The Cubs have claimed right-hander Julian Merryweather off waivers from the Blue Jays, reports Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. Merryweather had been designated for assignment by the Jays last week. In a corresponding move, fellow righty Manuel Rodríguez has been designated for assignment.
Merryweather, 31, was drafted by Cleveland but went to the Blue Jays in the 2018 trade that saw Josh Donaldson go the other way. He has pitched in each of the past three MLB seasons, flashing elite velocity on his fastball, which has averaged in the 96-98 mph range in each of those campaigns.
Despite that blazing speed, Merryweather hasn’t had good results so far. He struck out 27.3% of batters faced in 2020 but saw that number drop to 21.8% and 19.3% in the past two seasons. That coincided with an increase in his ERA, going from 4.15 to 4.85 and 6.75 in the most recent season. In addition to those struggles, health is an ongoing concern. Though he pitched over 40 innings in 2022, the previous four years each saw him fall short of 20 frames.
Merryweather’s been much better in the minors, such as pitching 14 1/3 scoreless innings at Triple-A last year with a 32.7% strikeout rate. However, he’s now out of options and the Cubs will have to keep him on their active roster or else send him into DFA limbo again. If they can help him turn his huge velocity into better results, they can keep him around for many seasons via arbitration since Merryweather has just over two years of MLB service time.
In adding one flamethrower, the Cubs are risking losing another. Rodríguez, 26, averaged 97.2 mph on his sinker in 2021 and 95.9 mph last year. But like Merryweather, he hasn’t turned that into punchouts, striking out just 17.1% of batters faced in 31 1/3 major league innings thus far. He has gotten ground balls at a solid 53.2% clip but has also given free passes to 15% of batters faced.
The Cubs will now have a week to trade Rodríguez or pass him through waivers. He still has one option year remaining and just over a year of service time. Given his youth and potent velocity, he could find interest from other clubs that are looking for some pitching depth.
Thx for taking him and Anthony Kay. Good luck to you both
Kay will be DFA’d again when the Cubs sign Chafin or Moore. Then you can get him back.
That would be nice! They have enough money left to sign 1 of them.
Knowing the Jays we’ll probably end up trading for him back at the deadline after he throws heat for the first half of the year
This guy will tease ya, make ya think he could be lights out but he was never dependable anyway still shouldn’t give up on him. Worth a try and nothing to lose
I believe what you that he’s been a disappointment. However, the Cubs pitching development is concidered the best in rehabbing these reclamation pitchers. As a fan it seems like the Cubs are overdoing the pitcher shuffle. Let’s see if they can trade Rodriguez and Leiter then all is good.
Uhhh trade em for what exactly? Cracker Jack? Do they even make that any more? Dating myself. Maybe some hot dog buns. Not those cheap regular ones either. The poppy seed ones,
I’m curious to know if Manuel Rodriguez received a 4th option year. That could have an impact on if a team is interested enough to claim him.
He has 1 option year remaining.
Rodriguez had a explosive fastball but last season it did not show up when he returned from the IL and he needs that to be effective.
Hawkins was in Cleveland when they drafted Merryweather so this makes sense
Yes he’s had a couple of rough years with the Jays but the high upside exists there. Three years ago it seemed liked Merryweather was going to turn into the Jordan Romano of today. Yes the injury potential is a major red flag, but to me on these fringe roster spots I’d rather shoot for the fences and try to hit a home run with high upside. Ross and co have taken the approach that guys with multiple innings ability are more valuable on the fringe areas of the roster in case of injuries but I totally disagree. Any game Trent Thornton is pitching is essentially already lost barring a 3-4 run miracle comeback after the fifth inning. If he’s starting a game we’re in big trouble and I know I won’t be watching. His upside is essentially nothing but a plug at this point of his career. Sorry but Trent should have been DFA’d and Merryweather would have presented a potential lottery ticket with the chance for something special. Still love what Ross and co are doing but this to me is a major flaw in their philosophy.
@BlueJ’sAllDay
The thing is, Trent Thornton, or someone like him is more valuable to the Jays then a lotto ticket who is pretty close to a bust at this point.
Not because Thornton is especially good, but someone has to be in the bullpen to take multiple innings in games where the starter blows it early. It’s not about winning that game. It’s about not nuking the whole bullpen for the next game, so you throw Trent out there and let him take the punches for 4 or 5 innings.
Considering the current Jays rotation has a #5 that is either Kikuchi or White, and the #4 is Berrios, it seems very important to have such a mop up guy ready to go. Quite frankly, they may need to have multiple mop-up guys.
Merryweather is more of a luxury at this point. They held out hope as long as they could, I guess.
