In a late move before the Tuesday 6:00 p.m. ET trade deadline, the New York Yankees have acquired right-handed reliever Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs. In exchange, the Cubs received infielder Ben Cowles and right-handed reliever Jack Neely. This trade comes as the Yankees continue to bolster their roster for the ongoing battle with the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East standings.

Leiter, 33, has posted a 4.21 ERA and an impressive 2.11 FIP in 39 appearances this season, showcasing his skills on the mound. Despite his solid performance, his FIP being notably lower than his ERA indicates that he may have faced some tough luck this season. The Yankees are optimistic that Leiter's recent superb performance in July, where he pitched 7 2/3 innings without allowing a hit or a run while striking out 14 batters, suggests a positive trend moving forward.

Noteworthy is Leiter's family legacy in baseball, as both his father, Mark, and uncle, Al, have previously pitched for the New York Yankees during their MLB careers. Considering Leiter is still in his arbitration years and under team control until after the 2026 season, the Yankees view him as a valuable asset to strengthen their bullpen.

On the Cubs' end of the deal, they acquire Cowles, a 24-year-old infielder with a promising minor league performance, and Neely, a 24-year-old right-handed reliever who has shown considerable potential in his four minor league campaigns. The Cubs, sitting on the edges of the NL wild-card race, have taken a blended buy-sell approach leading up to the trade deadline.

The addition of Leiter, along with the earlier acquisition of outfielder/infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., indicates the Yankees' determination to maintain their position at the top of the AL East as they aim for a successful postseason run.