[Original post remains, but see UPDATES below – the Cubs traded for Smith.]
Another bullpen arm under consideration for the Cubs? Yes, says Ken Rosenthal:
Source: #Cubs discussing a trade for #Angels’ Joe Smith. Considering number of other possibilities as well.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 1, 2016
Smith, 32, is in the final year of a three-year deal he signed with the Angels, and he’s making $5.2 million. It’s been a down year for Smith, whose strikeout rate has plummeted and walk rate has risen (he’s been a little better in July). Before 2015, he was consistently excellent.[adinserter block=”1″]
A depth addition? I suppose. Unless the Cubs see something specific they can fix, I don’t immediately see the attractiveness – but then, I’ve only been reviewing him, on paper, for about 5 minutes. Such is life on Trade Deadline day.
UPDATE: Well, we’ll have to figure it out soon enough, because the Cubs have reportedly traded for Smith:
Joe Smith traded to the Chicago Cubs.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) August 1, 2016
More on him in a moment.
UPDATE 2: The Cubs are giving up 20-year-old short-season Low-A lefty Jesus Castillo in the deal:
#angels got Jesus Castillo from #cubs for Joe Smith
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 1, 2016
And some thoughts on Smith:
Joe Smith getting a 60.7% groundball rate against righties this year, so there's your reason for wanting him.
— Brett Taylor (@BleacherNation) August 1, 2016
Moreover, soft contact against righties is way up there 23.8%. It'll take minute to discern why the bad overall numbers, but can see logic.
— Brett Taylor (@BleacherNation) August 1, 2016
Overall numbers not great in 2015, but he was pretty brutal on righties then, too. Looking like he's the Cubs' new ROOGY.
— Brett Taylor (@BleacherNation) August 1, 2016
My question is whether Cubs can carry ROOGY in an 8-man pen – whom does he replace? Nathan? Grimm (instead of coming back)? Tough.
— Brett Taylor (@BleacherNation) August 1, 2016
So, in short, the Cubs added a veteran righty, formerly excellent, recently decent against righties, at a very low cost. Now they have to figure out how to fit him into the roster. For now, he can replace Spencer Patton (who is coming up to replace Brian Matusz), and then when Justin Grimm’s 10-day transaction exile is up, the Cubs will decide who goes and who stays.[adinserter block=”2″]