The Cubs officially announced the signings of outfielder Joc Pederson, starter Trevor Williams and reliever Andrew Chafin on Friday.
Pederson's deal is for one-year (worth $7 million, per reports) with a mutual option for 2022. Williams' deal is for one year and $2.5 million and Chafin's deal is for one year and worth $2.25 million (per reports), also holding a 2022 mutual option.
To make room on the 40-man roster, which is now full, the Cubs designated infielder Max Schrock for assignment.
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The Cubs this winter wanted to diversify their lineup and add better contact and situational hitters. But Pederson, 29 in April, profiles offensively similarly to Kyle Schwarber, who signed with the Nationals last month after the Cubs non-tendered him in December.
Pederson, in 2,517 career plate appearances, is a .230/.336/.470 hitter with 130 home runs, including a career-high 36 in 2019. Schwarber, in 2,108 plate appearances, is a .230/.336/.480 hitter with 121 home runs, including a career-high 38 in 2019.
Both Pederson and Schwarber are left-handed hitters who have struggled against left-handed pitching.
Pederson is expected to get the chance to play everyday in left field, although the Cubs could opt to platoon him if things don't go well. They claimed outfielder Phillip Ervin off waivers in December, and Ervin is a career .277/.352/.459 hitter against lefties.
MLB
Williams, also 29 in April, has spent his entire career with the Pirates after debuting in 2016. In five seasons, he holds a 4.43 ERA in 106 games (94 starts), and while he struggled in 2020, he was effective as recently as 2018 (31 starts, 3.11 ERA, 1.178 WHIP).
Williams joins a starting rotation that includes Kyle Hendricks, Zach Davies, Alec Mills and Adbert Alzolay, with prospects Tyson Miller, Keegan Thompson, Cory Abbott and Brailyn Marquez also in the pipeline.
Chafin returns to the Cubs, who acquired him at the 2020 trade deadline. The 30-year-old was sidelined until late September due to a left finger sprain and only made four appearances with Chicago, allowing a run on two hits in three innings, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Chafin, 30, offers the Cubs a veteran lefty reliever on a staff short on southpaws. Outside of him, the only lefties currently projected to make the Opening Day roster are Kyle Ryan and Brad Wieck.
In 341 career games with the Diamondbacks and Cubs, Chafin has a 3.67 ERA and 1.314 WHIP.