Fans can certainly be critical of the direction the Cubs are going as a whole in 2022, but in isolation they are making some pretty nifty free agent signings. Jed Hoyer said earlier this week that pitching was a priority and he wasn’t lying. The latest pick up is right-handed reliever Mychal Givens.
The 31-year-old is coming off a good 2021 season, when he posted a 3.35 ERA with the Reds and Rockies in 51 innings. According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, Givens could be in line to become the Cubs’ closer in 2022.
Cubs in agreement with reliever Mychal Givens, per source. 1-year deal worth $5 mil. Bonuses could get him to $6.25 mil. Was with Colorado and Cin last year.
Has closing experience. Could end up in the 9th inning. They need someone for that role.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 17, 2022
Rogers says Givens will earn a base salary of $3.5 million in 2022 and then there’s an option for 2023 that also includes a $1.5 million buyout.
Givens hasn’t closed a lot of games during his career, but he does have some experience there, tallying 29 saves since making his MLB debut in 2015.
I dig the Mychal Givens signing by the Cubs. He likely slots into the closer role after a solid 2021. Givens is a big spin (2500 rpm FB, 2600 rpm SL), but it was his changeup that gave hitters fits last season (.227 wOBA, .129 BA).https://t.co/6wwZ8BHwhT
— Greg Zumach (@IvyFutures) March 17, 2022
In seven MLB seasons Givens has a 3.41 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, while averaging a bit more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings.
Givens had primarily leaned on his fastball prior to last season, but he switched things up and ended up throwing his nasty change up 37.6% of the time, up nearly 20% from the 2020 season. He also throws a slider to go along with his 95-96mph fastball.
Since last week the Cubs have signed a bunch of relievers, which is great because you love to see the depth. Those signings have been: Jesse Chavez, Chris Martin, David Robertson, Steven Brault, Daniel Norris, Robert Gsellman, Adrian Sampson and now Givens.
On the other hand there’s a reason the Cubs are signing a lot of guys right now. Injuries.
Codi Heuer will miss the entire season because of Tommy John surgery and Adbert Alzolay will be out for a couple months after suffering a lat strain. On Thursday, fans also found out about an injury to left-hander Brad Wieck, that will sideline him for a while as well.
To make room for Martin on the 40-man roster, Cubs placed Brad Wieck on the 60-day IL with an elbow strain. Wieck has flashed intriguing potential (0.00 ERA in 17 IP last year) but he has struggled with health issues.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) March 17, 2022
So yeah, not great!
This is something many around baseball feared would happen as there was no contact allowed between players on the 40-man roster and teams during the lockout. And now they have a shorter time period to properly ramp up for the start of the regular season.
We’ll see if the Cubs announce any more injuries to their pitching staff in the coming days. But again, they have done a solid job bringing in solid replacements so far.
