The Cubs have struck a deal to bring back veteran reliever Brandon Morrow, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). It’s a minor-league pact.
If Morrow can finally recover from longstanding arm issues, he’ll still need to earn his way onto the MLB roster. Should that come to pass, he’ll be paid at a $1MM rate with $1.25MM in potential incentive pay.
The sides have been working out a deal ever since the club paid him a $3MM buyout rather than exercising a $12MM option for the 2020 campaign. Morrow gave the Cubs 30 2/3 lights-out innings in 2018 before cascading injuries doomed the remainder of the two-year deal he signed to join the team in the prior offseason.
Now, there’s a chance at some redemption for both player and team. Both sides worked hard to get Morrow back to the mound to no avail. But the Cubs obviously still see some hope for the 35-year-old hurler.
Good move for a good price hopefully he can pitch this year
No brainer. Cubs could turn a weakness into a strength next season.
Weakness? Their pen had the 4th best era in the league last year.
Outta 57 save opportunities, cubs only converted 31 of those chances. That’s 57% and last in the MLB. Yes. It was a weakness.
Yep
Yep, Cubs bullpen part of the choke down the stretch.
Yep! If they were at league average they probaly win the division.
Yes, their bullpen, led by their in season “big free agent signing” Craig Kimbrel spearheaded the biggest Cubs regular season choke since 1969.
And their downfall was when they were swept by philly
You are right. They choked
See how delusional cubs fans are? They cherry-pick stats to prop their sad sack late reliever corp up. Anybody who watches the games can clearly see it’s a big reason why they couldn’t win games on the road or close out games with a lead.
See how sad White Sox fans are, they comment on every Cubs article there is.
@ChiSoxCity is probably just bummed over ZIPS 78 win projections for next year’s Sox.
I still suspect that ChiSoxCity is William Ligue
Hmm… The cherry pick comment sounds familiar. Like I just made it to you 35 minutes ago with your nonsense Quintana stat. On yet another article about the cubs.
It’s Hawk Harrelson
One cub fan, who was quickly corrected by several cub fans
The pen was bad this year, really hoping that Kimbrel was held back by the late start but I’m not holding my breath
See how desperate White Sox fans are? In order to make themselves feel better about what a mess their own organization is, they troll the Cubs.
Hilarious
Oh it must be Cubs fans who are delusional not any other fan base just the Cubs per William..ChiSox City…
ERA isnt the best way to judge a bullpen
Yes sir. The ERA of the Bullpen didnt reflect the inherited runners
@theoepsteinhof …ERA is just not a very good indicator for the success or failure of a bullpen…There are several other factors to consider that paint a much clearer picture of how well, or how poorly, a bullpen performed.
Just for example, let’s say with two outs, in the 7th Inning, and runners on 1st and 2nd Morrow comes in for Lester. Morrow could give up two hits, allow both runners to score, and then retire the next batter to end the inning.
Morrow would walk out of that situation with a 0.00 ERA, and comes out looking like he did a good job; however, he would even say he dropped the ball, and simply just did not do his job. Morrow allowed the two hits, and he allowed those inherited runners to score. This is just a quick example, but it is why you have to factor in multiple advanced stats to get the real understanding of how a bullpen is performing..
I’m not trying to be sarcastic or be a d-bag or anything like that. I used to think the same thing, but someone told me the same thing, and it ultimately helped me out. I hope this helps you like it did me…
A really good advanced stat to measure a relief pitcher individually is the RE24 stat. Another important stat to consider is LOB%. You can also use WAR, BB%, BAA, K%, and to a certain degree FIP can give you a moderate insight to how a pitcher is performing. FIP stands for fielding independent pitching. It is like ERA, but it takes into consideration Ks, walks, hit batters, and HRs allowed, but on balls put into play, it compares it to the leagues average results.
Like I mentioned before, you have to take a few things into consideration when judging a relief pitcher. Judging future success is a good bit more difficult, because relief pitchers are so volatile and unpredictable, but xFIP is a decent indicator of future success for a pitcher in general.
Hope this helps anyone reading, and if you guys have any other stats that should be considered when judging a relief pitcher, please feel free to add whatever I might have missed..
WPA is a good stat for relievers especially for high leverage appearances.
Cherry-picking one stat doesnt make the Cubs pen any better. Watch the games. Bullpen was a MAJOR issue all season. When Kyle Ryan and Rowan Wick are your most trusted relievers, you have issues.
