Back in December, the Chicago Cubs signed left-handed pitcher Roenis Elías and I still think it was a solid pick up for the organization. However, the 34-year-old is now off to Korea after beginning the 2023 season with the Iowa Cubs in Triple-A.

This actually speaks to the strength in the depth down at Triple-A for the Cubs because they had no issues whatsoever letting the veteran negotiate with a KBO team this past week. The lefty last pitched on April 26 and has been on the temporarily inactive list since April 29.

On Tuesday morning, there was a report out of Korea that Elías was signing with SSG Landers.

Roenis Elias is going to Koreahttps://t.co/KTfu6XQVdB
— Infield Fly Girl (@infieldflygrl) May 2, 2023

Cuban LHP Roenis Elías (34) is finalizing a deal with a KBO team, according to sources.

Elias was the starter with Cuba in the World Baseball Classic 2023 semifinals. He began this season assigned to Triple-A, Iowa with the Chicago Cubs. pic.twitter.com/H4vIQGvA0s
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) May 2, 2023

Elías made four starts with the Iowa Cubs this year. In 21.1 innings, he allowed 13 earned runs. However, he did keep opposing batters to a .200 batting average and had a 0.98 WHIP. However, after seeing his Triple-A teammate Ryan Borucki, also a left-handed pitcher, getting called up to the majors to replace injured lefty Brandon Hughes over the weekend, Elías probably saw that his chances of returning back to the big leagues weren’t going to be great if he stayed with the Cubs.

The Iowa Cubs have also recently had two pitching prospects get added to their roster in Bailey Horn and Ben Brown, while Jordan Wicks may soon be following. So, Elías is heading to the KBO, hoping to build up his value and return to MLB next year.

Roenis Elías Background

Elías underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021, but he was able to return to action in 2022, with the Mariners. He made it back to the majors in May, and made seven appearances out of Seattle’s bullpen. The left-hander allowed three earned runs in 7.2 innings, (3.52 ERA) striking out six and walking three. Elías didn’t stick around long with the Mariners and he ended up back in the minors. Overall at Triple-A, Elías pitched in 37 games, making nine starts. He tossed 65 innings and posted a 5.12 ERA.

However, he was fine returning to a starting role and the success continued in the winter league.

Fun minor league pick up. Elías reached MLB for the seventh season as a lefty reliever last season. But in late August, Mariners had Elías fill in as a AAA starter. It went well enough (4.25 ERA), but the starting has continued in LIDOM and gone incredibly: 0.92 ERA in 39 IP. https://t.co/GgGKIdz98V
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) December 21, 2022

Looking at Elías’ career, he’s actually been decent. As a matter of fact, after earning a spot in the Mariners’ rotation in 2014, Elías recorded a 3.85 ERA in 163.2 innings, making 29 starts in his rookie season. He made 20 more starts in 2015, adding two relief outings, and did regress a bit, with a 4.14 ERA in 115.1 innings. Seattle didn’t have Elías up the entire season in 2015, as he made 12 starts in Triple-A.

Then, after being in Seattle’s organization since 2011, Elías was traded to the Boston Red Sox in the 2015-16 offseason, along with Carson Smith for Wade Miley and Jonathan Aro.

Elías only pitched in four games in the majors with the Red Sox in 2016 and 2017. He was still putting up good numbers in 2016 at Triple-A, posting a 3.60 ERA in 125 innings, but he didn’t stick around in Boston, making three appearances for the Red Sox in 2016. Elías missed time in 2017 because of a muscle strain and struggled in the minors that year, posting a 6.96 ERA in 10 starts.

The Mariners traded for Elías on April 23, 2018. His second stint in Seattle saw Elías used primarily as a reliever. He threw 51 innings, making four starts and 19 outings out of the bullpen. Elías finished the 2018 season with a 2.65 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, striking out 34 and walking 16. In 2019, Elías eventually became Seattle’s closer. He saved 14 games and had a 3.64 ERA in 47 innings.

Elías was traded to the Washington Nationals on July 31, 2019, along with Hunter Strickland. Unfortunately, Elías only made four appearances for the Nationals, missing time with a hamstring injury. Washington won the World Series, but Elías was not part of the postseason roster.

The 2020 season was a wash for Elías, as there was no minor league games that year and eventually he signed back with the Mariners in the 2020-21 offseason. Overall, Elías has a 3.96 ERA in 395.2 innings during his MLB career.