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Cubs, Carl Edwards Jr. Agree To Minor League Deal

By Anthony Franco | January 26, 2024 at 6:47pm CDT

The Cubs are bringing back free agent reliever Carl Edwards Jr. on a minor league contract, reports Robert Murray of FanSided (X link). He’ll be in MLB camp as a non-roster invitee.

Edwards returns to the organization with which he made his MLB debut in 2015. The former Rangers draftee was dealt to Chicago as a prospect in the 2013 deadline swap sending Matt Garza to Arlington. Edwards moved to the bullpen by the time he got to the big leagues.

The lanky right-hander opened his MLB career with a few solid seasons on the North Side. While he only made five appearances in 2015, he pitched to a 3.75 ERA over 36 outings the following year. Edwards collected a World Series ring as part of the curse-breaking championship club. He continued pitching well over the next couple seasons, posting a sub-3.00 ERA in consecutive years from 2017-18.

Edwards struggled early in the 2019 campaign. That kicked off a nomadic stretch of his career. Chicago dealt him to the Padres at the deadline. He landed with the Mariners briefly in 2020 and made cameos with the Braves and Blue Jays the next season. A minor league deal with the Nationals during the lockout set the stage for Edwards’ best work in a few years.

He made the MLB roster by the middle of May. He pitched well enough to hold that spot all season, eventually logging 62 innings with a 2.76 ERA. The Nats tendered him a $2.25MM contract for his last year of arbitration. He was reasonably effective when healthy but limited to 32 appearances. Edwards had worked to a 3.67 ERA across 31 2/3 frames despite a subpar 16.9% strikeout rate and an alarming 12% walk percentage. Those peripherals likely would’ve muted trade interest at the deadline regardless, but a late June diagnosis of shoulder inflammation took a trade firmly off the table.

Edwards would spend the rest of the season on the injured list. He attempted to rehab in August but was diagnosed with a stress fracture after feeling continued shoulder soreness. He surpassed six years of MLB service and hit free agency at season’s end.

With the injury cutting short his ’23 campaign, he’ll now have to work his way back to an MLB roster. His fastball velocity was down slightly last season. The heater sat at 93.5 MPH on average, a little below his typical 94-95 MPH range. It’s possible he regains an extra tick or two if he’s able to put the shoulder pain behind him.

The Cubs had a league average relief group in 2023. Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather and Mark Leiter Jr. are locked into season-opening roles, while lefty Drew Smyly seems ticketed for long relief after struggling as a starter last year.

Chicago recently acquired the out-of-options Yency Almonte from the Dodgers, suggesting he’ll secure an Opening Day spot. Pending further acquisitions, that leaves two or three jobs up for grabs among the likes of José Cuas, Daniel Palencia, Keegan Thompson and swing types like Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad. Edwards joins Colten Brewer as non-roster veterans in camp.

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Chicago Cubs Transactions Carl Edwards Jr.

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View Comments (35)
Post a Comment

35 Comments

  1. BaseballBrewTown

    1 year ago

    Wow

    Reply
  2. refugee

    1 year ago

    You wanted action from the Cubs? You got it.

    11
    Reply
  3. settledownitsjustagame

    1 year ago

    Somewhere along the way this man lost his confidence. He has great stuff. Might be a great pick up if he can find that magic again.

    3
    Reply
    • Sheep8

      1 year ago

      Probably was when he was on the mound with 2 outs and realizing he could close out the cubs World Series…and he didn’t!

      Not saying I can’t blame him for realizing he had 108 years on his back at that moment!

      1
      Reply
  4. Blackpink in the area

    1 year ago

    Cardinals just signed Jim Hardee’s.

    Take that Cub fans……

    6
    Reply
    • King123

      1 year ago

      Just heard the Reds just took a shot on Wendy Thomas.

      5
      Reply
      • Lloyd Emerson

        1 year ago

        Breaking news, the Dodgers have signed Ronald McDonald to a 10-year deal, with roughly 2/3 of the money being deferred until after the next time they bring back the McRib.

