Will New York Yankees end up regretting Hayden Wesneski trade to Chicago Cubs?

CHICAGO — Hayden Wesneski made his first start in a Chicago Cubs uniform one to remember, both for Cubs fans excited for the future and New York Yankees fans wondering perhaps what could have been.

In his first MLB start on Saturday, Wesneski was solid for the Chicago Cubs, scattering three hits, walking none, and striking out seven over seven innings of work against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. With the outing, the 24-year-old right-hander became the first Cubs rookie to go at least 7.0 innings while allowing one run or fewer, walking none and striking out at least seven batters since Mark Prior on July 19, 2002, against the Houston Astros.

Despite the outcome, Wesneski shared after the game he didn’t feel like he had his best stuff while warming up.

“To be upfront with you guys, I didn’t think it was going to be a good outing,” Wesneski chuckled. “The thing I just kept in mind the whole time was that we need to win the first pitch. That’s all I had in my mind. I do all of that preparation for the first pitch and that first batter, then after that the second guy will come up and we’ll deal with him.”

While Saturday was Wesneski’s first start, it was his third outing as a member of the Cubs since being called up on September 5. In that span, he has struck out 18 batters while walking just two and posted a 2.30 ERA/2.85 FIP/0.702 WHIP.

“I put pride into that,” Wesneski said of his numbers after Saturday’s start, which included retiring 16 straight Rockies. “I think that’s just the best chance you have of staying here longest, is just filling it up. So that’s just part of my MO and who I’ve been. They’re going to keep running me out there if I keep throwing strikes and, at some point, good things will happen.”

Hayden Wesneski was the seventh-ranked prospect for the New York Yankees, but now he’s part of the future for the Chicago Cubs

Traded from the Yankees to the Cubs in a one-for-one deal for reliever Scott Effross at this year’s MLB trade deadline, Wesneski said it wasn’t a complete surprise that he was traded and that he was “stoked” to join the Cubs, a team he admitted he had always admired.

It’s clear that Wesneski’s strong three-pitch mix of fastball, slider, and sinker will work at the MLB level and it’s likely a mix that will factor into Chicago’s plans for the rest of this season and beyond.

“My stuff is good, and I know that,” Wesneski said. “If I’m throwing strikes with my stuff, I even have a chance when I’m not so sharp.”

While Wesneski is settling in in the Windy City, Effross hasn’t pitched for the Yankees since August 20 because of a right shoulder strain. In eight games this season, the right-hander has a 3.24 ERA/3.47 FIP/1.080 WHIP and is likely due back with the Yankees soon after throwing to live hitters on Friday for the first time since his injury.

Effross came to the Yankees with team control through 2027, making him not only a valuable piece for this season in the Bronx, but campaigns to come as well.

In the end, it’s too early to know if the trade will benefit the Yankees or Cubs more, but Wesneski is ready to hop on his chance to make a difference on the North side.

“I hope to be on the big league club next year, if it’s starting or relieving,” he said. “I just want to be given the opportunity.”

With stretches like he has had, including Saturday’s start, it’s likely Wesneski will have plenty of more opportunities to show the Cubs they made the right decision with the trade and prove to the Yankees exactly what they gave up.