The Cubs are in the middle of a calculated pitching overhaul, and while the headline moves-like trading for Edward Cabrera and bringing back Shota Imanaga-have drawn the spotlight, Chicago made another under-the-radar addition this week that could quietly pay dividends. On Tuesday, the Cubs signed right-hander Kyle Wright to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp. It’s a low-risk move, but one with some intriguing upside if things break right.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a depth signing for the sake of filling innings in Iowa. Wright has real pedigree.
He was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft and showed flashes of that potential during his six seasons with the Atlanta Braves. For much of that stretch, he was stuck in a frustrating cycle-up and down between Triple-A and the majors, unable to fully lock in.
But then came 2022.
That year, Wright finally put it all together. He made 30 starts, posted a 3.19 ERA, and led the entire league with 21 wins.
He was durable, efficient, and confident, finishing in the top 10 in NL Cy Young voting. It looked like the breakout was real, and Atlanta had found another frontline starter to add to their already stacked rotation.
But baseball has a way of humbling even the most promising arms. Wright’s momentum came to a screeching halt in 2023 when a shoulder injury shut him down for the season.
The diagnosis-torn capsule in his shoulder-was a red flag for any pitcher, and it cost him all of 2024 as he rehabbed and tried to get back on track. The Kansas City Royals gave him a shot, but a string of setbacks-hamstring strain, shoulder fatigue, and an oblique issue-limited him to just eight minor league appearances.
His velocity dipped, the results weren’t there, and the Royals eventually placed him on waivers in November.
Now, Wright gets a fresh start in Chicago. And while the deal is of the minor-league variety, the invite to Spring Training suggests the Cubs see something worth exploring.
There’s reason to believe this could be a smart fit. The Cubs have built a reputation for identifying pitchers who can thrive with tweaks to pitch usage and sequencing.
They love arms that generate weak contact, and when Wright was at his best in 2022, that’s exactly what he did. His sinker-curveball combo made up nearly 60% of his arsenal, and he ranked in the 93rd percentile in ground ball rate.
That’s the kind of profile that plays well at Wrigley, especially in April and May when the wind tends to knock down fly balls.
Interestingly, before his injury in 2023, Wright had started leaning more heavily on his curveball while dialing back some of his other secondaries. That shift in pitch mix might’ve contributed to his struggles-or maybe it was just the shoulder barking louder than anyone realized.
Either way, the Cubs have the tools to help him sort it out. Their pitch lab is one of the most respected in the league, and if they can help Wright recapture the shape and sequencing that made him so effective in 2022, this could be a sneaky good pickup.
Of course, expectations should be tempered. This is still a pitcher coming off two lost seasons and multiple injuries.
But as far as fliers go, Wright’s ceiling is higher than most. If he turns into a depth piece who can give you innings in the second half, that’s a win.
If he somehow rediscovers his 2022 form? That’s a game-changer.
For a Cubs team that’s already made significant strides in shoring up the rotation-with arms like Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton, and more in the mix-Wright is the kind of lottery ticket that could pay off in a big way. And if not? It’s a no-harm bet on a guy who’s already shown he can succeed at the highest level.