Drew Smyly was a veteran southpaw reliever and a bullpen workhorse for the Chicago Cubs in 2024. The 35-year-old led the Cubs bullpen in both appearances and innings pitched. However, the ball club is seeking to enhance its roster with younger talent. This led the front office to opt for a $2.5M buyout of Smyly’s contract, ending its association with the versatile veteran. With an established track record as both a starter and middle reliever, he could make a welcome addition to a team needing a veteran presence.
A Veteran Southpaw Reliever And A Bullpen Workhorse
Drew Smyly‘s Player Profile
A Highly Touted Recruit
Smyly broke into the league with the Detroit Tigers in 2010. The left-hander, whose nickname is “Smiles,” was selected in the second round (number 68 overall). From there, he made his way to the big leagues in short order and made an immediate impact.
He started 18 games for the Tigers in 2012 but also proved to be a reliable reliever. Smyly had one of his best seasons in a relief role the following year, posting a 6-0 record with a 2.37 ERA, 21 holds, 81 strikeouts, and a 1.04 WHIP in 76 innings.
The Tigers went to the postseason in 2012 and 2013. Smyly pitched in relief both years and earned a win in the Tigers four-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the 2012 ALCS.
A Solid And Versatile Journeyman Pitcher
Throughout his career, Smyly has been used primarily as a starter in the AL and NL stints. His best season as a starter was with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. That year, Smyly posted an 11-4 record with a 4.48 ERA in 29 games, with 23 as a starter. The Braves won the World Series in six games over the Houston Astros that season.
Smyly’s pitch selection includes a curve with an average run, a sinker, and a cutter. His fastball will touch 93 mph, around the league average for left-handers.
The Cubs’ Go-to Reliever In 2024
In his first season as the Cubs’ skipper, Craig Counsell went to Smyly more than any other reliever in his arsenal. Smyly led the Cubs’ bullpen with 50 appearances, all of them in a relief role, and 58 2/3 innings pitched. He also recorded ten holds.
Prior to last season, Smyly had been used primarily as a starter. In 2022 and 2023, he recorded an 18-19 record in 63 games, 45 of them as a starter. A career highlight came in his bid for a perfect game on August 21, 2023, against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field.
That ended in a bizarre play in which Cubs’ catcher Yan Gomes tumbled over Smyly’s back trying to field a swinging bunt off the bat of David Peralta in the eighth inning.
The Market Has Shifted For Smyly
Although his 3.84 ERA was down from 5.00 a season ago, the overall performance wasn’t enough to convince the Cubs that he was worth his $10.5M annual salary. The league seems to agree. According to Spotrac.com, Smyly’s current value is just $3.3M.
This slots Smyly in with fellow free agents Will Smith, 35, and Luis Garcia, 38, both of whom are facing the reality of salary reductions this offseason.
That number still feels a shade high for a pitcher that Fan Graphs projects as having a 0.3 WAR next season. Smyly did manage a 1.2 WAR two seasons ago and 0.9 WAR in 2023. Those numbers aren’t titillating but they suggest he may still have something left to offer.
A Quality Middle Reliever For A Medium Market Team
The Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins are two teams that hovered around the .500 mark last season. However, unlike the Cubs (12th in bullpen ERA), these teams did not have a lot of success in the bullpen.
Drew Smyly is a veteran gamer who has shown a willingness to pitch in virtually any situation. He’s definitely had more success in late-in-middle relief. But he might be a good short-term fit for a team in need of a veteran southpaw reliever and a bullpen workhorse.
