Drew

Smyly

Smyly gets a $2.5 million buyout. The 35-year-old moved to pen the second half of the 2023 season and had a 3.84 ERA in 58 2/3 innings as a reliever last season. He could look to return to the rotation as a free agent.

To get a sense of the calamity that is the Cubs current bullpen, Thompson entered this game for Drew Smyly, who was put on waivers earlier this week, who relieved Tyson Miller after allowing three runs and turning this into a save situation. Back from injury and the most effective option, there’s a good chance Thompson is called upon for the Cubs’ next save opportunity.

Smyly is owed about $1.5 million this season and then a $2.5 million buyout of a $10 million mutual option next year, greatly increasing the chances that he’ll clear waivers. He could be helpful to a contender, though. He has a 2.84 ERA in 50 2/3 innings out of the Cubs pen.

Better umpiring would have helped the Cubs here, but it’s not like either Brewer or Smyly impressed tonight. The Cubs wanted Brewer to close over Héctor Neris, but he gave up hits to two of the three batters he faced. Smyly entered at that point and allowed a single and three walks. One of those was intentional, but the last, which pushed the winning run across, certainly wasn’t. With Neris out of the mix for the moment, Tyson Miller might be the current favorite for saves in the Cubs pen. He got the final two outs of the eighth before exiting tonight.

Smyly figures to factor into Chicago’s pitching plans this weekend, although he’ll likely be back as a multi-inning reliever, rather than a traditional starter. The 34-year-old southpaw has been out since late April due to a right hip impingement.

Counsell also noted that Smyly is unlikely to be used as part of the rotation, instead he’ll be treated as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. The 34-year-old left-hander has been shelved since late April with a right hip impingement.

It’s a bit unclear what type of role Smyly will wind up occupying once he’s ready to return to Chicago, but it’s possible he’ll get another crack in the starting rotation, or end up as a multi-inning reliever. The 34-year-old southpaw has been out since late April due to a right hip impingement.

Smyly has pitched to a pedestrian 4.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 11/5 K/BB ratio across 12 2/3 innings (nine appearances) this season out of Chicago’s bullpen. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw will presumably be sidelined for at least a couple weeks.

Smyly had his chance during spring camp to make the Cubs’ starting rotation, but his performances on the mound weren’t enough. Chicago likely will benefit from Smyly coming out of the bullpen as the 34-year-old posted a 2.51 ERA in 18 games of relief last season compared to a 5.62 ERA in his 23 starts.

The Cubs gave Smyly a legitimate shot to claim a rotation spot, but that ought to be done now; the bullpen is likely where he’s more valuable and he could wind up being a terrific source of holds this year.