MLB Rumors: Yankees Trade for Mark Leiter Jr.; Cubs Land Ben Cowles, Jack Neely

The New York Yankees acquired reliever Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Ben Cowles and right-handed reliever Jack Neely.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the move right before the 2024 MLB trade deadline.

Leiter, 33, has posted a 4.21 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while striking out 53 batters in 36.1 innings. He's spent the last three seasons with the Cubs after joining the team in 2022. Before arriving in Chicago, Leiter did not pitch in MLB between 2019 to 2021 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and struggling to latch on with teams.

Leiter is the son of former MLB pitcher Mark Leiter, who played from 1990 to 2001.

The Yankees will use Leiter as a reliever to shore up their middle innings.

Neither Cowles nor Neely are considered elite prospects. Cowles is hitting .295/.376/.472 with nine home runs and 51 runs batted in playing in Double-A this season. Neely has struck out 63 batters in 41.2 innings this season in the minors.