The Cubs have quietly added Drew Pomeranz back into the mix, bringing him in on a minor league deal late last week and sending him to Triple-A Iowa. The club never made a formal announcement, but Pomeranz already appeared for the affiliate last night and worked a scoreless inning with a walk and two strikeouts.
It’s a familiar name for Chicago, and the fit makes sense. Pomeranz gave the Cubs a real boost last season, logging 49 2/3 innings with a 2.17 ERA, a 28.1% strikeout rate and a 7.4% walk rate.
That run marked his first major league work since he threw 25 2/3 innings for the 2021 Padres. From 2022 through 2024, he managed only 19 1/3 total innings, all in the minors, while dealing with injuries that included flexor surgery after the 2021 season and a “cleanup” procedure on his elbow in 2023.
That comeback earned the 37-year-old lefty a one-year, $4MM guarantee from the Angels in free agency. In Anaheim, though, the results never matched last year’s breakthrough. Pomeranz totaled 23 1/3 innings for the Halos and posted a 5.01 ERA, along with a 14.8 K% and 11.1 BB% before being designated for assignment and released.
Chicago’s need for arms is obvious. The pitching staff has been hammered by injuries in both the rotation and the bullpen.
Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown and Jameson Taillon are all out. Horton’s season is finished, and if Steele returns at all, it’ll be in relief late in the year.
In the bullpen, Porter Hodge is out after Tommy John surgery in April, while Hunter Harvey, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Riley Martin and closer Daniel Palencia are also sidelined.
That has left Craig Counsell piecing together the late innings with whatever healthy options he can find. Jacob Webb, Caleb Thielbar and Ryan Rolison have been handling high-leverage work recently.
Ethan Roberts and just-recalled Jordan Wicks are the homegrown relievers on the roster right now, and the rest of the group - Webb, Thielbar, Rolison, Trent Thornton, Tyler Ferguson and Bryse Wilson - are all low-cost additions who joined the organization since January, with Wilson arriving just last week. In a bullpen this battered, Pomeranz could have a path back to the majors quickly if he strings together a few strong outings in Des Moines.
In Other News...
David Ross May Finally Be Closing In On Another Shot
David Ross has stayed on the radar since his run as Cubs manager ended, and the latest buzz suggests he still wants back in the dugout rather than settling into a smaller role. He has reportedly passed on bench coach opportunities before, a sign that he is waiting for the right seat at the table, and the Mets could soon present one of the more intriguing openings in the sport. Their managerial situation is expected to change after the 2026 season, which puts the former World Series-winning catcher in the conversation for a club that has not exactly made life easy for the person in charge.
Ross also has a possible in at Citi Field through Andy Green, his former Cubs bench coach, who is now in the Mets organization. That connection could matter if New York starts lining up candidates for a job that comes with plenty of pressure and a long list of recent frustrations. For Ross, it is the kind of opportunity that would fit his experience and temperament, but whether the Mets see him as more than a familiar name will be the next question. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cub Christopher Morel Gets Another Shot After Tumultuous Exit
Christopher Morel is getting another crack at carving out a major-league role, this time with the Mets after a rocky run that took him from Chicago to Tampa Bay. The former Cub has enough versatility to keep clubs interested, with big-league experience as both an outfielder and infielder, and New York is giving him a chance to reset in a new environment.
For now, he is headed to Triple-A Syracuse, where he will try to play his way back onto the Mets' radar. The deal gives him multiple opt-outs, a sign that there is still a path forward if he forces the issue, and the next question is whether that path leads to a future look in the outfield, at first base or as a designated hitter. [Read more 🡒]
Chicago Fans Are Ripping Wrigley Crowd For Crossing A Line After Win
Wrigley Field had every reason to be buzzing after the Cubs walk-off win over the Padres, a finish that sent Pete Crow-Armstrong home with the winning run and gave Chicago its 10th walk-off victory of the season. The place had the kind of postgame energy that comes with a team repeatedly finding ways to win in dramatic fashion, and the latest one only added to the sense that this club keeps leaving fans with something to celebrate.
But some of that celebration crossed a line once the game was over. Images shared by Cubs fans showed beer cans and other debris scattered onto the field, prompting a swift backlash from people who wanted the behavior condemned and stopped. It was the kind of ugly aftertaste that can overshadow a night like this if the message from the crowd gets lost in the noise. [Read more 🡒]