Sometimes you lag so far behind that you've actually come back around to being timely again.
A few days ago, it was reported that the Ricketts had loosened the purse strings and tossed a few more coins at Jed Hoyer to spend on the Major League roster. That rumor sure appears to be true as steel - since that rumbling became public, the Cubs have signed Kohl Stewart, Joc Pederson, Trevor Williams, and continue to be active in the market for starting pitching and second base. Furthermore, just as I was tucking myself into bed last night, I noticed that the now suddenly fervent buyers had made another purchase. This acquisition came with a tinge of deja vu as I read the headline on MLB Trade Rumors.
Late last summer, the Cubbies tried to put lipstick on a pig at the trading deadline, pulling the trigger on several supplementary pieces that ultimately did little to help their slow tumble from second best of the NL to first round playoff exit (swept by the COVID-ridden Marlins, no less). Lefty Andrew Chafin was one of those auxiliary acquisitions, brought in via a minor trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the waning hours of the trading period. With a track record of success as a LOOGY who was also usable against righties stretching back to 2014, this seemed like a perfect move for a club gearing up for a pennant chase.
There was just one problem - Chafin was damaged goods.
The Cubs knew that Chafin was injury-riddled when they signed the dotted line on the deal; after all, the pitcher had been on the injured list for a couple of weeks already leading up to the trade. However, Theo and Jed were banking on Chafin being able to recover quickly from the strained finger on his pitching hand. This was a gamble that they ended up losing, as Andrew could only squeak into a mere four games - plus one playoff tilt - giving up one run in 3.1 IP before the season came to an abrupt halt at the hands of the COVID-infested Marlins. A free agent upon the conclusion of the World Series, I thought that was going to be the sum total of Chafin's Cubs career - another in a long line of random relievers scattered throughout my Cubs All-Time Roster Collection.
 |
| Image courtesy of Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images |
As it turns out, I was quite mistaken. The Cubs decided to bring Chafin back into the the fold for 2021, with the money that Ricketts dug out of the couch cushions, on a $2.75MM guarantee. It's a one-year deal with a mutual option and a buyout for 2022.
One can hardly doubt why the team wanted to keep Andrew around, despite his lost 2020 campaign. Since he debuted with the D'backs in 2014, Chafin has posted a
3.67 ERA with roughly average strikeout and walk percentages
(25.0 and 10.1) and a solid groundball rate of 52.3 percent in 274 2/3
innings. The Cubs sure do love them some worm killers. Furthermore, in that same time, lefties have slashed just .230/.306/.311 while righties haven't fair much better: .245/.333/.365. This is key, seeing as we are now playing in the three-batter minimum era. Furthermore, the heretofore shaky Kyle Ryan is the only other lefty option on the roster with significant MLB experience, so it seems prudent to bring in another choice for David Ross. Hopefully he's got a clean bill of health for this go-round.
He's also got a pretty mean mustache, for whatever that's worth.
To conclude, with Chafin's return, no corresponding move is needed for my CATRC binders, as he was already added last summer. However, Wrigley Roster Jenga was mothballed at this time; so, I'm taking this opportunity to spotlight his inclusion in my tomes. For now, he's represented with the 2020 Flagship single which "Topps" this post - the only Chafin card I could scrounge up at my local card shop. Hopefully, with his Cubs career now being extended for another year, he'll appear on a proper Cubbie Blue card with which I can "Cubgrade" his entry. Fingers crossed!
Welcome (back) to the Windy City and to the CATRC, Andrew Chafin!
Nice 'stache.
ReplyDelete