The Cubs have released right-hander Rowan Wick, per Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register (Twitter link). Wick was already removed from the Cubs’ roster earlier this year so their 40-man remains full.
Wick, 30, once was a solid back-end reliever for the Cubs but has had a rough season here in 2023. From 2019 to 2021, he made 72 appearances for Chicago with a 3.18 earned run average. He struck out 26.8% of opponents while walking 11.5% and kept the ball on the ground at a 44.1% clip. He racked up 11 saves and 12 holds in that time.
Things moved in the wrong direction a bit last year. His ERA ticked up to 4.22 as his strikeout rate dropped to 23.5%, while adding another nine saves and four more holds. The club decided to tender him a contract, with the two sides avoiding arbitration by agreeing to a $1.55MM salary. Wick didn’t crack the club’s Opening Day roster out of Spring Training and was outrighted at the end of March. Since he has over three years of major league service time, he could have rejected that assignment and elected free agency, though doing so would have meant leaving that money on the table.
He reported to Iowa, surely hoping to work his way back to the majors, but it has not gone according to plan at all. He has an ERA of 8.60 this year through 30 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level. His 24.1% strikeout rate is strong but he’s walked 13.1% of batters faced. A tiny 49.5% strand rate is probably making that ERA look worse than it actually is, though he’s also allowed nine home runs, as 30% of fly balls he’s allowed have left the yard this year.
The righty will now head to the open market in search of his next opportunity. Although he’s clearly not had ideal results this year, he’s not too far removed from being a quality leverage guy at the major league level. There would be little harm in bringing him aboard on a minor league deal to see if he can get back on track. If he is able to earn his way back into a roster spot, the Cubs would remain on the hook for what’s left of his salary this year, with a signing club only responsible for the prorated league minimum for any time on the roster. He also still has an option remaining, allowing him to potentially provide a club with some roster flexibility.
He flamed out
Set a match to this guy, he’s done.
Even when his numbers were good he was another Carlos Marmol.
How do we blame Jed for this? Or was this the David Ross problem? Will have to go to Cubs twitter for help I surmise.
Wick will end up being released and somebody will give him a minors deal. Not much to see here.
Not sure how he lasted as long as he did, next stop Brewers where they will squeeze another 2 yrs out of him
Hey, if he can find a way to stay in the show, he’ll take it no doubt.
The candle has run out of Wick.
Rowan up the creek without a paddle.
I can swim canoe?
I remember being teammates with this guy in college. Hope he lands somewhere and can continue his career
Was teammates with this guy in college. Hope he can return to form and keep the career alive!
Did they also kill his dog?
The Baba Yaga will be back.
Distant relative since his ability to locate the ball (accuracy) is nowhere near John Wick’s.
Remember when he was supposed to be a power hitting catcher?
2014 he had a pretty good year in A ball, then 15 was terrible, then he was a pitcher.
Don’t know what happened to him. I guess he just lost his confidence and it affected his pitching. I wish him all the best to the next chapter of his career and I hope he becomes a dominant pitcher that he can be.
If the Astros pick him up , they’ll have a battery of Rowan and Martin. Hahaha hahahaha
Sock it to me!
1 Down, 5 more DFA’S to go.
Start with Miles Mastrobuoni and Tucker Bernhardt.
Barnhart and Mastrobuoni. Who are tbe other 3?