NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs may have just picked up one of their many needed starting pitchers for 2022, albeit by way of a really unusual roster move.
Today, the Cubs claimed lefty Wade Miley off of waivers from the Cincinnati Reds, which is not something you usually see for established veterans like that. Moreover, Miley had a team option for 2022, and was otherwise gonna be a free agent. So basically, the Cubs claimed him so that THEY get the chance to pick up his $10 million option this weekend ($1 million buyout). Unless they’re gonna try to eat some salary and trade him for a prospect? I tend to doubt that, but we’ll confirm when the option actually gets picked up. Clearly the Reds didn’t want to pay him, and they seem to be in cost-cutting mode. Nice to be on the other side of that this offseason?
That is all to say, I tend to think the Cubs saw an opportunity on the waiver wire to pick up Miley, effectively, on a one-year, $10 million deal. So they jumped. Were he a free agent, that’s the kind of high-AAV, short-term deal we’ve been talking about, so why not? I suspect if the Cubs hadn’t been so high in the waiver priority order, another team would have happily taken him. Losing is great, eh?
Miley, who turns 35 soon, was quite good for the Reds in 2021, frequently vexing the Cubs, if I might add. Threw a no-hitter, too, but everyone threw a no-hitter last year.
Outside of the pandemic season, Wade Miley has become an effective starting pitcher ever since he reinvented himself with the Brewers back in 2018 (remember the development of the cutter?). He’s a contact-managing type, of which the Cubs have many, but at least he throws from the left side.
Quick take is that I like it. The Cubs need starters like this. Multiple. And they’ve got PLENTY of money to spend on short-term adds like this. So this is a good, early start to the process. It doesn’t foreclose any other moves, but it gets them another capable arm who might wind up providing surplus value on a short-term deal, or who could emerge as a trade piece if things go sideways again in the first half.
More on Miley shortly.
Wade Miley, no matter what numbers you use, was really good this year. 12-7. 3.37 ERA. 6 bWAR. 2.9 fWAR. 3.97 FIP. 4.07 xFIP. That's worth more than $10 million
— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) November 5, 2021
The #Cubs today claimed LHP Wade Miley off waivers from the Reds. pic.twitter.com/nTOI0TKCP1
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) November 5, 2021
