Free agent reliever Richard Lovelady is signing with the Cubs, as announced by Driveline Baseball (on X). Lovelady confirmed the news on his own X account. It’s presumably a minor league contract with a Spring Training invitation. Chicago also agreed to a minor league deal with right-hander Sam McWilliams this afternoon, reports Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic (X link).
Lovelady, a 28-year-old southpaw, has pitched in parts of four MLB campaigns. A former 10th-round pick of the Royals, he debuted with Kansas City in 2019. Lovelady struggled in 26 appearances between 2019-20 before an impressive small-sample showing in ’21. He worked to a 3.48 ERA over 20 2/3 innings that year. Lovelady punched out an above-average 27.2% of opponents while running an excellent 56.6% grounder percentage.
Unfortunately, his time in K.C. was cut short by injury. A UCL sprain in his throwing elbow was a precursor to Tommy John surgery. He spent the following season rehabbing and was traded to the Braves in Spring Training last year. Lovelady never made an MLB appearance with Atlanta, who tried to sneak him through waivers in mid-April. The A’s stepped in to make a claim.
Oakland manager Mark Kotsay called on Lovelady 27 times. The Kennesaw State product allowed 4.63 earned runs per nine. He punched out a quarter of opponents with a 47.5% ground-ball rate. Those are reasonable peripherals but down from the numbers he showed in 2021. His average fastball speed was down to roughly 91 MPH after sitting in the 93 MPH range before the surgery. There wasn’t as dramatic a dip in his slider velocity, which was only marginally down from 86.6 to 85.9 MPH.
Injuries again ended Lovelady’s season and, ultimately, his tenure with the organization. He was shut down around the All-Star Break after being diagnosed with a pronator strain in his forearm. Lovelady finished the year on the injured list. Oakland waived him at season’s end and he became a minor league free agent.
Driveline included video of Lovelady throwing a recent bullpen session at their training facility. That’s a positive indicator for his arm health and seems to suggest he’ll be ready for game action this spring. Chicago is very light on left-handed bullpen options. Drew Smyly is likely pushed into relief after struggling as a starter. Luke Little and Bailey Horn, neither of whom have much MLB experience, are the only other lefty relievers on the 40-man roster.
McWilliams, 28, has spent time on the 40-man rosters of the Mets and Padres in his career. He has yet to make his major league debut. Sky-high walk rates in the upper minors kept him from getting a look in the majors. The 6’7″ hurler sat out last season before a return in the Mexican winter league this year. Over 25 1/3 frames there, he owns a 3.55 ERA with a 28.4% strikeout rate but a 13.7% walk percentage.
Glad this guy is still around!!
Perfect specimens for the PITCH LAB!
I’m curious what people think goes on in teams “pitch lab” and also, it seems like a lot of fans think their team is the only team with one.
Canon Fodder to take innings away from legitimate prospects. They do this every year.
Which is good, because the legit prospects should be used as starters or high leverage relievers. This dude, along with the other dude they just signed to an MiLB deal are emergency mop ups who they can send up and down and not worry whether or not someone claims them on waivers.
Who do you think he’s going to take innings from? Do you think minor league managers actually manage to win games? They manage prospects work load. They have a plan on who pitches for how many innings or pitches every game. Guys like Lovelady are important when things go off script and you can use without altering your developmental process.
“They do this every year.”
These aren’t Hoyer specific signings. EVERY team, Every year signs fringe guys. At worst, they release the guys without financial impact. If the guy shows some signs of life, he’s organizational depth. Protects from over working those top prospects. At best, you fix something and the guy is a lottery ticket. Like Merryweather, Leiter and Tauchman.
Yeah you’re right , Every team does it. But not every team has as many Pitching prospects that the Cubs have. Right now whichever of Assad and Wicks or Wesneski is the 5th starter
Probably Assad and Wesneski still go North with Wicks being the next man up at Iowa. Just my guess.
That leaves Wicks, Brown, Killian, Horton and maybe Clarke as starters there. Then you have the rest of the Smokies staff that needs promoting.
Bigge, Birdsell, Franklin, Callaway, Kachmar, Leigh, Scalzo, Whitney.
They won the Championship last year. What else is there to prove at AA?
Then you have Horn, Sanders, Thompson, The new guys they signed before these new guys. The lefty and Brewer.
That’s not enough freakin guys that need innings in AAA?
That’s not even counting Arias who if they’re really going to make a reliever, Probably won’t want to keep on the 40 man for 3 years.
I’m pretty sure they can find some innings for those guys without signing cannon fodder.
“But not every team has as many Pitching prospects that the Cubs have.”
Actually, most teams have as many, or more.
Kilian might be the next on waivers when the Cubs sign their next FA that needs a 40 spot.
“the Smokies staff that needs promoting.”
No they don’t.
Bigge needs to learn to throw strikes- 20% BB rate. An 8.71 ERA in Iowa.
Birdsell has 6 IP in AA
Franklin ERA in Tenn was 5.99
It’s Carraway not Callaway pitched 14 IP that last 2 years.
Kachmar had a 4.84 ERA in Tenn and got abused in the fall league.
Scalzo had 6 IP at Tenn
Whitney.
Sanders walks about 20% of the hitters he faces and is a disaster.
“The new guys they signed before these new guys. The lefty and Brewer.”
You keep the best, release the rest. This isn’t difficult
There is zero chance Arias is in Iowa before July….ZERO. And it’s highly unlikely he’s out of AA next year.
Iowa has 589 innings (65 games) that were pitched by guys in ’23 that are no longer with the Cubs. Kilian pitched another 120 in Iowa. He could be exposed to wavers to clear a 40 spot.
There are a lot more innings to cover than the Cubs have arms for Iowa at the start of the season.
Cleveland has a ton of young arms and prospects. They have signed 6 pitchers to minor league deals.
It’s just depth fishing. Not every prospect can or should fill the gaps each year. If they do, and bump out a vet on a minor league deal, so be it.
These moves are nothing to get too excited about, and nothing worth criticizing too much.
Dick Lovelady
80 FV Name
Dude was a 8.1 WAR based on his name alone. Now if we can just find a spot for Brooks Pounders on that roster.
Nice depth signing. Smart. Cubs have a great track record of late with guys like this.
Dick Lovelady, a ladies man like myself.
Careless Whisper starts playing when he’s around!
Watched an interview with Kyle tucker a few years ago where he said Lovelady was the toughest pitcher he’d faced at that point in his career
That because he was laughing his ass off in the batter’s box.
Have often wondered if teams send their struggling pitchers to a lab. It appears this guy went on his own in an attempt to resurrect his career. Bauer was their client. Wonder if spider tack is included with the program?
How did the White Sox miss him- a x KC player. Come on Getz do your job!
The cubbies history of hoping to catch lightening in a bottle in the cheap has struck again!
Thankfully the Cubs have been very successful with their bullpen strategy over the years.
The cubbies bottom of the barrel again for another reclamation project hoping to catch lightening in a bottle yet again!
You can say that again!
“When a man loves a lady….” But in all seriousness hope he pans out. I love rebound stories.
With Busch, madrigal, wisdom and morel rounding out the infield I have my doubts that the cubbies can even win their division not including their lock down lefty loveless out of the pen!
There should not be two commas around “ultimately.” Only one is necessary. MLBTR needs to proofread better.