MLB Trade Rumors: Chicago Cubs Bolster Bullpen with Veteran Lefty Drew Pomeranz
The surging Chicago Cubs are adding a familiar face to their bullpen mix, acquiring veteran left-hander Drew Pomeranz from the Seattle Mariners, sources told The Athletic on Monday.
Pomeranz, 36, will begin his Cubs stint with Triple-A Iowa, but the expectation is he’ll join the big league roster later this week. He’s been pitching with Triple-A Tacoma, posting a 4.66 ERA over 9 2/3 innings, alongside 14 strikeouts, six walks, and two saves—encouraging numbers for a reliever working his way back from multiple surgeries.
The former All-Star and 2018 World Series champion hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2021 due to a series of arm injuries that required flexor tendon surgery and a lengthy recovery. However, his last healthy stretch in 2020–21 showed he could still dominate when right, with sub-2.00 ERAs in back-to-back seasons for San Diego.
The Cubs bullpen, which owns a 5.19 ERA—among the worst in the NL—has been in desperate need of a reliable left-handed arm. Manager Craig Counsell is already familiar with what Pomeranz can offer, having managed him during a standout run with the Brewers in 2019, where he struck out 45 batters in just 26.1 innings while posting a 2.39 ERA.
A former first-round pick out of Ole Miss, Pomeranz brings over a decade of MLB experience, with a career 3.91 ERA and 883 strikeouts across 11 seasons. While Seattle clears space for younger arms, the Cubs are taking a low-risk swing on a high-upside arm with postseason pedigree—one that could pay off if Pomeranz stays healthy.
He could be called up to Wrigley as early as this week, depending on how he performs in Iowa.
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