Chicago Cubs reliever, one-time starter, and fan favorite Drew Smyly entered waivers on Monday as the Cubs chase a Wild-Card bid, as reported by Bob Nightengale. The left-hander and 2021 World Series champion has posted a 2.84 ERA and a 1.184 WHIP through 39 games in relief this season. The Cubs currently sit 5 1/2 games out of a Wild-Card spot, trailing the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. With the logjam surrounding the third and final Wild Card spot, the Cubs are clearly cutting off weight in anticipation of another season outside of the bubble.
The Chicago Cubs put veteran pitcher Drew Smyly on outright waivers for postseason contenders looking for lefty reliever.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 27, 2024
Cubs Place Drew Smyly on Waivers
Why Make the Move?
Before the trade deadline, Jed Hoyer, president of baseball operations for the team, said the team would not pursue “a lot of moves that only help [them] for this year.” This somewhat unambiguously indicated that they were largely future-focused in their deals for the rest of the season. However, they followed this up with a major trade involving Christopher Morel and Isaac Paredes to shore up their third-base conundrum, complicating their direction at the deadline.
Smyly was on the second year of a two-year, $19 million contract for the Cubs with a mutual option for 2025. This represents, primarily, a cost-cutting measure, something teams have pursued more frequently under the new trade deadline rules.
Where Will Smyly End Up?
Smyly began his time with the Cubs as a starter, starting 55 games between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. However, his inconsistencies as a starter and the signings of Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon left him demoted to the bullpen. Although he has had an overall productive season and provides versatility as a potential long reliever, the Cubs obviously felt that his contract was not worth the value to a team on the outside of the playoff bubble.
Many teams in contention will be looking for that bullpen versatility, and Smyly has a good chance of landing with a team before postseason eligibility ends.
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