        4
        Reply
        • Bart Harley Jarvis

          1 year ago

          Interesting story, I was just reading the other day in The Onion that Chick-Fil-A had recently converted to Islam.

          2
          Reply
    • sergefunction

      1 year ago

      Jerry Reinsdorf just changed his team’s name to the Chicago White Castles.

      3
      Reply
    • Jimmy Fitzsimmons

      1 year ago

      El Gallo Loco to the Nats

      Reply
  5. Coachcooper73

    1 year ago

    We are cooking now. I want Mark Prior not the pitching coach. The pitcher.

    1
    Reply
    • NicoHoerndawg

      1 year ago

      @Coop- Lolololol!!!! It’s comments like this is why I went right past the not worth reading article. We all know who Carl is. I like him and have fond memories of him running around with the W flag. Poor kid kinda crumbled under the pressure. Honestly, if Hotovoy can squeeze the last ounces of his potential out of him, it’s a great signing, lol if he even can earn the promotion to the big league roster for Tommy to “work his magic.”

      Either way I appreciated your comment.

      Reply
  6. swanhenge

    1 year ago

    He’s had flashes of pretty goodedness. Worth a shot

    4
    Reply
    • Don Zimmer

      1 year ago

      My thoughts also. If healthy, we might have us something here. Dude was an asset for us before the injuries started.

      Reply
    • GooseGoslinGuy

      1 year ago

      His control was a problem during his last stretch with the Nats. Couldn’t get the ball over in clutch situations. But maybe the shoulder was the problem.

      Reply
  7. Unclemike1525

    1 year ago

    I hope they signed him so he can retire as a Cub tomorrow. Right?

    2
    Reply
  8. CCooper8920

    1 year ago

    Minor league deal; worth a shot and good pickup

    7
    Reply
  9. Gmaytag

    1 year ago

    No harm, no foul…take a flyer on a minor league deal. He looks great in small spurts.

    1
    Reply
    • spudchukar

      1 year ago

      Dude if you are elated about a pitcher who is good in spurts, then go with your optimism.

      Reply
      • Don Zimmer

        1 year ago

        Unnecessary.

        Reply
  10. Curveball1984

    1 year ago

    Rich Hill next?

    2
    Reply
    • Rob Schumann

      1 year ago

      Jake Arrieta would be my guess.

      2
      Reply
  11. rememberthecoop

    1 year ago

    No thank you.

    Reply
  12. PutPeteinthehall

    1 year ago

    The string bean slinger returns.

    2
    Reply
  13. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    Not like the prospects turned out grat, but CHC did get a heck of a return in prospect capital in that Garza trade.

    2
    Reply
    • deGrom/Langford Texas Ranger

      1 year ago

      I was crazy about him as a prospect.

      Reply
  14. ray1

    1 year ago

    Bullpen now set. 3rd base next,

    Reply
  15. Salzilla

    1 year ago

    Surprised it’s a minor league deal. Sure he was injured, but he wasn’t terrible last year.

    3
    Reply
    • deGrom/Langford Texas Ranger

      1 year ago

      Same here

      Reply
  16. Chi Guy

    1 year ago

    Cubs are now in what inning 5 of their offseason according to Jed?

    Reply
  17. holycow16

    1 year ago

    Hope he has a strong spring!

    Go Cubs Go!!

    Reply
  18. la verdad

    1 year ago

    Get ready Cub fans, Benedict Counsell will be handing him the ball for the 7th inning 2 out of 3 games until late summer, which is when Edwards’ arm will blow out from overuse. Enjoy the mismanagement!

    1
    Reply
  19. egrossen

    1 year ago

    Getting the gang back together! Next up: Pedro Strop!

    1
    Reply
  20. PaulyMidwest

    1 year ago

    Love this as a low risk flyer. Now sign Stanek or Brasier and start working on signing the last impact bat and we are done.

    Reply
  21. thefaithfulfriar

    1 year ago

    He’s on a mission from God

    Reply

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