Spring training games are underway and following a post-lockout free-agent frenzy it appears the Cubs are close to if not done making any more significant acquisitions. So, here’s a look at all the 2021-22 offseason Cubs moves.
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November
Claimed left-handed starting pitcher Wade Miley off waivers from the Reds. The 35-year-old will make $10 million in the 2022 season after ending 2021 with a 3.37 ERA in 28 starts with Cincinnati.
Signed right-handed pitchers Jensi Ramirez, Eligio Paredes, Yafrerlyn Vasquez, Jair Jimenez and left-handed pitcher Kevin Valdez to minor league deals.
Right-handed reliever Ethan Roberts and outfielder Nelson Velázquez added to 40-man roster. Roberts, 24, had a 3.00 ERA, 0.96 WHIP with 72 strikeouts in 54 innings combined at Double-A and Triple-A last year. Velázquez finished the 2021 minor league season at Double-A, where he slashed .290/.358/.581 in 34 games.
Reliever Jonathan Holder signed a minor league deal. Cubs brought back the right-handed reliever after they signed him prior to the 2021 season. Holder spent almost all of 2021 rehabbing a shoulder injury that led to the righty only throwing two innings in the minors. He has a career 4.38 ERA in the majors in 176.2 innings, all coming with the Yankees from 2016-20.
Traded cash considerations to Cleveland for outfielder Harold Ramirez. The 27-year-old has played in 221 MLB games with the Marlins and Cleveland since making his debut in 2019. During his time in the big leagues Ramirez has posted a .714 OPS.
Signed 29-year-old pitcher Locke St. John to a minor league contract. The lefty has primarily pitched out of the bullpen in the minors, but has made 51 starts including four in 2021. St. John has a career 3.44 ERA in 483.1 innings in minor-league ball. He’s logged 6.2 innings in the majors with the Rangers in 2019.
Signed outfielder Narciso Crook to a minor league deal. The 26-year-old slashed .244/.354/.451, with 14 home runs in 100 combined games at Double-A and Triple-A in 2021, when he was part of the Reds’ minor league system.
Cubs lose right-handed pitcher Trevor Megill via waivers to the Twins. The right-hander made his MLB debut with the Cubs in 2021, appearing in 28 games. Megill had an 8.37 ERA and 1.86 WHIP in 23.2 innings.
Jose Lobaton, Robinson Chirinos, Zach Davies, Matt Duffy, Adam Morgan and Jason Adam became free agents.
December
Outfielder Michael Hermosillo was signed to a one-year deal a day after he was non-tendered by the Cubs. The 27-year-old had a great 2021 season at Triple-A, posting a 1.036 OPS in 43 games. He had a .737 OPS with three home runs in 36 at-bats with the Cubs before his season came to an end because of an injury in mid-September. The Cubs originally brought in Hermosillo during the 2020-21 offseason.
Signed veteran catcher Yan Gomes to a two-year, $13 million deal that includes a third-year option. The 34-year-old has a career .720 OPS and is viewed as a starting-level player. Right now he’s expected to back up Willson Contreras and get some at-bats against left-handed pitching from the DH spot.
Right-handed starting pitcher Marcus Stroman signed a three-year contract worth $71 million, which was by far the biggest move made by the Cubs prior to the lockout. Stroman can make an additional $2 million in 2022 and 2023 if he pitches at least 160 innings. The 30-year-old had a 3.02 ERA in 33 starts with the Mets last season.
Right-handed hitting catcher P.J. Higgins signed a minor league contract. Higgins had Tommy John surgery last summer after playing in nine games for the Cubs.
Signed right-handed hitter Clint Frazier to a one-year deal. Cubs added some outfield depth with Frazier, who was let go by the Yankees after spending five seasons in New York. In 700 MLB at-bats Frazier has hit 29 home runs with a .761 OPS.
Cubs drafted left-handed pitcher Conner Menez during the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. Menez has a career 4.04 ERA in 42.1 innings during his time with the Giants.
Minor League Signings During Lockout
Left-handed pitcher Stephen Gonsalves.
Right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter.
Shortstop Dixon Machado.
Right-handed pitcher Eric Yardley.
Left-handed pitcher Matt Dermody.
Catcher John Hicks.
Right-handed pitcher Kevin McCarthy.
Left-handed pitcher Eric Stout.
