Report: Cubs Will Add at Least One More Pitcher, Here’s Who
Soon after the Chicago Cubs signed Trevor Williams, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported that they would sign one more pitcher.
Team is likely to sign at least one more starter before spring training, per sources. https://t.co/VWlN2q5JBP
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 30, 2021
Now, Rogers didn’t exactly have a good week. Early in the week, he put out a clickbait article on Kris Bryant. We answered that and explained what Jesse couldn’t, or wouldn’t in his piece. Then he blamed it all on the fans. Finally, today, he didn’t give credit to Evan Altman of Cubs Insider for breaking the Trevor Williams news.
But that aside, his actual reporting is typically above bar, so if this is what he’s hearing, I would tend to believe it.
There are still a ton of free agent pitchers, and with pitchers and catchers expected to report very soon, the sense is they will start signing very soon. So, we should expect to see the Cubs sign another pitcher by the end of next week.
Here are several names I’ve heard in some connection to the Cubs:
- Jake Arrieta
- Chris Archer
- Rich Hill
- Jeff Samardzija
- Mike Foltynewicz
- James Paxton
Personally, while someone like Arrieta and Shark are good low risk types, I wouldn’t look to add either. The romanticism of either is much higher than the rationalism of bringing either in. The only way I can see this happening is if they were to sign another pitcher then take a chance on one of these two. But if you’re counting on either, you can count yourself out.
That’s not saying anything about either. I like Samardzija and I love what Arrieta brought. I just don’t think they have much left to give.
Hill is someone else I think you ignore. Adding a lefty could help, but outside of the Reds and Christian Yelich, there aren’t a ton of lefty bats you fear in the Central. But he’s like 83 years old, and bringing back this former Cub shouldn’t be that much of a thought.
Geez, this list is filled with former Cubs (or Cubs farmhands)… Chris Archer is someone I can see the Cubs taking a chance on. He’s looking for a one-year deal, the Cubs likely aren’t looking to commit past 2021. Archer has the potential to be really good. But, he has a more recent track record of being below average. I can see the Cubs taking the shot here, but I don’t see them working anything out.
As far as Paxton goes. Well, he goes somewhere else. He’s looking for too much (likely) and might even be one of the few arms out there that can get a multi-year deal. Unless 2020 hurts his value so much that the rest of his career is ignored. Up until the 2020 season, Paxton owned a 3.50 ERA and a 3.28 FIP. Most impressively, in 2018 he had 208 Ks while only throwing 160 innings.
While signing any of those pitchers “could” happen, I believe they *will* sign Folty.
Folty is two years removed from having some of the best results in the game. 2.85 ERA, 202 Ks, 3.37 FIP, 1.082 WHIP, an All Star and even got CY Young votes. But he didn’t take that next step in Atlanta, and some of that was durability related.
I think 2021 offers Folty a perfect chance to jump back in, and he is young enough that I think the Cubs will look at either multiple years or even option years. I mean, this kid has all the tools and with the Cubs loving to to reclamation projects, he seems like too good of a fit.
In that 2018 season he had an electric fastball, dialing in at 96-mph. He would pair that with a sharp slider that held batters to a .111 avg. But a noticable drop in weight, led to a loss of velocity. With his FB hovering around 90-mph, his effectiveness dwindled. He was designated for assignment in the 2020 season, and after he cleared waivers he sat in the Braves alternative-site for the remainder of the season.
Folty threw for several teams, and seemed impressive. Since that throwing session, several people have made the connection to the Cubs.
Mike Foltynewicz threw for teams in Atlanta today. Was at 90-92 but looked to be in fine shape.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 29, 2021
Now, you will say, 90-92-mph is where he was at last season. Why would the Cubs want that mess? Well, because throwing 92-mph in January is actually a good sign. He was likely throwing somewhere between 80-90% effort (as pitchers do at this point) which should suggest he can regain some of that velo in 2021. If he does, and he can create separation between his fastball (90 in 2020) and slider (84-mph in 2020) then he will likely be dominate again.
This is a prime example of a low risk – EXTREMELY high reward. Now, of course there are several other teams vying for these pitchers, so it’s not like the Cubs will have the pick of the litter. But, they do have the reputation for finding these guys and turning their careers back around. Just look at guys like Clayton Richards, Jesse Chavez, or Fernando Rodney. These guys were all but out of baseball before a stint with the Cubs and they are still playing seasons after their time in Chicago.
Players see that. Players talk, and players know the reputations certain teams have. This is a reputation the Cubs have. It’s a credit to the investment they’ve made in their pitching department, and the pitch lab.
