A well-known face is returning to the Chicago Cubs. Carl Edwards Jr. and the Cubs reached an agreement on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to Spring Training, according to Robert Murray of Fansided.
When Edwards Jr. pitched on the North Side, the 32-year-old was a mainstay of Joe Maddon’s bullpen during a Cubs run that included postseason trips in four of the team’s five seasons.
At the 2013 trade deadline, the lanky right-hander was acquired by the team in exchange for starting Matt Garza, who was sent to the Texas Rangers. Since pitching for the Cubs in 2019, Edwards Jr. has been all around the league. He most recently played for the Washington Nationals in the 2023 season, when he made 32 appearances and recorded a 3.69 ERA.
The Cubs are closely observing every facet of the pitching market, as pitchers and catchers report on February 14. Jed Hoyer and company appear flexible in their approach to strengthening the bullpen, whether through trades or additions. The Cubs have reportedly expressed interest in Ryne Stanek, a former reliever with the Houston Astros.
It will be a welcome addition to a Cubs bullpen that ran out of steam at the close of last season’s wild-card chase if Edwards Jr. can make the big-league club out of camp.
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