Post-Lockout
Signed right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez to split-deal. More details here.
Signed right-handed hitting shortstop Andrelton Simmons to a one-year, $4 million contract. More details here.
Signed right-handed reliever David Robertson to a one-year deal. More details here.
Signed left-handed pitcher Brandon Leibrandt to a minor league deal.
Signed right-handed reliever Chris Martin to a one-year contract. More details here.
Signed outfielder Seiya Suzuki to a five-year, $85 million contract. Biggest offseason move for the Cubs. More details here.
Signed utility infielder Jonathan Villar to a $6 million contract. More details here.
Signed left-handed pitcher Daniel Norris to a one-year contract. More details here.
Signed left-handed starting pitcher Drew Smyly to a one-year contract worth $5.25 million. More details here.
Signed right-handed pitcher Robert Gsellman as a non-roster invitee to spring training. More details here.
Reportedly signed left-handed pitcher Steven Brault. More details here.
Signed Adrian Sampson to a minor-league contract. The right-hander started five games and pitched in 10 total games for the Cubs in 2021. Sampson looked good during his stint, posting a 2.80 ERA in 35.1 innings.
Signed left-handed hitting infielder Robel Garcia to a minor-league contract. Garcia made his MLB debut back in 2019 with the Cubs and ended the season with a .775 OPS in 72 at-bats. He hit five home runs and slashed .208/.275/.500 in 31 games. He played for the Astros in 2021 and struggled with Houston, slashing .151/.216/.208, with one home run in 46 games last year.
Signed right-handed reliever Mychal Givens to a one-year contract. He could end up being the closer or at least be one of several pitchers who will end up saving games for the Cubs in 2022.
Current 40-Man Roster
Pitchers
Cory Abbott
Adbert Alzolay
Scott Effross
Anderson Espinoza
Kyle Hendricks
Codi Heuer
Brailyn Marquez
Chris Martin
Wade Miley
Alec Mills
Tommy Nance
Daniel Norris
Ethan Roberts
David Robertson
Manny Rodriguez
Michael Rucker
Drew Smyly
Justin Steele
Marcus Stroman
Keegan Thompson
Alexander Vizcaino
Rowan Wick
Brad Wieck
Catchers
Miguel Amaya
Willson Contreras
Yan Gomes
Infielders
Sergio Alcantara
David Bote
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
Alfonso Rivas
Frank Schwindel
Andrelton Simmons
Jonathan Villar
Patrick Wisdom
Outfielders
Alexander Canario
Greg Deichmann
Clint Frazier
Ian Happ
Michael Hermosillo
Jason Heyward
Rafael Ortega
Harold Ramirez
Seiya Suzuki
Nelson Velazquez
40-Man Injuries
David Bote had left shoulder surgery in the offseason and will miss the start of the 2022 season after being placed on the 60-day injured list. He missed two months last year after dislocating his shoulder on a slide to second base in May. Bote was limited to 97 games in 2021 and you’d point to the injury as one of the reasons his numbers dipped, as he slashed .197/.276/.330, with eight home runs.
Former top Cubs’ prospect Miguel Amaya underwent Tommy John surgery in the winter to repair his throwing elbow. The catcher only played in 23 games at Double-A in 2021 because of his elbow injury and the surgery will contribute to a third consecutive year in which Amaya’s development will be affected. The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Right-handed reliever Codi Heuer had Tommy John surgery in March, which will keep him out of action for all of 2022. After the Cubs acquired him along with Nick Madrigal in the Craig Kimbrel trade with the White Sox, Heuer pitched in 25 games, recorded a 3.14 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and struck out 17 batters in 28.2 innings.
Right-handed pitcher Adbert Alzolay will begin the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list following a strain to his right shoulder/lat.
Left-handed reliever Brad Wieck will also start the season on the 60-day injured list after he felt some pain during a bullpen session in spring training. David Ross was given a contract extension through the 2024 season.
Right-handed pitcher Tommy Nance is currently on the COVID-19 related injured list.
David Ross Extension
Entering his third year as Cubs manager, David Ross was given a contract extension through the 2024 season. The new deal also includes a team-option for 2025.
A 60-game schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic which was then followed by the team trading their top-three stars at the deadline in 2021 and now a post-lockout season in 2022? Nothing’s been normal for Ross in his first shot at being an MLB manager.
