A month ago, the MLB world buzzed with shock—Ryan Pressly, the Astros’ trusted closer, was off to the Cubs. Questions swirled: Was Houston making room for a blockbuster signing? Was there friction between Pressly and GM Dana Brown? A trade like this doesn’t happen without cause. But now, after all the speculation, Brown has broken his silence on what really happened. And the truth? It’s not at all what anyone expected.
So, who was Ryan Pressly for the Astros? As one of baseball’s top relievers, Pressly gained notoriety with the Astros. For the unversed, from August 15, 2018, to May 23, 2019, the two-time All-Star went 40 games in a row without giving up a run. Last year, he played a significant role in Houston’s second World Series victory. In a total of 623 games for the Astros, Pressly got 35-36 with a 3.27 ERA and 112 saves. In 59 appearances as Josh Hader’s setup man last season, he recorded a 3.49 ERA.
Astros GM Dana Brown says he traded Ryan Pressly because there was an opportunity to acquire a future starter.
“It had nothing to do with money dumping.” pic.twitter.com/iDCagHTulv
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) March 5, 2025
Josh Hader’s setup man! Yes, that’s where it all started to go south between Pressly and the team. Despite Pressly’s success as the team’s primary ninth-inning option and his transition to a closer in 2020, the Astros chose to sign Josh Hader to a five-year, $95MM contract last winter. Last season, Pressly returned to setup duties with Hader on board. While this made Pressly look for a better opportunity, the Astros also started to find a starter. So, money dumping was not involved here. “It had nothing to do with money dumping,” said Brown in a podcast with the Foul Territory.
Separation offered mutual benefits to Pressly and the Astros
It was a mutual decision to get parted for mutual benefits for both Ryan Pressly and the Astros. Yes, there was a relationship between the two, though fractured and only speeded up the divorce formalities. “Any time you take a major-league player out of a role where they feel comfortable, it’s going to fracture your relationship some,” said Brown earlier when asked about his relationship with Pressly. While the Astros got Josh Hader in place of Pressly, the latter went back to his closer role with the Cubs.
Last year for the Astros, Hader made 71 appearances, posting an 8–8 record, 3.80 ERA, 71 innings, 43 hits, 12 home runs, 25 walks surrendered, and 105 strikeouts. Comparable to what Pressly had done all these years. On the other hand, the Cubs offered Pressly to close the games, as he did earlier for the Astros. “It was tough to make this decision,” said Pressly on shifting his base to Chicago. Well, leaving past all these issues, Pressly is throwing some good balls in the ongoing spring season and went to a 3.38 ERA from 3 games played.
The separation of Ryan Pressly from the Astros has done well for both parties. The upcoming regular season will prove how much both can flourish without each other.
What do you think about the Astros’ scene with Pressly?
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