

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 18, 2022

Hayden Wesneski in 5 July starts

• 24.2 IP
• 28 K
• 6 BB
• 2.19 ERA

(via @swbrailriders)pic.twitter.com/a1knICasXF

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 1, 2022

It’s a bit of a surprising move, as Effross was under team control through the 2027 season and could have been part of the bullpen of the future. But the Cubs opted to sell high on the 28-year-old and acquired a starting pitcher prospect who is 4 years younger and close to the majors.