3 Cubs free agents who won’t be back next season and why
By Tim Boyle
3) Drew Smyly isn’t the pitcher the Cubs rotation needs in it
Much like Miley, missing time was a problem for Drew Smyly this year. Far healthier, however, with nearly 100 innings logged after 18 starts, he was an injury gamble the team made that sort of paid off. He sits with a 5-7 record and 3.24 ERA in his first 89 innings of work.
Health has been a major problem throughout Smyly’s career. He has passed the 150 inning mark only twice in his career and won’t get there again in 2022.
The Cubs do have a mutual option on Smyly worth $5.25 million with a $1 million buyout as an alternative. The organization does seem to really like him, though. Back in 2018, they paid him $3 million to rehab with the club. He never did pitch for them and ended up traded in November.
Because of the way the younger Cubs pitched have developed this year, it would be an error in judgment to leave the roster spot open for him. The Cubs need to go bigger with the opening. Smyly is a one-year mercenary best suited in the way the Atlanta Braves used him in 2021. He ate up innings for them and managed to come away with an 11-4 record despite the completely average 4.48 ERA.
Smyly wouldn’t cost a lot and could give Chicago a trade deadline candidate to flip. But what happens when he gets hurt again?
It’s time for the Cubs to move forward. Smyly shouldn’t be a part of that plan.
Next. 3 Cubs players who have already earned a bigger role for 2023. dark