Last year, the Chicago Cubs acquired a few players who provided them with depth in both the outfield and bullpen. But when taking a look at the names they had acquired and the production they received, there’s no doubt Trevor Cahill delivered.
On August 18, the Cubs signed the former second-round draft pick to a minor league deal just days after he opted out of his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 14th.
The 27-year-old right-hander made his major league debut with the Oakland Athletics back on Apr. 7, 2009 against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching five innings in a no-decision.
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His run on the West Coast wouldn’t last long as he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to the 2011 campaign for Ryan Cook, Jarrod Parker, and Collin Cowgill.
Cook was recently acquired by the Cubs, but he was non-tendered by the club which made him a free agent.
Now according to ESPN’s own Buster Olney, the Chicago Cubs have re-signed Cahill to a one-year deal worth $4.25 million, keeping him with the franchise after a spectacular second-half on the North Side.
After struggling in his final year with the Diamondbacks by posting a 5.61 ERA, things didn’t get any better when he was picked up by the Atlanta Braves just before Opening Day.
In only 15 games with the Braves, Cahill posted a career-worst 7.52 ERA behind 22 earned runs on 36 hits, two homers and a 14/11 K/BB ratio across 26 1/3 frames of work. Atlanta designated him for assignment on June 11 only to be released nine days later.
He quickly turned his season around when he became a member of Chicago’s inconsistent bullpen. In fact, he pitched his absolute best by allowing only four earned runs on eight hits while posting a 22/5 K/BB ratio in 17 regular season innings and carried that play over into the postseason.
Trevor made six bullpen appearances for Joe Maddon against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opening round and New York Mets in the National League Championship Series.
Two offenses that plated a ton of runs over the course of the regular season managed to tag him for only two behind seven hits across 5 1/3. Not bad for a guy who was pitching in the playoffs for the first time in his career.
He’ll likely work as a late-inning reliever and possibly set-up man depending on how well Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop perform.