The Chicago Cubs traded for disappointing starting pitcher Eddie Butler from the Colorado Rockies. Just three years ago, Eddie was a top 20 prospect in baseball, and was projected to be a front line starter. How does someone that well thought of, get traded for minimal return? Why hasn’t he become that top of the rotation pitcher? Why is he now in the Cubs organization? Who the hell is Eddie Butler?
Who is Eddie Butler?
In 2014’s top 100 prospects, ESPN’s Keith Law was extremely high on the potential of Eddie. Law ranked Eddie just two spots behind Kris Bryant, and ahead of Los Angeles Dodgers super short stop, Corey Seager. Fast forward to the 2016 offseason, Bryant and Seager were battling it out for the NL MVP, and Butler is designated for assignment.
#Rockies make it official. Sign RHP Greg Holland. Designate RHP Eddie Butler for assignment.
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) January 28, 2017
How does a guy that Keith Law believes, “he’s at least a No. 2 starter, and you couldn’t find a better fit for Coors Field than this kind of power and life,” get designated for assignment just two years later?
First we have to understand, not everyone was this high on Butler’s future.
Many scouts and baseball executives believed Butler would be a reliever. He showcased a plus fastball, and a good change. But the lack of a third pitch led some to believe he’d have troubles the third time through a lineup. He did boast a plus fastball, reaching 98 MPH and a low 90’s changeup. Those pitches were on display in the Future’s Game, along with a hard slider.
That alone are enough for any scout to drool over. While this performance turned many heads, the potential just hasn’t transferred, yet.
Chris Anders, who does great work at SB Nation, covered what had gone wrong. The biggest problems he spoke about was control. In 2014 and 15 Eddie compiled a total of 49 walks and only 47 strikeouts in 95.1 innings. He improved his strikeout to walk ratio in 2016, but only to two-to-one rate isn’t a sign of an ace to be.
In investigating possibilities for inconsistencies, I ran across this post from Doug Thorburn at Baseball Prospectus. Within it Doug describes a young pitcher with mechanics that, while creates power, is incredibly difficult replicate in just about every movement. While Eddie made some moves to quiet his mechanics, we’ve learned from Jake Arrieta’s success that sometimes familiarity and comfortability is greater than perfect mechanics.
What I am seeing with Eddie is a guy that will always have a touch of wildness to him. There are ways to clean it up, but his stat lines will most always have more than his share of walks. The area of most concern is giving up two-run home runs after Butler walks a batter. In my opinion, the best way to do this is by allowing him to pitch comfortably and resorting back to previous mechanics.
From what I have seen in the last two years is a decrease in overall velocity. A guy that can consistently touch 97-98 on a radar gun, shouldn’t average 93 on his fastball. Every hitter in baseball can mash 93, and when a pitcher can’t command his other pitches they sit dead red. This makes his other pitches less effective as well, and leads to short outings with large runs totals.
Blatantly stated, doesn’t have the stuff to be a finesse guy and his current velocity isn’t enough to be a power arm.
So great, the Cubs traded for a dud. Not exactly.
Again, under the tutelage of Chris Bosio, the pitcher whisperer (if quarterbacks can have one, why can’t pitchers?) he has the ability to be a very good pitcher in this league. Baseball Prospectus was pretty certain of his potential, Keith Law was pretty certain of his potential. This is a guy that can hang, and hang in the upper echelons of a pitching staff. The trick is getting him to understand what he is, how to succeed, and executing that plan.
It is safe to say, there’s none better than Bosio at getting the most from pitchers. It’s also fair to say that they Cubs organization has done a phenomenal job of fostering their youth. And that youth has more times than not become solid MLB players. If there is an organization that can get the most of Butler, the Cubs are that organization.
Do not expect Eddie Butler to be seen on the Northside until late this season. With an option remaining, the Cubs will likely only call him up late in the season. This will either spelling their staff, or in the event of an injury. I’d expect Eddie to get a lot of use in spring, and begin his development in extended spring then Iowa. He will not impact 2017, but could be fantastic addition in the 2018 season.
