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Chicago Cubs: Candidates for the Cubs’ 2018 starting rotation
Alec Mills
Alec Mills was acquired by the Cubs last offseason in a trade with the Kansas City Royals. Mills had 3 1/3 innings of major league experience with the Royals during the 2016 season, and is currently at Triple-A Iowa.
Chicago Cubs
In three starts at Triple-A, Mills has a 3.21 ERA with seven strikeouts and three walks in 14 innings pitched. The 25-year-old has yet to allow a home run this season and is averaging 4.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
Mills had made 97 appearances during his minor league career with 70 of those being starts. In 2015, Mills made 21 starts for the Royals’ Class-A Advanced affiliate. In those starts, Mills recorded a 3.02 ERA with 111 strikeouts and 14 walks in 113 1/3 innings pitched.
The right-hander enjoyed similar success in 2016 as he made 24 appearances (23 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A. In 125 2/3 innings pitched, Mills registered a 3.22 ERA with 122 strikeouts and just 31 walks.
If Mills can continue to post good numbers at Triple-A, he could be a top candidate for a rotation spot next season.
Mills is another example of the Cubs trading for a young pitcher that has many years of team control left. Mills is not slated to become a free agent until 2023, which will give the youngster an opportunity to grow within the Cubs organization.