Former Mariners and Royals reliever Collin Snider has agreed to a minor league deal with the Cubs, as Snider himself and the staff at Tread Athletics (where he works out in the offseason) indicated on Instagram. Presumably, he’ll be in big league camp next spring. Snider is represented by agent Jack Toffey.
The 30-year-old Snider has pitched in the majors in each of the past four seasons, spending the 2022-23 campaigns with Kansas City and 2024-25 with Seattle. In 122 2/3 major league innings, he carries a 4.48 earned run average with a 19.5% strikeout rate and an 8.8% walk rate.
Snider’s best year came with the ’24 Mariners, when he logged 41 2/3 innings with a 1.94 ERA, 27.8% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate. The lanky 6’4″ right-hander slipped to a 5.47 ERA in 26 1/3 big league frames this past season and lost nearly two miles per hour off his fastball — presumably in part due to a flexor strain that sent him to the injured list in early June.
Snider didn’t return to the majors after that IL placement. He struggled badly over a three-week rehab stint with Triple-A Tacoma, at which point the Mariners designated him for assignment and passed him through waivers. He spent the remainder of the season trying to get back on track in Tacoma but couldn’t recapture that 2024 form; in 25 2/3 Triple-A frames, Snider allowed 23 runs (8.06 ERA).
The Cubs traded Andrew Kittredge back to the Orioles following the season but have since signed veterans Phil Maton and Hoby Milner to support young closer Daniel Palencia. There’s still plenty of work to do in the ’pen, with Kittredge, Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar all out the door. Chicago struck gold with their minor league addition of Keller last offseason, and while it’s not realistic to expect that level of success from subsequent minor league signees, that turnaround could make them more appealing to previously successful relievers in search of a rebound, like Snider. He’ll vie for a job next spring, but the Cubs’ bullpen scene should become more crowded in the weeks/months ahead.
Low strikeout rate
High whip
Minor league deal
Hoyer is cookin’!
Unfortunately, it smells like S.O.S.
Cubs sign Hoby Milner and Collin Snider while Atlanta signs Robert Suarez. Jed Hoyer you are a disgrace
Have to wait and see
Imai
Ranger
Framber
King
Tucker
Bregman
Keller
IDK how he looks himself in the mirror after failing to give a 35 year old reliever 45 million dollars. Doesn’t he know a thing about strategy??
I think that is a reasonable contract, just think the Cubs need another starter more.
Steele is coming back from injury and. UBS don’t know if it will be the really good or really bad version of Shota.
And unlike Uncle Mike, my view is that if they get a strong starter they keep all of their current starters: e.g., (1) Imai, (2) Horton, (3) Steele, (4) Boyd, (5) Taillon, (6) Shota, (7) Rea, and (8) Assad. Wicks as depth. Wiggins as second half reliever. Rea and Assad start in pen. Taillon and Shota compete to keep starting by the time Steele returns and one moves to pen.
I don’t hate the Suarez deal either. But the idea that Jed is a disgrace over his differing approach was funny to me. if you are wantingto spend on a closer, thats a solid deal. But if you have someone who can build a bullpen with less resources, I’m happy to let them make a bunch of signings like this so they can get a starter like you’re saying. I read Jed earlier talking about his reasoning and I like it:
“I think it’s the right place to take a volume approach,” Hoyer said, “to use our pitching guys, to believe in guys and guys that can get better, and try to develop those guys as well as possible. So, I’d rather spend our resources on probably areas of less volatility, honestly. But at the same time, bullpens are really important.”
I wonder what the article meant about a minor league contract. Could it mean that this is a very low cost low risk chance at someone who has mechanics that they think they might fix? Or do they mean that they have signed their 2026 closer?
I wonder….
I think that’s exactly what they think. They’ll try to do the same thing they did with Keller They’re actually pretty good at it. It only says he lost 2 MPH off his fastball but it doesn’t say down from what? It’s a minor league deal so no big deal.
Lotta Collins getting signed today
Is he a reliever that goes bad one year then good the next? I assume Cubs might be thinking that.
Get to work Hoyer! By the time you make a move, everyone will be gone!
Ah yes, the beginning of the classic Jed bullpen
I liked him in Seattle when he was healthy. If he is at 100% there is no question he can be a great 7th inning guy in the big league pen. Great competitor.
I think they should take a look at Taylor Clarke late of the Royals. Not sure why he was non tendered. Should be low cost with some solid upside. Still waiting for some moves to make the team better than last season. At this point it’s definitely not better and could be significantly worse.