The Cubs declined Smyly's $10 million mutual option for 2025 on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Smyly moved to the bullpen full-time in 2024 and logged a 3.84 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 58.2 innings. While those are both improvements from his 2023 statline (5.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP), the Cubs will elect to pay the southpaw's $2.5 million buyout rather than keep him on the squad for his age-36 season.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Takes loss Saturday
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Smyly (3-8) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while retiring just one batter to take the loss in Saturday's 6-5, extra-inning defeat to the Rockies.
After Porter Hodge blew the save in the bottom of the ninth inning to force the game into the 10th, Smyly allowed the automatic baserunner to come around and score to take the loss. The lefty's record doesn't reflect it, but he's pitched well this year out of the bullpen with a 3.54 ERA and 53 strikeouts across 56 innings. Smyly was placed on waivers back in late August, though he's stuck around in Chicago and will likely continue to see high-leverage work for the Cubs in the final few weeks of the regular season.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Placed on waivers
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The Cubs placed Smyly on outright waivers Monday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Smyly will now be available to be claimed off waivers by the 29 other teams in the league after producing a 2.84 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 43 strikeouts over 50.2 innings in 39 appearances out of the bullpen with Chicago. The left-hander will likely have no shortage of teams interested in him and a postseason contender could use his services to bolster their bullpen down the stretch.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Takes loss Tuesday
Rotowire
Smyly (3-6) allowed a solo home run across 1.1 innings of relief to take the loss Tuesday against the Guardians. He struck out one.
A blast by Jhonkensy Noel in the fifth inning was the only damage against Smyly, but it saddled him with the loss in Cleveland's 2-1 victory. Despite the 3-6 record, Smyly has been solid this season with a 2.83 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 47.2 innings. All of that work has come out of the bullpen, which is a contrast from last year, when the veteran lefty made 23 starts for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Earns win in relief Monday
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Smyly (3-5) tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Monday against the Brewers. He allowed one hit and didn't record any walks or strikeouts.
Cubs starter Javier Assad didn't allow any runs over his 3.1 innings of work, but he also issued six walks and threw 76 pitches, which forced Smyly into the game early. The veteran lefty continued his strong recent form and lowered his ERA to 2.79. Chicago has stuck with Assad and Kyle Hendricks at the back of its rotation, though both pitchers have had their struggles this season and could be bumped for Smyly if the team decides to make a change.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Effective again Saturday
Rotowire
Smyly tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Diamondbacks. He allowed a hit and struck out one.
Smyly continues to pitch well for the Cubs in a long-relief role, as he's allowed just one run this month in six appearances. Overall, the veteran lefty has lowered his ERA to 2.92, which would be the second-lowest mark of his 11-year MLB career. Chicago seems content to keep Smyly in the bullpen, though fifth starter Kyle Hendricks has a 6.69 ERA and could get bumped from the rotation if the team decides to mix things up at some point.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Earns hold Sunday
Rotowire
Smyly tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn a hold in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals.
Smyly picked things up after Chicago starter Jameson Taillon covered 5.2 innings, and the former was effective across his 16 pitches, earning his third hold of the season in the process. Smyly had a solid first half of the season, posting a 3.09 ERA across 35 innings of relief. While the veteran lefty has plenty of starting experience in his career, he's worked exclusively out of the bullpen so far in 2024, and he'll likely stick in that role after the All-Star break.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Tosses two scoreless innings Sunday
Rotowire
Smyly tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Brewers. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one.
Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks struggled, allowing seven runs over 3.2 innings, which forced the Cubs to get some long-relief work from Smyly. The veteran had allowed runs in his last two appearances, but he was better Sunday as he lowered his season ERA to 3.54. Hendricks now has a 7.48 ERA, and the Cubs may be forced to remove him from the rotation at some point if he can't turn things around. Smyly, who started 23 games for the team last season, could be an option to slide into that role, though he was ineffective as a starter in 2023 and would be hard to trust from a fantasy perspective.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Tosses two scoreless innings Sunday
Rotowire
Smyly tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Cardinals. He allowed two hits and struck out two.
After a solid effort from starter Jameson Taillon across six innings, Smyly did his best to keep the Cubs in the game despite their lack of offense. The lefty has now logged five straight scoreless outings covering seven innings, and he's struck out seven during the hot steak. Smyly seems more suited for a relief role than a starting gig at this point in his career, as his fastball is up to 93.1 mph this season after sitting at 92 mph last year, when he made 23 starts, and he's been more effective with the added velocity.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Struggles with control, takes loss
Rotowire
Smyly (2-3) allowed two runs on a hit and three walks across 1.1 innings of relief Friday against the Reds. He struck out three.
