While the event is usually marked by wheeling and dealing, the 2017 edition was a relatively quiet affair. Sure, the Cardinals swung a couple of big trades (Ozuna, Piscotty); but, most of the marquee free-agents remain on the open market, names like Arrieta, Hosmer, Darvish, Martinez, etc. In fact, so far, the biggest contract signed by a free agent player is the three-year, $38 million pact inked by the Cubs' Tyler Chatwood. At the outset of the off-season, who would have guessed that, as Christmas approached, the richest contract of the winter would belong to Chatwood? Anyone? Bueller?
Speaking of Chatwood, the Cubs have been among the more active clubs at the meetings, quietly retooling their pitching staff, which failed miserably in last year's playoff run. In addition to Chatwood, Theo and Jed also got Brandon Morrow and Drew Smyly to sign on the dotted line. After making those additions, Epstein publicly expressed doubt about consummating any more deals before heading back north, but he qualified that by adding "that can change with one phone call."
Well, I guess he made that phone call.
Yesterday afternoon, amidst the ongoing Rule 5 Draft (more on that later), the North Siders signed side-arming reliever, Steve Cishek, to a two-year deal worth somewhere in the range of $12MM to $14MM. With relievers coming off of the board at a rapid pace, it's nice to see the Cubs lock down a late-inning option with closing experience for a modest price. After all, it seemed like the only market that was truly booming in "the Sunshine State" was the bullpen bazaar; almost all of the big targets came off the board.
Coming off of a hip issue in '16, Cishek posted a 2.01 ERA over 44.2 innings last season and induced groundballs at an astonishing 56.1% clip last year. With the wind blowing out of Wrigley Field in the summer and the Gold Glove-level defense played by the Chicago middle infield, those numbers should play nicely in the Windy City. Plus, his side-arm delivery will provide a different look against opposing hitters. All in all, Steve looks like another solid option for the back end of the pen.
A pair of Cishek cards (that I do not posses) from products I regularly buy.
Luckily, I just so happened to have a Cishek card handy, the 2015 Topps Update single that you see at the top of this post. The irony is that he's played the majority of his career with the Marlins, a team which seems to have no card-collecting fan base with which we bloggers can trade, and yet the only Cishek card I had stashed away features him on the dreaded Cards. I truly thought that I would have a few more. That's okay though - 2015 Topps is probably my favorite Flagship product of the 20th century anyway! It works out.
While the Cubs added another pitcher to their ranks on the final day of the festivities, they also did loose one, at almost the same time. Remember how I mentioned that the Rule 5 Draft was in process as the Cubbies finalized their pact with the former Marlin, Cardinal, Mariner, and Ray? Well, one of their upper-level minor league hurlers was taken by Baltimore in the second round: Pedro Araujo.
Araujo led all Cubs minor leaguers with an 11.6 K/9 in over 64 innings of relief at High A Myrtle Beach in 2017 and was ticketed to begin next season at AA after striking out 15 hitters (against just 2 walks) in 10.1 innings in the Arizona Fall League. However, now the 2011 international signee will endeavor to make it all the way to the Majors out of camp with the Orioles - as you might recall, Rule 5 selections must stay on the MLB roster for the entire season or be returned to their original club.
As it stands, it doesn't look like this team-set single that I purchased from the Pelicans team shop in October will be sliding into my Cubs All-Time Roster Collection. The Orioles seem poised to begin a rebuild, making a prospect like Araujo all the more intriguing. Plus, it's a lot easier to stash a relief arm on the bottom of the Major League roster than at any other position. In short, I wouldn't anticipate this Pelican flying back to the Cubs organization.
Good luck in your new digs, Pedro; seize this Big League opportunity!
Perhaps Pedro's name will be added to this wall of Pelican alumni to make the show?
As Pete the Cat might say, "pitchers come and pitchers go... do we cry? Heavens no!"
With that, I believe I have covered all of the moves made by the Cubs during this year's Winter Meetings. There's bound to be a few more before the snow melts, however, as they could still use another starter, back up catcher, and spare outfielder for next campaign. Hopefully, the impassably congested free agent market starts to clear up as Christmas inches ever closer - players tend to want to know where they will be in the coming year by the holidays... and to have some of that big money to spend on gifts!
Will Rene Rivera return to the Second City? Will Curtis Granderson spend the swan song of his career in his hometown? Does Alex Cobb think he's actually going to get $20 million per year? Only time will tell.
At any rate, welcome to Chicago, Steve Cishek - here's hoping that your sidearm delivery can help straighten up the Cubs bullpen in 2018!
I thought your title reference was to TS Eliot, "Women come and go/Speaking of Michelangelo." I didn't expect to see Pete the Cat.
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