Headlines

  • Alex Reyes To Undergo Shoulder Surgery
  • Counsell: Freddy Peralta To Miss “Significant” Time
  • Dodgers Extend Blake Treinen
  • Brewers To Place Freddy Peralta On Injured List Due To Shoulder Tightness
  • Mariners Sign Justin Upton
  • Chad Green To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Cubs, Kevin McCarthy Agree To Minor League Deal

By Steve Adams | March 1, 2022 at 11:05am CDT

The Cubs have agreed to a minor league contract with former Royals reliever Kevin McCarthy, according to the team’s transactions log at MLB.com. He’s represented by Pro Agents Inc. and, presumably, will be in big league camp once Spring Training gets underway.

The 30-year-old McCarthy spent parts of the 2016-20 seasons in the Kansas City bullpen, logging a combined 191 2/3 innings of 3.80 ERA ball along the way. His career 14.5% strikeout rate is well below the league average, but McCarthy’s 7.4% walk rate is strong and his 58.7% ground-ball rate would place him among the league leaders in any given season. That said, after averaging 94 mph on his sinker as a rookie in 2016, the former 16th-rounder has seen his velocity drop annually — bottoming out at an average of 90 mph in his six innings of 2020 work.

McCarthy was passed through outright waivers following that 2020 season and elected minor league free agency. He signed a minor league pact with the Red Sox and spent the first several months of the season in their system before being released in mid-August. He latched on with the White Sox on another minor league deal and tossed another 7 2/3 innings with their Triple-A affiliate.

On the whole, the 2021 season wasn’t a good one for McCarthy, who was hit hard with both Sox organizations — posting an ERA north of 7.00 at each stop. He finished the year with 43 innings of 7.12 ERA ball in Triple-A. McCarthy did, however, post a 20.3% strikeout rate that’s a good bit higher than his prior strikeout rates, and he did so while maintaining a superlative walk rate (4.4%) and a strong ground-ball rate (48%). There’s little harm for the Cubs to bring him in on a nonguaranteed pact to see if he can maintain the strikeout gains while doing away with some of the alarming rise in hits allowed (which was fueled, in part, by a sky-high .408 BABIP with the Red Sox’ top affiliate).

As it stands, the Cubs’ bullpen picture ought to be wide open. The only relievers on the roster with more than a year of big league experience are Rowan Wick, Codi Heuer and Brad Wieck. Left-hander Justin Steele, 26, and right-hander Scott Effross, 28, both had strong showings in limited samples out of the bullpen and could have the inside track on relief gigs at the moment, but there’s plenty of opportunity for McCarthy and other minor league signees (e.g. Jonathan Holder, Eric Yardley) to grab a spot with some strong work either in Spring Training or early in the Triple-A season. The Cubs could well sign a veteran reliever or two post-lockout, but even in that event, there’s still room for a non-roster player or two to win a job in camp.

Share 0 Retweet 16 Send via email0

Chicago Cubs Transactions Kevin McCarthy

MLB Proposals To Union Have Included International Draft
Main
Latest On Potential For Expanded Playoffs
View Comments (24)

Comments

  1. SaoMagnifico

    3 months ago

    What, did Tom Ricketts get confused or something?

    Reply
    • Ƭ̵̬̊ Player Formly Known As MousecopƬ̵̬̊

      3 months ago

      What am I missing?

      Reply
      • The Natural

        3 months ago

        Ronald Reagan used to broadcast Cub games on the radio way back in the day.

        Reply
  2. RoastGobot

    3 months ago

    Nice he’s gonna be speaker of the house and a back end bullpen arm that’s the kinda versatility this team needs

    Reply
    • raltongo

      3 months ago

      gonna be tough to throw a baseball without a spine.

