It’s funny that we were just talking about how little Tyler Chatwood had pitched for the Cubs, about whether it might be an opportune time for the Cubs to shop him as a starter, and whether they could afford to lose the depth. The very next day, the Cubs needed him in an emergency.
And boy did he step up.
With almost no warning that he’d be starting (he apparently didn’t find out for sure until just about four hours before the game), and with no chance to be stretched out or be consistent in his schedule, Chatwood gave the Cubs four innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and one walk (and one HBP), while striking out five.
The outing dropped Chatwood’s ERA to 4.14 on the season, which is nearly 10% better than league average when adjusting for league and park effects. Quite a bounce-back year from where he was last season. Not a bad guy to have around, right? Not necessarily a guy you want to just dump for a small amount of salary savings?
That said, of course everything is still on the table. If the right opportunity comes up for the Cubs to make a significant addition, and in so doing, they have to make a concurrent move with Chatwood (because his value is actually existent), then I do think they’ll consider it.
But it would have to be a really significant upgrade, because right now, not having Chatwood available for these just-in-case moments is a little scary after the Mike Montgomery trade and Adbert Alzolay injury.