2016 Cubs reliever manages to keep hanging around after signing with the Mets

It's been more than a decade since the Stringbean Slinger, Carl Edwards, Jr., made his big-league debut as a wiry 23-year-old reliever for Joe Maddon's Chicago Cubs. Now heading into his age-34 season, the right-hander will look to break camp with the New York Mets after signing a minor-league deal with the club on Monday.

The deal, which includes an invite to big-league spring training, allows the former 48th-round pick to continue his career as a no-risk pickup in Queens. It's the type of offseason move every team makes, but Cubs fans are particularly familiar with it given how Jed Hoyer has built his bullpen in recent years. Not sexy or eye-catching by any means, but if it works out, it's a huge win for the front office.

Last year, Edwards Jr. spent time with a pair of American League West foes, starting the season with the Los Angeles Angels after joining the team in late March and latching on with the Texas Rangers mid-season after the Halos dumped him. All told, he punched out six in six innings of work, allowing three earned on four hits.

Mets are hoping Carl Edwards Jr. has something left in the tank

He hasn't logged a meaningful workload at the big-league level since 2023 as a member of the Washington Nationals, when he made 32 appearances, capping a very strong two-year run in D.C. Since then, he's seen MLB action with San Diego, as well as Texas and Los Angeles. He signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs ahead of the 2024 season, but never saw action with the big-league team.

Cubs fans no doubt remember him from the early days of his career, when he was a key piece of the team's bullpen. During the 2016 World Series run, he averaged a career-best 13 K/9 and got some big outs in the postseason (remember, it was he who was pulled for Mike Montgomery in the final frame of Game 7).

The high was not to last forever, though. After two more impressive seasons on the North Side, the wheels came off in 2019 and the Cubs traded him to the Padres at the deadline in exchange for big left-hander Brad Wieck. Still, nobody will soon forget the image of Edwards running across Progressive Field after the team's incredible Game 7 win, W flag blowing behind him, surrounded by celebrating teammates.