The Cubs are apparently in agreement with Colten Brewer on a contract for 2024, per a post from Brewer’s own Instagram page. It’s not yet clear if the arrangement is a major or minor league pact.
Brewer, 31, was a fourth-round pick by the Pirates in the 2011 draft. After several years in the Pirates and Yankees farm systems, Brewer made his big league debut with the Padres in 2018 though the right-hander struggled to a 5.59 ERA across 11 appearance that first season. From there the right-hander joined the Red Sox, the club with whom he spent most of his time in the majors. In parts of three seasons with Boston, Brewer posted a 4.98 ERA and 5.20 FIP across 81 1/3 innings of work. While he struck out a respectable 20.3% of batters faced during that time while generating a solid 50.4% groundball rate, Brewer walked a whopping 13.3% of batters faced during his time with the Red Sox.
Those control issues led the club to designate Brewer for assignment back in June 2021. He was eventually outrighted to Triple-A and spent the remainder of the season in the minor leagues before signing a minor league deal with the Royals the following offseason but was confined to the minor leagues for the entire 2022 season. During his 18-month stint at the Triple-A level, Brewer put up a relatively pedestrian 4.53 ERA over 57 2/3 innings of work as his walk rate remained over 10%.
That didn’t stop Brewer from landing with the Rays on a minor league deal during the 2022-23 offseason, though he ultimately wouldn’t make it to Opening Day as a member of the organization. The Rays instead got together with the Yankees on a minor trade before the start of the season that shipped Brewer to the Bronx, where he joined the club’s 40-man roster. He put up decent enough results in 8 1/3 innings of work for the big league club with a 4.32 ERA, but was nonetheless designated for assignment in mid-April.
Brewer accepted an outright assignment with the Yankees and pitched exceptionally well in 20 innings with the club’s Triple-A affiliate, posting a 1.35 ERA with a whopping 29.9% strikeout rate. That brief flash of dominance earned Brewer attention from Nippon Professional Baseball’s Hanshin Tigers, and he signed with the club for the remainder of the 2023 season. Though he managed just 12 1/3 innings down the stretch in Japan, the strong numbers continued. Brewer allowed an ERA of just 2.19 across 14 appearances overseas, striking out 30.2% of batters faced while walking 11.3%.
Brewer’s stretch of dominance in the upper minors and abroad last season has seemingly caught the attention of the Cubs. Chicago is among a handful of clubs known to be looking for relief help this winter along with the Cardinals, Rangers, and Astros. Brewer could conceivably bolster the depth of a club that saw the likes of Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger depart for free agency. With that being said, the addition of Brewer seems unlikely to take the Cubs out of the relief market given their reported interest in some higher-level arms like former Rays righty Robert Stephenson and veteran closer Liam Hendriks. For now, Brewer figures to enter Spring Training with a shot at a role in the club’s bullpen competing alongside the likes of Daniel Palencia and Jose Cuas.
What a low-point — Cubs turning to Brewers. Craig is a trojan horse.
Hoyer knows he needs a starter, more bullpen arms, a third baseman and someone at first base possibly, but here we are being aggressive on fringe minor league players…
Cubs better not cry poor either, they made good money on their Wrigleyville assets last year…
@across
You’re seeing THIS, as ‘. . . Being aggressive’.?
I believe it was unclemike who said – nothing usually gets done until we get right up to the convention – and that’s still a week and a half away.
What I wonder, is why it seems 9 out of 10 commenters seem to blame the slow activity on the GM. They seem to not recognize the process and ignore the greed of agents in particular. Do those same people really think the agents are more concerned about the health of the sport, or the health of their reputation as successful ‘leaches’.
Dogbone,
That was meant as sarcasm.
I just want this team to build on the success of 2023, having a lot of young talent get supplemented by free agent signings. I’m still upset Hoyer didn’t bring back Candelario’s bat, especially since he plays two positions of need, and considering the price the Reds paid, is very affordable. Now I’m afraid Hoyer will overpay for someone like Chapman I’m both years and dollars.
