Cubs Trade LHP Bailey Horn Back to White Sox for RHP Matt Thompson

The Cubs indeed traded away a pitcher to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, but it was not Keegan Thompson as an earlier report had suggested. Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re done taking and making phone calls to curate the roster. Bailey Horn is heading across town in more ways than one, as he’ll now join the White Sox at their camp in Glendale as he returns to his original organization.

Sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me that the Cubs have traded LHP Bailey Horn to the White Sox for RHP Matt Thompson. Clears a spot on the 40-man for Cody Bellinger once his signing becomes official.

— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) February 27, 2024

A fifth-round pick in 2020, Horn pitched in the minors for the Sox in ’21 before he was acquired by the Cubs in exchange for Ryan Tepera. Horn then marched steadily through the system and split time between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa last year. He has put up big strikeout numbers with walk totals that border on concerning and has served strictly as a reliever over the last two seasons.

Coming back to the Cubs is righty curveball specialist Matt Thompson, who had an up-and-down year at Double-A last season. His 15% walk rate is pretty scary and he’s given up a lot of hits in his professional career, but he could be a guy who gets a little helium with a new org.

Next up is the official announcement of the Cody Bellinger deal.