MLB rumors: Cubs lose a prospect, NL Central trade appetite, Rodon back

MLB rumors: Cubs lose Jordan Holloway from farm system

The Chicago Cubs’ bullpen has been a sliding door this season. Now one option is no longer on the table, with Jordan Holloway opting out of his minor league deal and hitting the free agent market, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

The 27-year-old is expected to have many suitors due to his impressive strikeout rate (38.1%), but it’s worth noting that Holloway was in the minors for a reason — despite Chicago’s blatant need for better relievers.

Holloway has split time between Triple-A Iowa and Single-A Myrtle Beach for the Cubbies this season, posting an ERA of 6.57 with 24 strikeouts and 12 walks in 12.1 innings pitched. Averaging basically a walk per inning won’t cut it, not to mention that ghastly ERA.

This isn’t Holloway’s first rodeo either. He spent three years with the Miami Marlins from 2020-22, including 15 big-league appearances. His MLB numbers are a little less unsightly (3.92 ERA, 38 K’s, 28 BB’s), but with his recent struggles taken into account — plus the fact that he’s not exactly a spring chicken by prospect standards — it’s hard to imagine the Cubs losing too much sleep over Holloway’s impending departure.

Chicago will instead turn its attention toward other internal development projects or, perhaps, toward the Aug. 1 trade deadline, which looms large on the horizon. Chicago is currently five games below .500 and five games back of first-place Milwaukee. The front office has a decision to make regarding the direction the franchise will take over the second half of the season.