Although it is known, for obvious reasons, for considerably less mushy and fuzzy memories, the Cubs have now officially lost a second member of their rotation in one night.
Tyler Chatwood, a free agent like Jon Lester, is now ready to join the Blue Jays:
Source confirms: Right-handed free agent Tyler Chatwood according to Blue Jays, physical exam pending. First: @JonHeyman.
– Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 19, 2021
Deal pays him $ 3 million with incentives that can reach $ 5.5 million, per source. https://t.co/BzapAchZx5
– Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) January 19, 2021
Unlike Lester, who just signed with the Nationals, there was not much talk about the Cubs actually trying to get back together with Chatwood, whose three-year contract has just expired. Annoying in so many ways, Chatwood was alternately too wild to use and shockingly unpleasant. The material, the mix, the speed and the spin screamed in front of the rotation, but the ability to really enjoy everything – and stay healthy – was insufficient. The Cubs took a big risk with Chatwood’s things and youth three years ago and, in the end, it wasn’t worth it.
None of this means that he still couldn’t be very good. We had flashes of this recently, in 2020 – remember how he added that disgusting cutter-slider hybrid? – and if he stays healthy and finds a LITTLE bit, he can be very good. If he wasn’t already at Cubs, I think many of us would see him as an ideal low-cost candidate for Cubs.
So, based on the past few hours, am I assuming that José Quintana will sign with someone in about 45 minutes?
Either way, Cubs have about two or three or four innings to cover in 2021 (as in, even after Hendricks / Davies / Alzolay / Mills), and although some of this is obtained internally between their top-level arms – Cory Abbott, Tyson Miller, Keegan Thompson, Justin Steele, etc. – some will have to come from external additions. Shelby Miller cannot and will not be counted to be the extension of that.