Ryan Pressly deemed it “probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made” to waive his no-trade rights and accept a trade from the Houston Astros, where the right-hander spent seven seasons as a bullpen anchor amid the franchise’s golden era,

Pressly has already spoken with Cubs manager Craig Counsell and Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.

After seven years with the Houston Astros, pitcher Ryan Pressly will be starting a new chapter in his MLB career. Pressly decided to waive his no-trade clause, paving the way for the Astros to send him to the National League for pitcher Juan Bello.