I don’t have a problem with the Cubs not signing one of the big free agent relievers this offseason despite needing to desperately upgrade their bullpen, but I gotta say they’re really banking on a lot of guys who don’t have the longest track records to fix the problem in 2019.
According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs are going to sign 35-year-old free agent Tony Barnette to a one year deal, with an option for 2020.
Cubs sign free agent reliever Tony Barnette to one-year deal plus option for 2020.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) February 1, 2019
$750,000 for 2019, plus incentives. Club option for 2020 $3 million
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) February 1, 2019
And hey, the numbers for the right-hander are actually pretty solid, as he’s pitched the last three seasons with the Rangers.
No clue who Tony Barnette is, but in 3 years with the Rangers he pitched 144 innings, 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and in 2018, 2.39 ERA, 0.91 WHIP in 26.1 innings. Now he's with the Cubs.
Also, look at that flow. pic.twitter.com/FI4zjFFdui
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) February 1, 2019
Back in 2016, Barnette had a 2.09 ERA in 60.1 innings for Texas. Pretty damn good. But obviously there’s a reason he’s coming cheap and only pitched 26.1 innings in 2018.
Barnette was placed on the disabled list in July because of a shoulder injury and missed the rest of the season. He was throwing again in August, trying to come back, but the team shut him down for the year in September.
The other thing is, Barnette didn’t reach the majors until he was 32-years-old. He was drafted by the Diamondbacks back in 2006, spending five years in the minors before pitching in Japan for another six and then got signed by the Rangers prior to the 2016 season.
Hey, nothing against a late bloomer and it’s not like he wasn’t facing good competition. The Cubs keep buying low on guys with some injuries in their past, but hopefully the reward is big.
