The Cubs are in settlement with reliever Phil Bickford on a minor league contract, studies Jon Heyman of the New York Publish (X hyperlink). The Rep 1 Baseball shopper certified for minor league free company in the beginning of the offseason.
Bickford solely made eight appearances on the massive league stage this yr. He pitched 8 1/3 innings throughout two stints with the Yankees, permitting 9 runs on 10 hits. The 29-year-old righty turned in stable numbers in Triple-A. Bickford labored to a 3.40 ERA with a superb 30% strikeout share whereas limiting his walks to a 7.7% clip. Whereas that didn’t translate in his transient massive league look, the previous first-rounder has proven the power to overlook bats on the MLB stage.
Over components of 5 massive league seasons, Bickford sports activities an above-average 26.1% strikeout charge. He punched out 1 / 4 of opponents throughout a career-high 67 1/3 innings between the Dodgers and Mets in 2023. That got here with a personal-worst 12.8% stroll share, although, and he allowed practically 5 earned runs per 9 that season.
The Cubs have an inexperienced bullpen with a handful of roster spots up for grabs. Nate Pearson, Porter Hodge, Eli Morgan, Tyson Miller and Keegan Thompson most likely have Opening Day jobs secured. Chicago tendered a contract to Julian Merryweather, who’s out of choices. That offers him the within monitor on a center aid job if he’s wholesome. That’d nonetheless go away two spots accessible. The Cubs will certainly make further strikes to deepen the aid group over the winter, but it surely’s a stable touchdown spot for Bickford as he tries to pitch his manner again to the large leagues.
