Kevin

McCarthy

McCarthy was cut loose by the Cubs after making just three relief appearances at Triple-A Iowa this season. The 30-year-old righty holds a respectable 3.80 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 120/61 K/BB ratio across 191 2/3 frames (169 appearances) at the major-league level since 2016.

McCarthy last appeared in the majors during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign when he made five relief appearances with the Royals. The 30-year-old righty holds a respectable 3.80 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 120/61 K/BB ratio across 191 2/3 frames (169 appearances) at the major-league level since 2016. He split the entire 2021 season at the Triple-A level between the Red Sox and White Sox. He’ll likely function as organizational relief depth for the Cubs whenever the 2022 season gets underway.

McCarthy was released by the Red Sox in late August after struggling to a 7.13 ERA in 35 1/3 innings at Triple-A Rochester. The 29-year-old will serve as organizational relief depth for Chicago.

McCarthy signed a minor league contract with Boston over the offseason and had struggled to the tune of a 7.13 ERA in 35 1/3 innings this summer at Triple-A Worcester while working mostly in relief.

McCarthy had a 3.65 ERA in 154 appearances for Kansas City from 2017-19, but the team demoted him after he allowed three runs in six innings to begin last year and then cut him from the 40-man right after the season. He’s on a minor league deal with the Red Sox, which hurts his chances of winning a bullpen spot out of spring training. He’s a very nice pitcher to have around for depth, though.

McCarthy gets $825,000 if he makes the team according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The right-hander was non-tendered at the end of October after giving up three runs in six innings. He should compete for a spot in the Boston bullpen this spring.

McCarthy was arbitration-eligible and the Royals didn’t want to give him a raise, so this essentially serves as an early non-tender. He’ll probably have to settle for a minor league contract this winter.

The move clears a spot for Matt Harvey. McCarthy has allowed three runs over six relief innings this season.

The Royals had a five-run lead and McCarthy was dealing, so Royals manager Ned Yost rolled with it. He gave up just two hits and didn’t walk a batter in his 2 1/3 innings, striking out two. The save was his first this year. There was a time he was pitching well enough -- and the rest of the Royals bullpen was pitching poorly enough -- that McCarthy could have been installed as the team’s closer, but that didn’t happen, and he’ll need a lot more outings like Sunday’s to get back into the manager’s good graces. McCarthy owns a 5.21 ERA, 1.79 WHIP with eight strikeouts and nine walks in 19 innings.

McCarthy will rejoin the Kansas City bullpen ahead of Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader in St. Louis. He struggled out of the gate this season, but the 27-year-old right-hander has been a valuable relief arm for the Royals in the very recent past.