Cubs deal with Trevor Williams

CHICAGO – The Cubs knew that their search for rotation help this winter would include launching a network for returning candidates. Right-handed Trevor Williams fits this mold and will have the chance to prove his worth to a team with early entry into play. On Saturday, the Cubs

CHICAGO – The Cubs knew that their search for rotation help this winter would include launching a network for returning candidates. Right-handed Trevor Williams fits this mold and will have the chance to prove its worth to a team with early entry into play.

On Saturday, the Cubs reached an agreement with Williams on a one-year contract pending a physical examination, sources told MLB.com. The terms of the contract were not immediately known and the Cubs did not confirm the deal.

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Once official, the pact will position Williams favorably to enter a rotation led by Kyle Hendricks, Zach Davies and Alec Mills. It is a squad without an oppressive arm, but Chicago is confident that its launch infrastructure and race prevention planning can maximize the production of such weapons.

The road to the second consecutive division title should be a challenge for the Cubs, who exchanged ace Yu Darvish with the Fathers in December as part of a successful package that attracted Davies and four candidates. But Chicago is attempting a balancing act to remain competitive in 2021 and plan for the future.

This approach by the new president of Cubs baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, led to changes that reduced payroll and others that met needs economically. Williams fits the latter approach, as does the reported agreement between the Cubs and the outfielder Joc Pederson (also physical pending).

Williams, 28, won 14 games and played an ERA of 3.11 in 31 games in 2018 for Pirates, who saw the right to register an ERA of 1.29 in their 13 final games that season. From 19 to 20, however, Williams had an ERA of 5.60 out of 201 entries, dealing with a straight oblique problem in 19 and continued inconsistency in 20 (6.18 ERA in 11 matches).

Williams’ father, who grew up in Chicago and once missed school for a week to watch Ernie Banks hit his 500th home run, tweeted that his son going to the Cubs “is a dream” next to a photo of Williams casting on Wrigley Field in 2018.

I was born and raised in Chicago. I watched Ernie Banks’ success at the 500th HR in May 1970. I worked 4 summers as a doorman at Wrigley. This is a dream. Wake me up. This photo was at Wrigley in 2018. It was very cold that night. I’m warm tonight. pic.twitter.com/kzpV7hWXAQ

– RICHARD WILLIAMS (@ SDRICH7777) January 31, 2021

Williams was assigned for assignment by Pittsburgh on November 20, when the team needed to clear space on the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 Draft. This concluded a five-year race with Pirates for Williams, who made 31-37 with a WAS 4.43 out of 106 matches in the major leagues. Williams relies mostly on a four-seater fastball (91.5 mph on average in 2020, per Statcast), slider and shift, but he also has a sinker and a curve in his arsenal.

In need of depth of rotation, Cubs can also continue to target some intermediate level free agent arms. Names like Chris Archer, Mike Foltynewicz, Jake Arrieta and Jeff Samardzija, for example, have been mentioned in relation to the North Siders in several reports in the past few days.

The need for rotation help comes after the Cubs lost Tyler Chatwood (Blue Jays) and José Quintana (Angels) to the free agent this off-season. Chicago also refused Jon Lester’s 2021 option, and the veteran southpaw signed on as a free agent with the Nationals, meeting with former Cubs sniper Kyle Schwarber (not competed in December).

Internally, Cubs also have right-handers Adbert Alzolay ready to compete for one of the spin openings this spring. Chicago also added right Kohl Stewart on a one-year contract to serve as a long man and piece of potential rotation depth. Shelby Miller was signed for a minor league, non-squad contract this offseason for potential starting depth, too.

Cubs also have Brailyn Marquez, classified by MLB Pipeline as its No. 1 prospect, knocking on the Majors’ door, and Cory Abbott, Tyson Miller and Justin Steele between the arms also offers internal rotation depth. Choice of rule 5 Gray Fenter and reliever Duane Underwood Jr. are expected to be extended this spring to handle multiple shifts as well.

Rotation is not designed to be an overwhelming unit, but Cubs believe it can be effective.

Hendricks has extensive post-season experience, won an ERA title and is a respected leader coming out of a strong display in 2020 (2.88 ERA in 12 matches). Davies boasts one of the best changes in the game and had an ERA of 2.73 in a dozen laps in ’20. Last season, Mills famously played a no-hitter against the Brewers on September 13, and Alzolay impressed as a rotating substitution (2.95 ERA in six games).

Williams will try to fit perfectly into the rotation if he can shoot closer to his form in 2017-18.