The Cubs are trying to catch lightning in a bottle with another reliever signing. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Thursday that the Cubs have signed right-handed pitcher Vinny Nittoli to an MLB deal. Nittoli was recently let go by the Oakland A’s despite success in limited time.
The 33-year-old was in the Cubs organization during the 2023 season after he signed a minor league deal with Chicago in January of last year. Nittoli pitched at Triple-A Iowa for the Cubs and put up good numbers, posting a 3.48 ERA in 20.2 innings. However, the Cubs did not keep the righty around and they ended up trading the relief pitcher to the New York Mets in June. Nittoli only made three appearances with the Mets in the majors.
Nittoli became a free agent in November and then signed a minor league deal with the A’s. He was called up on June 4, but after seven appearances Nittoli was designated for assignment.
Overall in his MLB career, Nittoli has posted a 3.07 ERA in 14.2 innings. During his time in Oakland, Nittoli gave up two earned runs in eight innings, striking out five and walking two.
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Nittoli features a five-pitch arsenal, but mainly attacks hitters with a cutter and slider combo, while occasionally mixing in a curve ball, change up and sinker. Nittoli has pretty good strikeout numbers throughout his minor league career, but that hasn’t quite translated in his short stints in the majors. The righty has struck out 10 batters in 14.2 innings, while allowing two home runs in 13 appearances.
We’re probably going to see Hayden Wesneski sent down to Triple-A after he tossed four innings against the Giants Wednesday night. Who knows how long Nittoli will actually be in the Cubs bullpen, but maybe the signing shows that the team feels Julian Merryweather will be back soon and they’d rather lose Nittoli to waivers than anyone else currently in their system.
Or who knows, maybe Nittoli continues his good pitching with the Cubs like Tyson Miller did when the Cubs acquired him earlier in the season in trade with the Seattle Mariners. Miller had a 3.09 ERA in 11.2 innings to begin the year with the Mariners and since joining the Cubs the right-handed reliever has been great. In 15 games Miller has recorded a 1.62 ERA, with 15 strikeouts to only 2 walks in 16.2 innings of work.
