Feb. 16: The Cubs have formally announced the signing of Simmons to a one-year, split Major League contract. He’s been placed on the 40-man roster, with left-hander Drew Smyly (recovering from Tommy John surgery) moving to the 60-day DL to create a roster spot.
Feb. 14: The Cubs have signed righty Shae Simmons to a split contract, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports (Twitter links). The deal will pay Simmons $750K if he cracks Chicago’s Major League roster, and $120K if he remains in the minors. The contract will be official once Simmons passes a physical, according to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat.
That last detail is an important one given how Simmons has been plagued by injuries for the better part of three years. Simmons looked good as a hard-throwing rookie with the Braves in 2014 but then underwent Tommy John surgery in February 2015. Beyond just the usual 12-15 month recovery timeline for that procedure, Simmons’ return by halted by a variety of injury setbacks, and then further halted by a forearm strain that kept him out of action for a large chunk of the 2017 season. Over the last two seasons, Simmons has tossed only 14 1/3 total innings.
The Mariners acquired Simmons and Mallex Smith for Luiz Gohara and lefty prospect Thomas Burrows in January 2017, though Simmons’ forearm problems kept him from developing into any sort of a real weapon out of Seattle’s bullpen. The M’s non-tendered Simmons last December, ending his tenure with the team after just 7 2/3 innings and a 7.04 ERA.
Despite the injuries and the control problems that have plagued Simmons throughout his career, the Cubs have little to lose in taking a flier on the 27-year-old. Simmons has shown flashes of dominance when healthy, including some dominant numbers (2.06 ERA, 12.6 K/9) over 131 1/3 career minor league frames.
No!!!!!! Say it ain’t so Shae.
He grew up a Cards fan too
Small sample last year, but wasn’t bad with Atlanta in 33 games over his career. Fewer hits than IP, and his FIP is 3.22. Ks equal IP. Not a bad guy to have hanging around. What I’m more concerned with is the closer – will Morrow be able to handle the job? Would rather have a closer and be able to use Morrow as a great set-up man. But if they had re-signed Wade Davis, then no Yu.
Oh wow world champons sign nother big pitcher!! First Yu Darvish, now Shay Simon!! I know wait anymore for swingy-swingy game with little white balls!! Oh yay!!
Sorry for bad EggWish
Astute
Dude…
Please remove cubs from your screen name if you want to continue to be a dingus
This
This is a no dingus/dingbat zone.
Why sounds like a typical cub fan to me.
The stereotyping fanbases thing gets us nowhere. Even if they occasionally have a basis in fact.
This
he’s a troll. not a cubs fan. its pretty obvious
I thought the Astros were WS Champs….
They signed the biggest pitcher of them all. There will be no bigger signing for the Cubs than this Simmons signing. This is going to be Arrieta all over again. The Cubs will harness his stuff while Maddon helps him harness his inner chee.
Another arm for this historic Cubs team..
Top three players at every position and best starting staff since the 90’s Braves. Not to mention the greatest big game manager of all time…
Dominoes are falling fast. Good thing too, I just looked up the Phillies broadcast schedule and the first televised spring training game is February 24th.
Ten days.
Thought there’s a MLB Network broadcast on 23rd, no? Maybe I’m mistaken.
WAY WAY TOO LONG
Great move. Very high upside
This is the Cubs reaction to the Cardinals signing Norris
NOT This
Not this
shae was nasty as a brave. wish the best for him! lotta upside for the cubbies
I love how every single post in this thread has been given down votes lol.
Trolls are out
I swear, some people only have an account just to downvote every post.
This
How do you down vote ?
This move was to answer cards signing of Bud Norris
Ha
NOT this
So the Mariners traded Gohara for this guy, only to let him go? Why do we always seem to trade for guys coming off injuries? Jerry has lousy luck in rolling the dice on these guys. Losing too many prospects for nothing.
I think you left out the additional acquisition of Mallex Smith, which might have been the bigger piece.
Is the split contract a new thing in baseball since the last CBA? Hockey calls it a two-way contract, but I’ve never heard it mentioned in relation to MLB.
Split contracts have been around for quite some time….first mention I can find of it is the 2003-2006 CBA “The minimum salary is increased from $200,000 in 2002 to $300,000 in 2003 and 2004, and $316,000 (after cost-of-living increase) in 2005. Players with split contracts in the minors increase from $40,500 in 2002 to $50,000 in 2003 and 2004, and $52,500 in 2005.” legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/le…
Never heard of him. Is he good?
Depth move at best. No risk, potential reward although limited at best. Theo trying to catch lightning in the bottle once again. Nothing to see here folks, please move along.