The Cubs have declined their finish of a $10MM mutual choice on left-hander Drew Smyly, studies Jon Heyman of the New York Put up. He’ll be paid a $2.5MM buyout and return to the free agent market.
Smyly, 35, pitched to a 3.84 ERA in 58 2/3 innings over 50 reduction appearances with the Cubs this previous season, however that strong earned run common was accompanied by extra worrying charge stats. The southpaw’s strikeout charge dipped to 21.8% whereas his stroll charge spiked to a 9.7% mark that stands because the second-worst of his profession. He additionally yielded a mean of 1.53 homers per 9 innings pitched and surrendered his highest hard-hit charge (38.2%) and common exit velocity (89.2 mph) since 2020. His 11.3% swinging-strike charge was his lowest since 2019.
When the Cubs signed Smyly, they did so with an eye fixed towards a possible rotation spot. He certainly began 23 video games for them in 2023, the primary season of his two-year $19MM pact, however he didn’t make a single look out of the rotation in 2024. Chicago’s rotation combine contains Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, Ben Brown, Hayden Wesneski and Jordan Wicks, with promising prospect Cade Horton on the horizon. Allocating $10MM to a swingman coming off diminished strikeout/stroll charges and with ongoing residence run points wasn’t one thing on which the staff was eager, clearly.
Be that as it might, Smyly ought to discover one other massive league deal in free company. He has intensive expertise each as a starter and reliever, so a membership with some uncertainty within the fourth or fifth spot of the rotation may look to Smyly as an inexpensive early-season rotation piece who may transfer to the ’pen if youthful arms pressure the difficulty. Different groups would possibly merely view Smyly as an intriguing choice in a market gentle on high quality left-handed relievers.
