Chicago Cubs: Drew Smyly an exciting addition

The Chicago Cubs recently signed injured pitcher Drew Smyly to a two-year deal. Although he won’t be able to contribute immediately, he is an interesting addition with high upside.

Going into the offseason, it was clear that the Chicago Cubs would be looking for pitching help. With starting pitchers Jake Arrieta and John Lackey reaching free agency along with closer Wade Davis, it was obvious that the North Siders would have some big holes to fill.

To address the bullpen, the Cubs have already signed Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek to two-year deals. They have added a starting pitcher in Tyler Chatwood on a three-year deal as well. The Cubs have also now brought in Drew Smyly, who could help out in either the starting rotation or bullpen, but won’t be able to contribute right away.

Smyly began his career with the Detroit Tigers and made his big league debut in 2012. He was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays in the David Price deal during the summer of 2014. After the 2016 season, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners. However, due to injuries, Smyly never appeared in a game for Seattle. He underwent Tommy John surgery last summer, and he was non-tendered by the Mariners early this offseason.

According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, Smyly will earn $3 million next season and $7 million in 2019. He can potentially earn another $6 million in incentives as a starter during the second year of the deal as well.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Past Success

In his career, Smyly has had success as both a starter and reliever. In 2013, he posted a 2.37 ERA across 76 innings of relief work for the Tigers. Going by fWAR, he was the most valuable member of Detroit’s bullpen, with Joaquin Benoit coming in a close second. Since then, he has been used mostly as a starter.

In 2014, he posted a very solid 3.24 ERA through 28 games (25 starts) with the Tigers and Rays. Though he was limited to only 12 games (all starts) during the 2015 campaign, he was very impressive once again, going 5-2 and posting a sparkling ERA of 3.11.

During his final season with the Rays, Smyly went 7-12 with an inflated 4.88 ERA through a career-high 30 starts and 175.1 innings. Overall, Smyly’s 2016 campaign is arguably the only “smudge” on an otherwise very solid big league resume.

As Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has pointed out, Smyly is familiar with Cubs manager Joe Maddon and newly-hired pitching coach Jim Hickey. Maddon was Smyly’s manager for the last two months of the 2014 season. Hickey was Smyly’s pitching coach for his entire tenure in Tampa Bay. Having already excelled under the tutelage of Maddon and Hickey before, Smyly and the Cubs could be a perfect match.

Next: Philadelphia Phillies: Chase Utley not a Hall of Famer

Smyly, who continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery, will most likely not be able to toe the rubber until later on next season at the earliest. Per Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago, it is also possible that he could miss the 2018 season in its entirety. Even if he is unable to pitch until 2019, he is still a very interesting and exciting addition for the Cubs.