Drew Pomeranz is back on the open market.
According to the MLB.com transaction tracker, the veteran left-hander elected free agency after the Cubs designated him for assignment on Monday and placed him on waivers. It closes the book on a short second stint in Chicago that never found the same footing as his surprisingly strong minor league pickup in 2025.
The big league results this time around just weren’t there. Pomeranz allowed five runs on seven hits and four walks across 5 2/3 innings, and he struck out only one of the 27 hitters he faced.
That came after an earlier rough stretch with the Angels, where he signed a $4MM free agent deal over the winter, posted a 5.01 ERA, and worked with a well below-average 14.8% strikeout rate over 23 1/3 innings. Los Angeles moved on quickly, and the Cubs’ reunion didn’t change the story.
That’s a sharp fall for a pitcher who looked so much more like himself a year ago. Pomeranz struck out 28% of opponents on the way to a 2.17 ERA in 49 2/3 innings last season.
The decline in his stuff hasn’t been massive, but it has been enough to matter. His average fastball has slipped from 92.7 mph to 92.1, and the pitch’s spin rate is down 59 rpm.
Hitters have punished the heater for seven home runs already, after he gave up only three all of last season.
Chicago’s bullpen picture now shifts back to Caleb Thielbar and Ryan Rolison as its two lefties. Rolison has earned more leverage work with a strong season, while Thielbar has missed plenty of bats but also given up a few too many home runs.
Hoby Milner and each have a chance to return from injuries in August, and the Cubs could still look for another southpaw on the trade market. Even so, starting pitching is expected to be the priority over the next ten days.
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