Chicago Cubs: Fifth starter options abound heading into offseason

Chicago Cubs: Drew Smyly ready to return from surgery

I both do and don’t understand signing Smyly last offseason. I know he was coming back from Tommy John surgery and wasn’t going to pitch much, if at all, for the Cubs in 2018. What I don’t understand is why the front office would then be comfortable turning around and handing him a spot in the rotation in 2019 after he didn’t pitch last year.

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Just like Chatwood, Smyly signed a multi-year deal last winter. There is still one year and $7 million left on that contract. If he doesn’t work out as a starter, Smyly could turn into a valuable left-hander in the bullpen.

If the last spot in the rotation comes down to Smyly or Mike Montgomery, that situation will seem a lot like the 2017 situation. That year the Cubs chose between Montgomery and Brett Anderson, another left-hander, for the last spot in the rotation. Anderson lasted only six starts that season before going on the disabled list and eventually being released.

But even if Anderson had worked out, the front office would have been faced with a pitcher that the Cubs took a risk on, he then re-establishes his value before hitting free agency. That’s the best case scenario with Smyly except this time, more up front money is on the line.