Yes I agree with what you’re saying but you don’t need to waste a 40-man roster spot on guys like Thornton who have little to zero impact on winning ballgames. You can sign guys on minor league deals who don’t require a 40-man spot who would fit the bill and allow you to get another look at Merryweather.
@BlueJs
I think it could depend on the quality and depth of your multiple inning relievers. Probably works well either way, if you have the arms.
@BlueJ’sAllDayCancel
As @Canuckleball says, Thornton has value, albeit minimal. Hatch is my pick as the next one off the 40. The Jays have a ton of SP’s at AAA.
I would agree Hatch is not much further down the depth chart as Thornton and should have been DFA’d before Merryweather. Hatch does have the slight potential to show more and spot start due to injuries because he at least has a track record a couple years ago of looking above average with some potential. But he was brutal last year so definitely doesn’t need a 40-man spot and would have passed through waivers. I feel like the Jays gambled that Merryweather would pass through waivers unclaimed but didn’t. Thornton or Hatch probably would have in my opinion and would have given the Jays depth in the minors that didn’t require a 40-man spot which is huge.
Cubs have a pretty good track record of reclaiming once good arms. Low risk, and worth a shot. If it doesn’t work, they won’t be out much.
He was never a good arm so that track record shouldn’t come into play here
I remember watching a game when he struck out the side in yankee stadium and thinking damn he’s our new closer! Boy was I wrong lol. If he can stay healthy it’s an interesting gamble..IF…
Rodriguez has tantalizing stuff also but not much consistency. He doesn’t generate much spin and when he does his control goes out the window. Rowan Wick 2.0. I think if he concentrated on making the ball move a little, Instead of trying to make it look cool by trying to make it break a lot he has a future. Plus he’s injured a lot.
The Cubs have made some ballsy moves lately, as a fan, I hope they work out for them.
I keep thinking his last name is Mayweather, as in Floyd Mayweather.
Yeah Merryweather is close to Mayweather. Thanks for the hilarious comment.
Too bad he didnt work out., but only threw 70 innings in 4 years with the Jays (total both minors and majors).
You can almost see him breaking apart when he throws.
It’s like my team is listening to me..I got almost every signing and claim I wanted this off season. Should be a decent year till the reinforcements arrive next year.
Rodriguez was garbage, don’t know why they kept putting him in situations other than mop up duty
Rodriguez wouldn’t be the first 24/25 year old Pitcher to stumble a bit at the beginning of his career. And after that, manage to make a decent living in MLB.
And I agree with the comment above by Steve Rogers – I wouldn’t be surprised at all, if the Cubs can work out a deal for Rodriguez.
Right now everyone is playing let’s get rid of the 40th man for somebody else’s 40th man game. I would be highly surprised if any of these moves actually amounted to anything at all. You’re not going to trade any of these guys for anything, But dream on anyway.
All these moves are basically lottery tickets, but yes I agree Unclemike, it’s just teams passing along their 40th man to each other. But hey, Cubbies have had a couple of successful reclamation projects in the bullpen. I just wish they signed Chafin again, he’s a lefty, a well-established arm, and he’s been a Cub before, it would strengthen their chances of being more competitive this year.
“…everyone is playing let’s get rid of the 40th man for somebody else’s 40th man game.”
Yep.
Certainly true… The player is put on waivers for a reason. There have been guys that have stuck. Wisdom, Sampson and Leiter. Cubs released Kendall Graveman in one of these player shifting moves. Jason Adam, now with the Rays as well.
Not sure who the reliever was, maybe Spencer Patton, I believe he was tossed around 6 times in about 2 weeks before he made it through waivers and the Cubs retained him.
@Spotswood
We’re certainly bound to see more 40 man musical chairs when the tier C FA’s are signed. Duval, Grossman etc.
Why is it that writers only care about MPH when they write about pitchers? I rather have pitches who get outs than a pitcher who throws hard and has 95+ mph pitch. Harder they throw, more likely they are a fly ball pitcher and has a high chance of being a home run.
I guess the basic pitching to get outs is a lost art in this new modern era of baseball. Same can be said about offensive hitters too I suppose
This guys stats aren’t just bad they’re horrible.
Sucks that he got claimed……he was still one of those lottery ticket prospects….if you don’t buy a ticket you’ll never win.
Hopefully for him he can put it all together, sucks he’s not in buffalo this year.
I used to post on a Guardians prospect site that had a forum. Merryweather’s mom occasionally posted there (or so claimed, it’s not like we made her prove it), and always seemed really nice. Been a big fan of his, and always hoped he would put it together.