Mike

Minor

It’s not clear if that interest has just been the Cubs’ brass discussing Minor internally, or if they’ve reached out to his camp at all. The 35-year-old left-hander had a miserable season in 2022, registering a 6.06 ERA and a 76/40 K/BB ratio over 98 innings with the Reds before a sore shoulder ended his season prematurely. He’ll almost assuredly have to settle for a minor league deal if he finds a team that’s interested enough to give him another shot.

Minor, now 35 years old, is coming off an eye-popping (and not in a good way) 6.06 ERA with a 76/40 K/BB ratio over 98 innings with the Reds. He ended the season on the injured list with left shoulder soreness, but has been throwing this offseason and feels healthy. Odds are he’ll have to settle for a camp invite somewhere as he tries to keep his career afloat.

Minor will receive a $1 million buyout and head to free agency after posting a calamitous 6.06 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 76/40 K/BB ratio across 98 innings (19 starts) last year with the Reds. The 34-year-old veteran lefty is capable of soaking up inning, but hasn’t been a relevant fantasy contributor since the 2019 campaign.

Minor had been slated to start Friday, but now Luis Cessa will move up a day to take the ball. The veteran left-hander has a history of shoulder issues and wound up posting a 6.06 ERA across 19 starts this season. He’ll be a free agent after the Reds decline his option and will turn 35 this winter, so the future is looking pretty murky.

Not great. Minor struggled mightily with his control in an abbreviated outing, issuing a career-high five walks and needing a staggering 89 pitches (48 strikes) to record just nine outs. The 34-year-old veteran lefty gave up five hits, including a two-run homer to Yadier Molina prior to exiting. He’ll carry a bloated 6.06 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 76/40 K/BB ratio across 98 innings (19 starts) into a home outing on Thursday against the Brewers.

Not that he’s been all that great against the rest of the league, but Minor has had particular trouble with the Pirates this year, giving up 15 runs -- 13 earned -- in 17 innings against the team. He allowed three homers tonight, bringing his season total to 23 surrendered in 95 innings. Getting out of Cincinnati next year should help some there, but he’s certainly not going to be in high demand as a free agent,

Well that is something. Minor survived largely because he did not surrender an extra-base knock (all 10 hits were singles) and his defense turned three double plays. It also helped that he walked just one on the evening. Forced to play station-to-station, the Cubs were only able to capitalize on their slew of baserunners when P.J. worked an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. Minor will carry a bloated 5.70 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 67/31 K/BB ratio (17 starts; 90 innings) into a home showdown with the Pirates when next he toes the rubber.

The Cardinals couldn’t get much going against Minor, but a leadoff single in the fourth inning by Paul Goldschmidt was followed by a Nolan Arenado two-run blast which knotted things up at the time. He was pulled after yielding another two-out single to Goldy in the fifth. The 4 2/3 innings was Minor’s shortest start in more than a month, but he managed to lower his ERA below 6.00 for the first time all season (seriously). Minor gets the Cubs at Wrigley next.

It’s the first time in 15 starts this season that Minor has lasted seven innings. He improved to 3-10 with a 6.10 ERA.

Minor was fortunate to receive nine runs of support from the Reds’ offense, which enabled him to pick up a victory in this one. He finished with only one strikeout and somehow gave up five runs on nine hits without a ball leaving the yard. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw, who has been limited to just 14 starts this season due to injuries, is lined up to face the Nationals on Friday in a favorable road matchup.