The Cubs signed Tony Cingrani to a minor league contract earlier this week, per an announcement from the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League. The southpaw had been pitching for the independent club since May.
Cingrani appeared in the big leagues every year from 2012-18. He tossed 104 2/3 innings of 2.92 ERA/3.31 SIERA ball for the Reds in 2013 but struggled the following season before moving to the bullpen by 2015. Cingrani issued far too many walks over his first couple seasons as a reliever but eventually dialed in his control. Between 2017-18, he tossed 65 1/3 innings of 4.41 ERA ball between the Reds and Dodgers, but his lofty 32.5% strikeout rate and tiny 6.6% walk percentage suggested additional upside.
Unfortunately, Cingrani required season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder before he threw a pitch in 2019. While he reportedly drew interest late in the 2019-20 offseason, he ultimately didn’t wind up signing anywhere during the lost minor league campaign. After a two-month stint in indie ball, Cingrani has worked his way back into the affiliated ranks. He has been assigned to Triple-A Iowa, where he’ll be on hand as lefty relief depth.
Quite late on reporting this. For a site that reports or updates as much as this one does, I’m honestly surprised you guys weren’t right on it. Still my go to regardless. Keep up the good work!
Ok Johnny Superscout. Go back to the basement and they will update you sooner they promise.
Learn correct punctuation if you want to be a smarta$$, because your baseball knowledge and English skills aren’t on the same level!
who cares…
I’m good at sitting in the house I had built last year. And all I said was I was surprised it wasn’t sooner. I actually complimented him, “thekid9”.
Ok, Mr Cingrani. We’ll do better next time.
Honestly, this is one of those signings that if it was never reported nobody would care. His injury history makes it a longshot for him to ever be a contributor at the major league level.
That said, it may be newsworthy as he is a local, Chicago suburb kid that has a chance to play at home.
Good depth pick-up if he’s healthy
Another dumpster dive … sigh
Not really a dumpster dive. If it was a dumpster dive, the Cubs would have gone after someone from the White Sox bullpen lol.
Tell me more about the “Core Four”
When does the fire sale start?
I’ll predict the first pending FA will be dealt on or about 7/23.
lol
Is this the best the Flubs can do? Embarrassing.
Not the best. It’s what Tom Ricketts is allowing. Minimum salary only majority of them being minor league deals
go on about how the Cubs making a depth signing is comedic to you…
Humbling to have to drop back to Indy ball, but much luck to him. Vince Worley just did it too.
He sounds like an Angel reliever already.
Another stitched up reliever with a history of control problems. I cant help but think this is a guy who will be used as a player to be named later.
He’ll be effective the first couple weeks after being called up, but then he’ll either turn back into a pumpkin or hit the 60-day IL. We’ve seen this movie before.