Drew Smyly declined his end of a $10MM mutual option in his contract with the Cubs, as Jordan Bastian of MLB.com was among those to relay (on Twitter). He’ll collect a $1MM buyout and head back to free agency.
It’s virtually a formality that every mutual option will be declined by one side, and Smyly’s decision doesn’t register as much of a surprise. He’s likely to look for a multi-year deal this winter. The veteran southpaw is coming off a decent season for Chicago, pitching to a 3.47 ERA through 106 1/3 innings over 22 starts. His 20.4% strikeout rate was a hair below average, but he only walked 5.8% of opposing hitters and had a solid 12.4% swinging strike rate.
Smyly and the Cubs reportedly kicked around extension talks last month. Obviously, nothing has come to fruition, but Bastian notes the Cubs are still interested in keeping the 33-year-old around. They’ll retain exclusive negotiating rights through Thursday evening, but it looks likely the Frontline client will soon be in contact with other clubs with no extension in place.
Chicago doesn’t have a ton of certainty behind Marcus Stroman in their season-opening rotation. Kyle Hendricks figures to assume a spot if healthy; he’s yet to begin a throwing program after his 2022 season was cut short by a capsule tear in his throwing shoulder, although the Cubs aren’t concerned about his availability for Spring Training. Justin Steele looks like a rotation lock, but Chicago’s likely to seek upgrades over Adrian Sampson and Keegan Thompson at the back end. Even if they manage to retain Smyly, they figure to explore a deep starting pitching free agent class.
Don’t even think about it Atlanta…
AA getting the cold sweats trying not to dial Drew’s #
He’s a freaking world champion bay bay.
Still surprised he would turn down basically 9 mil. He’s a lefty and had decent numbers and will get perhaps a multi year deal but I doubt he passes 9 mil AAV though.
But he can beat 9 million on a multi year deal… if you had smylys injury history, would you roll the dice on a higher aav or a higher total given his age, fact he pitched well and is entering the market injury free?
Over 40 Mil in career earnings thus far….Not bad at all…
Good decent pitcher.
He’s good when he’s healthy
I don’t think I would pay Smyly $9 million. He just seems like that guy that should be a lot better than he actually is. It just seems like you could get similar results for a lot less money.
He’s a mid rotation starter for some and a solid backend for contending teams. If you have a young staff for a rebuilding ballclub, paying him $10M wouldn’t be the worst investment.
Paying him $10MM might not be THAT bad, but he declined $10MM. So that means he is expecting more than that, and someone will probably give it to him. I still don’t think he is worth it.
Not necessarily. He likely declined because he’s looking to get a multi year deal off the heels of a decent season. Rejecting 10 mil now to get a multi year deal means that if he has a rough season in 2023, it won’t hurt his contract status. If he signs a 2-3 year deal with an option now at like 10 mil per year, he’s got security in case of injuries or a down year this year. If he were to get hurt and/or have a down year this year after allowing the option to be picked up, he could’ve been looking at a much smaller guarantee for 2024
2 years / $18M with a year 3 team option of $9M with a $2M buyout should get it done. I don’t see any team offering him a guaranteed 3rd year unless he’ll sign a 3/$21M or maybe a 3/$24M contract. At his age, he’s looking for as much guaranteed money he can find so he’ll come down on his AAV for a longer term, guaranteed deal.
@D_M; my exact thought. Loved to see my O’s make an offer. Also think this way of Walker of Mets. Both, even though mid to back rotation guys, would be comfortable at 1 or 2 until Means gets healthy and/or the Rodriguez/Hall tandem gets acclimated to big club level of play.
Drew Smyly and former White Sox Jose Quintana are the type of mid-to-back of the rotation free agents most pundits expect the ChiSox to pursue this offseason. Their current projected rotation features all right-handed pitchers making a lefty addition more likely.
This guy figured out how to maximize his career earnings when he was in SF.
Take one year contracts and convince management he can give you 30 starts and more than a K/IP.
Problem is, he can’t. In short stints he’s great. His 2020 season earned him $11M for 2021.
Some desperate GM will give this guy $10M for one season, cross his fingers and hope.
No more than a 5 inning pitcher. The most innings he ever pitched was 175 1/3 in 2016. He is rarely affective but sure some team will over pay him on watch him make 20 starts and spend time on the disabled list
Rarely effective? He’s effective more times than not.
A lot of teams are happy with a guy who can go out and give them two times through the order and that is what Smyly can do. The “innings eater” isn’t as valuable with the “specialized/weaponized” bullpens.
Smyly has become underrated almost. He’s had his ups and downs, but he may be one of the better values for free agent SPs.
I’d only sign him to a one year deal because he’s gonna end up on the dl at some time again
Doesn’t wanna Cub. Turning his frowniez upside downiez
Anyone else depressed that most of buyouts players get are enough for most of us to retire pn??
Smyly after 1 inning in a rehab start in South Bend got lit up more than a blunt at snoop Dogg house!