      Reply
  3. DarkSide830

    3 months ago

    Nancy’s probably happy he’s out of her hair now

    Reply
    • Lefty_Orioles_Fan

      3 months ago

      Nancy is getting her hair blown out right now, she has to wash Kevin right out of her hair

      Reply
  4. Lefty_Orioles_Fan

    3 months ago

    From Minority Speaker to the Cubs

    Is Kevin feeling better or worse?

    Reply
    • bobtillman

      3 months ago

      My first thought was the veteran character actor, but then I’m ancient.

      Reply
      • The Natural

        3 months ago

        The guy from Knotts Landing? And a cop show I think……

        Reply
        • drew1978

          3 months ago

          Don’t think he was ever on Knot’s Landing. He was in the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Also played the bad guy in Innerspace and UHF.

        • The Natural

          3 months ago

          You’re right….confused him with Kevin Dobson.

        • Lefty_Orioles_Fan

          3 months ago

          Crocker!!!!!!

        • bobtillman

          3 months ago

          Who loves ya, baby? Lollipops, anyone?

      • drew1978

        3 months ago

        That’s where my mind went too.

        Reply
      • HankHill

        3 months ago

        He was in a good Twilight Zone episode

        Reply
  5. Monkey’s Uncle

    3 months ago

    McCarthy’s Park is melting in the dark… wait…

    Reply
  6. Cgoss

    3 months ago

    Would of like to seen the Orioles give Kevin a shot at the bullpen. He pitched decent with KC. I am thinking 2021 was a fluke.

    Reply
  7. drew1978

    3 months ago

    “They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next!”

    Better make sure he wasn’t replaced with a pod person.

    Reply
  8. rememberthecoop

    3 months ago

    What is it about these soft tossers that Jed Hoyer likes so much? The rotation is filled with low velo guys.

    Reply
  9. The Natural

    3 months ago

    The guy from Knotts Landing? And a cop show I think……

    Reply
  10. JC#1

    3 months ago

    Stick a fork in him. He is done. McCarthy was terrible at AAA for the Red Sox last year. He will only remain in the roster until the MLB and players strike is settled, as about 10-13 players on the current 40-man rosters of each team would have been sent to AAA (most organizations have 2-4 who will be shifted to the DL). Most of the McCarthy types will be released at the conclusion of spring train when MLB cuts happen.

    Reply
  11. forklift1

    3 months ago

    Do you guys remember that time Kingman doubled down the left field line, then got picked off 2nd base against the Reds?

    Reply
    • Dogbone

      3 months ago

      No.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Alex Reyes To Undergo Shoulder Surgery

    Counsell: Freddy Peralta To Miss “Significant” Time

    Dodgers Extend Blake Treinen

    Brewers To Place Freddy Peralta On Injured List Due To Shoulder Tightness

    Mariners Sign Justin Upton

    Chad Green To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Orioles Promote Adley Rutschman

    Luis Gil To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Carter Kieboom To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Cardinals To Promote Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore; Tyler O’Neill To IL

    Max Scherzer Likely Out Six To Eight Weeks Due To Oblique Strain

    Chris Paddack Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Brandon Lowe Diagnosed With Stress Reaction, Shut Down For At Least Three Weeks

    DeGrom MRI Reveals “Continued Healing”; Still No Clear Timetable For Return

    Boras: Michael Conforto Not Ruling Out Late-Season Return

    Recent

    Pirates To Promote Cal Mitchell

    Astros Notes: Tucker, McCullers, Pena

    Alex Reyes To Undergo Shoulder Surgery

    Tigers Re-Sign Drew Hutchison

    Brewers Outright Dylan File

    Counsell: Freddy Peralta To Miss “Significant” Time

    Yankees Notes: Donaldson, Andujar, Chapman, Sears

    Reds Select Aristides Aquino, Albert Almora

    Angels Designate Jose Rojas For Assignment

    Reds’ Connor Overton Diagnosed With Stress Reaction In Back

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Trevor Story Rumors
    • Frankie Montas Rumors
    • Michael Conforto Rumors
    • Arbitration Tracker
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • MLB Player Chats
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version