Dan

Straily

Straily hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2019 and has been cut loose by the Cubs after posting a 5.49 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 75/38 K/BB ratio across 78 2/3 innings (17 appearances, 16 starts) for Triple-A Iowa. The 35-year-old journeyman righty signed a minor league deal with Chicago back in late April after a brief stint with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.

Straily was briefly with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League, but didn’t end up making an appearance before latching on with the Cubs. The 35-year-old journeyman spent the last two seasons pitching overseas in Korea. He last appeared in the majors with the Orioles back in 2019, but had a stint in the Diamondbacks’ minor-league system in 2022.

Straily was unsuccessful in his bid last year to make it back to the majors, and eventually wound up returning to Korea last August, after struggling to a 6.35 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 53/30 K/BB ratio across 62 1/3 innings (15 appearances, 12 starts) for Triple-A Reno in the Diamondbacks’ minor league system. The 33-year-old right-hander will earn $1 million for the 2023 season and figures to spend the remainder of his career overseas.

Straily was released by the Diamondbacks on Monday from his minor league contract after recording a calamitous 6.35 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 53/30 K/BB ratio across 62 1/3 innings (15 appearances, 12 starts) for Triple-A Reno. The 33-year-old right-hander spent the previous two years in Korea, blossoming into one of the league’s best pitchers. He’ll reportedly earn $400,000 for the remainder of the 2022 campaign in Korea.

Straily was attempting to win a spot in the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day rotation this spring, after spending the last two years in the Korea Baseball Organization, but was shelled for nine runs on 13 hits with a 12/3 K/BB ratio across 9 1/3 innings (three appearances, one start) in Cactus League play. The 33-year-old righty will open the regular season at Triple-A Reno and could earn a promotion back to the majors if he gets off to a strong start.

Straily entered the contest in relief and wound up surrendering solo homers to Jon Singleton and David Dahl. He notched four strikeouts and didn’t hand out any free passes. The 33-year-old righty is competing this spring for a spot on the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster, likely as a multi-inning reliever.

Not great. Straily was making his first start with the organization after signing a minor league deal in February, and he gave up three runs and another four in the third. The right-hander allowed two homers, and gave up nine hits while striking out three. Straily still has a chance to make the Diamondbacks, but the results will have to be much better in this condensed spring if he’s going to do so.

Straily has spent the last two years in the Korea Baseball Organization, and pitched well for the Lotte Giants in his time overseas. He last pitched in the majors in 2019 for the Orioles, and he struggled to a 9.82 ERA in 14 games -- eight starts -- and 47 2/3 innings. He has had success at the highest level before, however, and the stuff he showed in Korea suggests he has a chance at success in Arizona. It would not be surprising at all if he made the rotation to begin the season.

Straily cannot return by rule, as the Giants have signed two international players in Glenn Sparkman and Charlie Barnes, respectively. The 33-year-old was impressive in the KBO with a 3.23 ERA and leading the league in strikeouts in 2021 with 164 over 165 1/3 innings. There’s reportedly MLB interest from Straily, so a return to the majors appears likely for the right-hander.

Craig Mish of Sportsgrid says Straily will make $1.2 million, with $500,000 more available in incentives. It’s a little surprising that a major league team wasn’t willing to top that offer after Straily dominated in the KBO in 2020, but the righty has decided to remain overseas.