The SF Giants acquired former MVP Kris Bryant at the 2021 trade deadline in exchange for Alexander Canario and Caleb Kilian. According to the team's transaction log, the Cubs released Kilian, closing the books for good on that deal.
Chicago Cubs close the book on trade deadline deal with SF Giants from 2021
Bryant's tenure with San Francisco was good, as he posted a .788 OPS with seven home runs and 22 RBI down the stretch in 2021. He was a free agent after that season, and there was some level of mutual interest in a reunion.
However, the power-hitting bat joined the Colorado Rockies on a seven-year, $182 million pact. He has struggled to stay healthy since then, and you just hope that he can have a normal life from a health standpoint when his playing days are over.
On the other side of that ledger, the Cubs acquired a pair of quality prospects in Canario and Kilian. Canario had occupied a spot on the Giants' 40-man roster despite being in Low-A at the time of the deal. There was a lot of development left for him to realize, and his option clock was ticking.
The Giants looked like their competitive window had reopened, so Canario's trajectory did not fit. He seemed like a great fit for a rebuilding team like the Cubs. It took some time, and he was slowed by injuries, but the right-handed bat flashed incredible power in the minors. This included a 37-homer season split across three levels in 2022.
Canario did debut with the Cubs in 2023, and he put together some strong numbers over the next two seasons. He registered an .857 OPS with two home runs and eight RBI in 45 plate appearances with Chicago. While this type of production would lend itself to more playing time, Canario posted a 42.2 percent strikeout rate while struggling to make contact on pitches in the zone.
The Cubs shipped the power-hitting outfielder to the New York Mets during spring training. Since he was out of options and the Mets did not have a place for him on the active roster, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates before the start of the year.
Caleb Kilian was a pop-up pitching prospect at the time of the deal. He was an eighth-round pick by the Giants in 2019. He quickly moved up the minor league ladder, flashing a mid-90's fastball with a pair of secondary offerings. The right-handed pitcher earned a quick promotion to the Cubs, but struggled over the next three seasons.
Overall, Kilian posted a 9.22 ERA across eight sporadic outings in three years. He was designated for assignment last week and released over the weekend. The Cubs received 0.1 combined fWAR from that deal.