Sorry acoss, I couldn’t figure out what you meant by your comment.
I didn’t think Candelario moved the needle for me. But I also don’t think Jed has any intention of signing Chapman unless it’s a pillow deal. One and Done. I’m fine with giving Morel a shot at one side of the IF, or the other. Cubs still have over $50M to spend on this years team, it’s just a matter of how they allocate it.
No problem Dogbone. Hopefully they add to the bullpen. That’s where they need more attention. Hopefully with Counsell the bullpen will be used more adequately too.
I don’t remember saying that but it’s true anyway. I’m sure having a couple of nice shiny baubles would help spike convention ticket sales. I mean Pitchers and C’s report is only like a month away.
They are clearly crying poor.
Except the Brewers are actually good at picking the diamonds in the rough.
New year, same old Cubs shopping in the dumpster department.
Oh come on. This guy wil get an invite to spring training and either have it or he’ll fill out the Triple A BP. No great expectations here.
Honestly!!! These knuckleheads that are wasting their time commenting below, are reacting like it’s February 23rd and the camps have started and that all FAs are all gone. Unbelievable, lol.
Cubs missing Andy Green?
Well, come on, it’s not as if the Cubs are a big market team…Oops, never mind.
Jed Hoyer is comatose.
Shame on you for speaking ill of the recently departed.
@rememberthecoop So far who have the cubs missed out on? Ohtani was going to LA from the start and as far as I know Bellinger,Hoskins,Merrifield,Turner,solar and the lite hitting Chapman are still on the board.Jed letting the market settle isn’t a bad thing compared to rushing in and locking Bellinger up for 8years. Comments should be saved until the roster is set.
Per a Japanese Media source, the Japanese team he belonged to last year considered the extension of Brewer’s contract, but finally passed it due to his hip joint problem.
Its gonna happen.
Again.
It’s a World Series move if I’ve ever seen one. Williamsport or bust.
The big splash we’ve been waiting for.
They saw yesterday’s report of current FA spending per team and realized they’ve done nothing yet. Had to make a splash hahaha
“Brewer walked a whopping 13.3% of batters faced“
“posting a 1.35 ERA with a whopping 29.9% strikeout rate”
If he could get his ground ball rate whopping, there’d be nothing for the outfielders.
Jed is trolling lol
Jed’s building the bullpen again. Let’s just hope Counsell makes it work within a month. We needed 2 wins to make it to the playoffs and Rossy taking 3 months to figure out the bullpen and then wear them out certainly cost more than 2 losses.
That’s the “big splash” we were all looking for. LOL, for real if they enter the season with even half of what there projected free cap space is, I’m out for the season. For a team supposedly on the verge of competing, this offseason has been a real downer. May as well tear it all down and rebuild again at this rate. Just continue the perpetual rebuild. None of which makes sense for a a team with a top 4 valuation.
So this leaves only the Yankees, Rockies, and Marlins with $0 free agent money spent thus far.
Wake up Cody at CHGO sports with this news. He might need to do a Beer Bat.
Lol I’m probably one of the few people in here that get this reference.
Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Credit to you Carl
lol
Not the CB Cubs fans are hoping for.
Hoyer does this every year. He has one of the best Minor League Pitching Systems in the Majors, Yet he signs 6 or 7 Stewbums to take innings away from prospects who need the innings at AAA. He does it because………..because…….. Wait for it…….. Ah crap who am I kidding, I got nothing.
He does it because it has regularly resulted in significant trade value by the deadline in recent years.
No those were MAJOR league P’s. These are MINOR league P’s with no future. Of all the guys he signed last year only Shane Green pitched an inning of Major League baseball. The rest all died or were released for nothing but not before stealing innings from guys who needed them.
Mark Leiter and Tyler Duffy were signed to minor league contracts prior to 2023.
I didn’t want the Cubs to be in the Hader sweepstakes at that expected price, but I didn’t want the exact opposite of “shopping in the dumpster department” as another poster aptly said lol
Remember when Counsell said he was excited after hearing about the Cubs’ plans? Maybe they weren’t 2024 plans?
