When the Chicago Cubs traded for Daniel Palencia at the 2022 trade deadline, it didn’t make many national headlines. At the time, the Cubs were retooling rather than contending, and Palencia was still a relatively unknown prospect. But as the dust has settled over the past seasons, the move has begun to look like a savvy piece of business that could pay off for years to come.
Palencia came over from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for veteran reliever Andrew Chafin. Chafin was a solid left-handed bullpen piece, but he was on an expiring contract. The Cubs saw an opportunity to flip a short-term asset for a potential long-term contributor — and that’s exactly what they did.
What made Palencia stand out to the Cubs was his electric arm. Even in the lower minors, he showcased a fastball that sat in the upper 90s and routinely touched triple digits. His delivery had some effort, but the raw stuff — paired with flashes of a solid slider — gave scouts a reason to believe he could eventually be a high-leverage reliever, if not a starter.
The Cubs wasted little time getting to work. After acquiring him, they focused on refining his mechanics, improving his command, and helping him find a consistent secondary pitch. While there were some
About the Author
