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In a seemingly smaller move following the highlight of Jon Lester‘s introductory press conference Monday afternoon, the Chicago Cubs signed free agent reliever Jason Motte to a one-year deal.
Source-Breaking news -Chicago Cubs sign pitcher Jason Motte to 1 year deal pending physical .
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) December 15, 2014
Motte, 32, had spent his entire big league career with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team that drafted him in the 19th round of the 2003 draft, prior to reportedly joining the division rival Cubs. Last season, the right-handed reliever struggled, appearing in just 29 games, pitching to a 4.68 earned run average and an even more horrendous 6.49 FIP.
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However, prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013, he was a dominant closer for the Cardinals, shutting the door a league-leading 42 times, averaging 10.8 strikeouts-per-nine in 72 innings of work. As noted, last season, he struggled, dealing with back injuries for much of the season.
The veteran right-hander joins the likes of a varied cast vying for bullpen roles under first-year manager Joe Maddon in 2015. Former starting pitcher Edwin Jackson is likely destined for the bullpen down the left field line after struggling once again in 2014 as a member of the rotation, meaning a long relief or mop-up role is probable, to say the least.
Dan Straily, who was acquired in the deal that also netted Addison Russell last July, will be Jackson’s main competition for that role next season, but in terms of short-work arms, Motte will likely compete against the likes of Pedro Strop, who served as the team’s setup man in 2014, along with Justin Grimm, Neil Ramirez, Blake Parker and Brian Schlitter – among others. Hector Rondon figures to be the team’s closer after a breakout performance last season as the ninth-inning man for Chicago.
Across 311 big league appearances, Motte has a 3.11 earned run average, 1.109 WHIP and a 3.37 SO/BB ratio.