Theo can’t let go. Morrow must owe Theo money, maybe lost a bet. The guy stinks now. Next in line please step up. Flubs are funny this offseason.
Morrow must have gave Theo the secret squirrel handshake.
Our ring is newer than your ring
It took you 108 years to get your ring.
What was it 86 years for the white sox? Glass houses
Wouldn’t that apply to Erik bringing it up in the first place?
Jesus are you guys really gonna compete those two rings in over a century?
It has been reported by Morrow’s agent that Morrow felt an obligation to make good on the contract he signed with the Cubs that paid him 21M to pitch 30.2 innings.
I think because they were already 3 million dollars in on him from the buyout they made it a priority to resign him
This is a minor league contract. Literally any team in the league would likely love to have this non guaranteed deal for a player that is exceptional when able to play
Actually, Morrow is quite good when he’s on the mound. The problem is, the guy is made of glass and styrofoam and cant stay healthy for 5 minutes. For most teams this would be great low risk, potentially high reward deal, but for a suddenly broke, zero-spending ballclub, even $1M seems like a waste on Glass Joe (especially on top of his $3M buyout).
Chump change, worth the risk.
Oh it’s chump change alright.
Speaking not as a Cubs fan, this makes me happy.
And again the salty Dodger Dog who thinks Yu Darvish is mentally weak is probably blaming Morrow for blowing a save in Game 5 when he was clearly gassed.
So true… watching Dave Roberts pull a Dusty Baker each postseason is fun to watch.
Darvish is mentally weak. No opinion about Morrow being gassed. Apparently you are in the know.
Sorry but no MLB level player is mentally weak.. It takes more then just talent to compete at the highest level.
lol
Love this move. Nothing but upside
Zero risk, possibly rewarding possibly forgotten about, smart move
With the weight of a big contract now removed, watch Morrow return to dominating form!
Jk, but sometimes it works that way.
Thanks for the make good, Brandon. Stay healthy!
Make good. a hahaha
Potentially the best million spent.
Good depth signing!
Damn, was hoping the Red Sox would have given him a $2M flier contract. If he’s healthy (and that’s a big if), he is as nasty as they come.
Nobody should give that dude a major league contract, his agent already said Cubs will be first in line on minor league deals if a major league deal is not out there which obviously there was not and should not have been.
The odds Morrow pitching next season is still very low, but just in case he does great.
Championship.
Good low-risk/high ceiling signing!
Great depth move!
Great addition to the core!
Cubs print money!
Phillies print stupid money.
Stupid Phillies print money.
Fixed.
Solid depth piece!
Kyle Schwarber is good on defense!
Better than Eloy and Soler.
Throw all the money at Baez before somebody good gets it.
This offseason continues to look more and more like last offseason.
just stay healthy !
Solid move. Hopefully he can build back up and be a solid piece for us this year; and build some value for his next deal.
Hopefully anything related to the Ricketts dies on the vine.
Hopefully you come down with a case of rickets.
People forget he is a type-1 diabetic. Injuries last longer and are harder to bounce back from. I’m a Brewer fan and type-1 diabetic and hope he comes back and has a great year.
Chisoxfan, Chisoxcity, Chitown311, and TyCobb016 are all here. Everybody close your eyes and wear your protective clothing because they’re circle jerking.
Are you really this stupid? Please don’t breed.
lolol
lol he’s stupid for making fun of all the cub trolls? I don’t get it
People will complain, but this is a great signing. Low risk, gigantic reward (provided he is healthy). Definitely rooting for him to make the team
Can someone please ban chitown311? And while they are at it themed too. They literally don’t have anything to add to any conversation on any post other than the teams they don’t like . I’m not even a Cub fan and they annoy the hell out of me and are basically useless
ChiSoxCity as well.
This move makes sense. That’s coming from a Reds’ fan.
It would be nice if he gets comeback player of the year. Seems to be a class act .
He’s always been a thinking man’s pitcher. 35’s not that old. Definitely worth a shot.
This whole comment section is a cluster yuck
Sign Will Harris and the bullpen is done. Kimbrel, Wieck, Wick, Ryan, Aldzolay, Chatwood, Morrow, and Harris. If all pitch to their potential, then that would be a VERY good bullpen.
You’re right. That bullpen IS done
He’s terrible!! Yes he’s been hurt, and he has been since the Dodgers let him walk! He’ll pitch a few games and be out again …. what a waste of time and money