The biggest item on Jed Hoyer’s winter wish list was a starting pitcher. He was confident that the team would add another starter as late as last week when joining WSCR AM-670 The Score. Well tonight news broke that the Chicago Cubs landed a starting pitcher.
Sources: Brett Anderson has deal with #Cubs, pending physical. Impressed club during recent bullpen session in Arizona.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 24, 2017
Anderson would add to #Cubs’ rotation options, but his physical will be critical. Has appeared in only 65 games past five seasons.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 24, 2017
Wheels up to Chicago…I bet it’s cold there.
— Brett Anderson (@BrettAnderson35) January 23, 2017
Brett Anderson had a tough 2016 season, missing all but four games due to a back injury. He would eventually have back surgery, ending his 2016 campaign. Anderson, who impressed some in 2015, accepted the LA Dodgers qualifying offer last season. Earning $15.8 million for the season, it was expected that the Dodgers would allow Brett to walk after the season.
Brett is a nice security blanket for the Cubs. He offers competition for Mike Montgomery for the fifth starter role, and he provides the team flexibility in the event of injury.
Brett features six pitches, a couple fastball variations, as well as a curve, slider, and change up. He is not overpowering, maxing out around 88 MPH, but when pitching well, he mixes his pitches nicely.
I would like for the Cubs to still find another starter, one which could allow the team to move Montgomery to the pen. I find Mike more valuable as a reliever, where he was fantastic, and questionable as a starter. Mike pitched very well in limited chances as a starter last season, but would need to be exceptional to allow the move to make good baseball sense. Some will say, “trust in Joe,” which I do, but I would prefer he had more pitchers to choose from.
Brett is the start to adding more competition, and would love it if Mike beat him out and ended up winning 15 games. It would just be more comforting if they added yet another pitcher to complete with them. It is Mike’s job to lose, but lets hope there’s more guys fighting for that spot.
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