The Cubs are in settlement with reliever Phil Bickford on a minor league contract, stories Jon Heyman of the New York Publish (X hyperlink). The Rep 1 Baseball shopper certified for minor league free company in the beginning of the offseason.
Bickford solely made eight appearances on the massive league stage this yr. He pitched 8 1/3 innings throughout two stints with the Yankees, permitting 9 runs on 10 hits. The 29-year-old righty turned in stable numbers in Triple-A. Bickford labored to a 3.40 ERA with a wonderful 30% strikeout share whereas limiting his walks to a 7.7% clip. Whereas that didn’t translate in his transient massive league look, the previous first-rounder has proven the power to overlook bats on the MLB stage.
Over elements of 5 massive league seasons, Bickford sports activities an above-average 26.1% strikeout fee. He punched out 1 / 4 of opponents throughout a career-high 67 1/3 innings between the Dodgers and Mets in 2023. That got here with a personal-worst 12.8% stroll share, although, and he allowed almost 5 earned runs per 9 that season.
The Cubs have an inexperienced bullpen with a handful of roster spots up for grabs. Nate Pearson, Porter Hodge, Eli Morgan, Tyson Miller and Keegan Thompson most likely have Opening Day jobs secured. Chicago tendered a contract to Julian Merryweather, who’s out of choices. That offers him the within observe on a center reduction job if he’s wholesome. That’d nonetheless depart two spots obtainable. The Cubs will certainly make further strikes to deepen the reduction group over the winter, but it surely’s a stable touchdown spot for Bickford as he tries to pitch his means again to the massive leagues.
