Deal Done. Cubs Sign Brandon Morrow
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brandon Morrow during a Major League baseball game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Dodgers won 4-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
That escalated quickly. Well, not really, since the Chicago Cubs and Brandon Morrow have been talking since a couple days before Thanksgiving.
Source: The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms with free agent RP Brandon Morrow on a two-year deal with an option. @MLBBruceLevine first said they were close. Deal is pending a physical.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 10, 2017
That deal is rumored to be in the $10-$11 million range per season.
Brandon checks off all the boxes for the Cubs. Theo Epstein talked about how the Cubs pen gave up the most unintentional walks in 2017. In 2016 they gave up the third most unintentional walks. Morrow gave up only 1.9 walks per nine in 2017. He fills a high-leverage role, or possibly the closer’s job.
Perhaps not as decorated as Wade Davis, his presence allows the Cubs to save money and add other high quality relievers.
What I like about this is, Brandon has a gun on his shoulder. Firing fastballs over 100 MPH, he can get away with pitches other pitchers just can’t. When you throw 100, hitter have to gear up to it. They anticipate, which makes other pitches look better. They swing over breaking pitches because of it. The fastball will always be the best pitch in baseball, and Brandon has one of the five best in the game today.
What is best about this is the deal. A two-year deal with an option for a third. This heavily weighs in the Cubs favor, and gives them a legit high-leverage guy at the backend. Signing a “closer” to $11 million is incredible in today’s market.
My only caution would be workload. While he proved that he is durable, pitching in every game of the World Series, he’s had arm injuries and 2017 was his first real test. Be very careful of throwing him in multiple innings or back-to-back games.
