Cubs ‘Deep in Discussions’ with LHP Drew Smyly
According to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the Cubs are “deep in discussions” with Drew Smyly, the lefty swingman who signed a two-year deal with Chicago prior to the 2018 season. Smyly was recovering from elbow reconstruction when the Cubs signed him and they knew it was unlikely he’d pitch that first season, but they traded him to Texas as a way to clear space after picking up the option on Cole Hamels in 2019.
The Cubs deep in discussions with LHP Drew Smyly .He was once property of the Cubs. He had signed a two year deal with the team in 2017 but never pitched for the team recovering from TJ surgery
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) March 18, 2022
Smyly had a very rough go of things with the Rangers over nine starts and was released in June, after which he signed a minors deal with the Brewers. He elected free agency after he wasn’t called up and caught on with the Phillies, for whom he posted a 4.45 ERA over 12 starts. Smyly showed out for the Giants in the shortened 2020 season, cranking the fastball up to a career-high 93.8 mph and getting way more swinging strikes than ever.
He settled back down with Atlanta last year, making 23 starts in 29 appearances and posting a 4.48 ERA over 126.2 total innings.
Mainly a fastball/curve guy, Smyly rounds things out with a cutter that hasn’t historically been a very good pitch. He’s been stung by the longball in the past and doesn’t necessarily boast any unique skills that would instantly make the Cubs contenders, but he’s a solid pitcher who can flip from the rotation to the bullpen. Given how many injuries the Cubs have already suffered to the pitching staff, having extra arms isn’t a bad thing.
