Jordan Holloway Opts Out Of Minors Deal With Cubs

Right-hander Jordan Holloway is returning to the open market after exercising an opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the Cubs today, MLBTR has learned.

Holloway, 27, made his MLB debut during the shortened 2020 campaign, though he recorded just one out for the Marlins that season. Holloway returned to the majors for a longer audition in 2021, pitching to a 4.00 ERA that was slightly above average by measure of ERA+ (106) and a 4.42 FIP in 36 innings of work. In 2022, Holloway spent much of the season on the injured list and ultimately only appeared in a single game for the Marlins, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over 2 2/3 innings of work while striking out two.

In all, Holloway sports a solid 22% strikeout rate but a concerning 16.2% walk rate in his 39 big league innings of work. Holloway’s issues with the free pass have persisted in his time in the Cubs organization, as the right-hander has posted a 20.6% walk rate in 12 1/3 innings split between the High-A and Triple-A levels this season. Those struggles with control have contributed to his unsightly 6.57 ERA, though his excellent 38.1% strikeout rate is sure to be tempting for potential suitors as Holloway returns to the open market.

Holloway’s exit is a hit to Chicago’s bullpen depth, which had already been tested by recent surgeries for right-hander Codi Heuer and left-hander Brandon Hughes. The Cubs’ 4.05 bullpen ERA as a team this season ranks roughly middle of the pack (7th in the NL, 19th in MLB) as they’ve struggled to find consistent arms to surround a solid nucleus of Adbert Alzolay, Mark Leiter Jr. and Julian Merryweather. Keegan Thompson and Jeremiah Estrada are among the options available to the Cubs in the upper minors who are currently on the 40-man roster, with the likes of Tyler Duffey and Rowan Wick available as options who would need to be selected to the roster.