Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer speaks during the news conference at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Chicago Cubs finally made a pitching move, and while it wasn’t for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it does provide the Cubs more depth.
According to the New York Post, the Cubs have signed Thomas Pannone. The left-handed pitcher from Cranston, Rhode Island, made his Major League debut in 2018 and has pitched in 50 games. He has made 168 minor league outings.
He has a 7-7 record, a 5.46 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and has struck out 102 batters in 118.2 innings pitched in 50 big league games.
Pannone will earn $800,000 if he makes the major leagues. As part of his contract, he was also invited to MLB Spring Training.
This isn’t going to be the massive move that Cubs fans were expecting for, but it could be a bullpen arm. Given that the contract is merely $800,000, neither party has much to lose.
This is a transaction in which Chicago seeks to discover a valuable left-handed reliever.
Pannone has featured in games for the Major Leagues in 2018, 2019, and 2023. He has major league experience with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Milwaukee Brewers.
His 2018 season with Toronto was his finest in MLB, with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. If he can regain his form, Chicago may elect to keep him. Pannone will most certainly end up in the minors if he continues to perform like he did during his brief stint with Milwaukee in 2023.