I agree, there are other relievers available besides Hader, but it’s getting a little old now. I just don’t want Hoyer to blow it all on a longterm deal for someone like Chapman. But this is the year to spend some money, the team is ready to contend, and all it takes is a Wild Card spot.
Agreed. I’d much rather the Cubs overpay on Belli than Chapman. But I’d have to think Jed and his ‘intelligent spending’ won’t mix with another 150M+ glove first FA.
If not Bellinger I’d take Urshela at 3B on a one-year deal, and Hoskins at 1B. If not Urshela then I really don’t mind Morel fumbling groundballs at third base, I’ll take his growing pains for his controllable bat and power.
I don’t think Urshela is really and upgrade over Morel. I don’t really see the problem with letting Morel start out there. The Cubs have glove options that can hold down the fort that would be just as good as Chapman. The Cubs got Candelario at the deadline last year and I’m sure they’ll be another one available this year if it’s a huge problem but I think Morel will do just fine. His power has to be in the lineup and I’d rather it be in the field somewhere than clogging DH. Canario, Tauchman, and maybe others when we see who will eventually be on the roster.
Tauchman is the starting center fielder unless Bellinger comes back. PCA probably heads down for at least a few months to get more seasoning. Unless it’s Bellinger who also plays first I don’t see the Cubs getting another outfielder. Urshela would be fine for a year rather than overpaying Chapman. They need Hoskins. Morel can switch between third and DH.
“It’s not yet clear if the arrangement is a major or minor league pact.”
Is it really not though?
They needed to make a big splash before the convention, nailed it
hey cubs fans:
even if the contract waa for $1
thats $1 more than what yankees have spent so far this winter.
Well the Yankees at least added some money to the big league payroll by trading for Soto. The Cubs are the only team that haven’t spent any cash yet.
They blew their wad on the manager position. Craig is going to manage, play 3B and lead off. Hold my beer.
Still expect Cubs to sign Hoskins and Stroman both into 2-year deals with opt-outs after the first year.
Not super enthused with getting Stroman back, but if it’s a two-year deal I’ll take it. Would rather they get Montgomery or trade for Cease but I don’t think they’re doing that.
Colton should have signed with Milwaukee.
That would have made sense.
The Dodgers must be feeling pretty freakin’ stoopid right now, looking at the Juggernaut that Wheelin’ Dealin’ Jed is putting together in Chicago. I’m predicting it now; the Cubs may not give up a single hit or run until at least the 4th of July!
The only relevant team in Chicago for next few years looks to be the Bears.
Another Brewer joining the Cubs?
Brewers on the North Side-Royals on the south side. Where did our Chicago MLB teams go??
Who?????
This has got to be the worst offseason in the history of baseball!! Greed- Greed – Greed! All of these guys are holding out until the very end and I hope they all get one year deals for it.
Owners aren’t greedy, of course.
This isn’t even uncommon. Not sure why they should take less money because some rando on the internet is bored.
Brewer I hardly knew Ya
I’m so glad someone thinks there is a “handful” of teams that need relief pitching. (Every team needs more)
Looks like Hoyer fast forwarded through the movie MoneyBall..
Patience you must have, my young Padawan
Brewer rhymes with sewer. He was dreadful for the Sox.
It could always be worse. You could be a white sox fan who just watched the window close and sign Paul DeLong and all you can do is troll cubs moves.
This is our big move? This is as pathetic as the lack of moves last year.
Give Luke Little a long look in spring training. Stop dumpster diving.
What a damn joke! I don’t care if it’s easier to sign players of this caliber, SIGN SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO LION’S SHARE!
If this guy is even remotely capable of positive production, he’s going to give us 20 innings, tops.
We’ve 1,458 to account for every year, plus however many we add for extras. GAWD DAMNIT, stop messing around and sign someone who plays everyday!
First Counsell, now this…. the Cubs are taking all the Brewers they can get!