(Chicago) The Chicago Cubs acquired third baseman Michael Busch and reliever Yency Almonte from the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor league prospects on Thursday.
The Dodgers received pitcher Jackson Ferris and center fielder Zyhir Hope.
Busch, 26, was named Pacific Coast League Player of the Year at the AAA level last season. He could be the Cubs’ third baseman on opening day of the 2024 season.
Busch had a .323 batting average with 27 home runs and 90 RBIs with Oklahoma City. He made his major league debut in late April, hitting 12 hits in 72 plate appearances, also recording two homers and seven RBIs in 27 games.
Almonte, 29, was 3-2 with a 5.06 ERA in 49 relief appearances with the Dodgers last season. For his career, the right-hander has a 7-6 record and a 4.51 ERA in 196 outings with the Colorado Rockies (2018-21) and Dodgers (2022-23).
Ferris, who turns 20 on Monday, was a second-round pick of the Cubs in the 2022 draft. Hope, who turns 19 on Jan. 19, was selected in the 11th round by the Cubs in 2023.
The Cubs have designated catcher Brian Serven for assignment.