While Smyly was effective at missing bats, he was equally ineffective finding the plate. The three walks are a new season high and his BB/9 for the year is now up to 5.1, which would be a new career worst. Smyly will need to exhibit better control if he wants to chip away at his 5.06 ERA, and he's off the fantasy radar at the moment given his role and recent performance.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Reinstated from IL
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The Cubs reinstated Smyly (hip) from the injured list Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Smyly landed on the injured list in late April due to a right hip impingement. He struck out five batters in three scoreless innings during his lone rehab game at High-A South Bend on Tuesday. He had put up a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 12.2 innings before getting injured and figures to reprise his role as a middle reliever now that he's fully recovered. Jose Cuas was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Nearing return
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Smyly (hip) is likely to be activated from the injured list during this weekend's series against the Cardinals, Elise Menaker reports.
Smyly made a rehab start with High-A South Bend on Tuesday, throwing three perfect innings while striking out five. Despite the fact that Kyle Hendricks was moved to the bullpen and Jordan Wicks (forearm) remains on the IL, Counsell noted that he will use Smyly in a multi-inning relief role when he returns, rather than moving him into the rotation. Smyly appeared in nine games before going on the injured list, registering a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 12.2 innings.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Will begin rehab in High-A
Rotowire
Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that he expects Smyly (hip) to begin a rehab assignment with High-A South Bend sometime next week, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.
Counsell did not specify how many appearances Smyly will make in the minors, though the lefty figures to require multiple outings given he's been on the shelf since April 23 with a hip impingement. The 34-year-old put up a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 12.2 innings before getting hurt, and he will likely return to a multi-inning relief role once he rejoins Chicago.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Completes bullpen session
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Smyly (hip) threw another bullpen session Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Smyly continues to work his way back from a right hip impingement, which prompted his placement on the 15-day injured list April 23. The 34-year-old southpaw will need to advance to facing live hitters in batting practice and will likely require a rehab assignment before being activated.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Throwing off mound
Rotowire
Smyly (hip) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
He's continuing his throwing progression as he works his way back from a right hip impingement. Smyly has already missed a couple weeks of action and will probably be asked to make at least one rehab appearance before being activated.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Cleared to resume throwing
Rotowire
Smyly (hip) has been cleared to begin playing catch, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Smyly hasn't pitched in nearly two weeks because of a right hip impingement but is ready to begin ramping things back up. The left-hander seems likely to require a rehab assignment before rejoining the Cubs' bullpen.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: To IL with hip injury
Rotowire
The Cubs placed Smyly on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right hip impingement, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Smyly last pitched Sunday against the Marlins and must have suffered an injury during the outing. He'll be eligible to return May 7, although it's not clear at this point whether he will be ready at that time.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Solid so far
Rotowire
Through four appearances (6.2 innings), Smyly has a 4.05 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and seven strikeouts.
Outside of his first appearance of the season, Smyly has retired more than three batters in all of his outings, and he should continue to work in a long-relief role for the Cubs. While a 4.05 ERA isn't amazing, it is an improvement on the 5.00 ERA he posted in 2023. The veteran southpaw has also lowered his WHIP from 1.43 last season. It's still early, but Smyly's results have been encouraging so far.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Misses out on rotation spot
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Thursday that Smyly will begin the season in the bullpen, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Though Jameson Taillon (back) is slated to begin the season on the injured list, the Cubs are electing to fill the final two spots in the five-man rotation with Jordan Wicks and Javier Assad rather than opening the campaign with Smyly in a starting role. Counsell noted that he still expects Smyly to make starts at some point this season, so the 35-year-old lefty presumably checks in at seventh on the organization's rotation depth chart, including the injured Taillon.
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Cubs' Drew Smyly: Could serve as spot starter
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Smyly could start the regular season in the rotation with Jameson Taillon (back) set to miss some time into April, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Taillon could return as soon as April 8 in San Diego, but the Cubs will have to fill his rotation spot until then. Justin Steele is set to start Opening Day on March 28, and Chicago gets an off day after that. However, the Cubs then have games on five straight days, so a full rotation will likely be needed. Beyond Steele, Kyle Hendricks and Shota Imanaga should be locked into starting spots, and Jordan Wicks is making a strong case in camp. That could leave Smyly, Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski to compete for the No. 5 spot, at least until Taillon returns.
