Right-hander Chris Flexen and the Cubs are reportedly in agreement on a one-year, $1.75 million guarantee. The customer of O’Connell Sports Management is eligible for an extra $1 million in incentives.
Despite having a disappointing 2023 season, Flexen signs a big-league contract. With the Mariners, the 29-year-old began the season in extended relief, making four of his 17 appearances as the starter. He struggled to establish a rhythm and gave up a lot of home runs, which led to a 7.71 ERA in 42 innings. Early in July, the M’s designated him for assignment and traded him, along with reliever Trevor Gott, to the Mets.
New York agreed to take over the remaining almost $4 million on Flexen’s $8 million contract in exchange for wanting only Gott from that arrangement. The Mets let him go right away. After making two starts in Triple-A, Flexen signed a minor league contract with Colorado and went back to the majors.
A pitcher hoping for a rebounding opportunity faces a difficult job when making seven of twelve starts at Coors Field. As a Rockie, Flexen struggled even more, recording a 6.27 ERA over 60 1/3 innings (both at home and on the road). Through 102 1/3 innings, he gave up a 6.86 ERA between Seattle and Colorado. Only Adam Wainwright and Joey Wentz allowed more earned runs than any other pitcher who completed 100 innings.
Despite having fewer than six years of MLB experience, Flexen became available for free agency at the end of the season. It is typical for players to sign a major league contract following a year in a foreign professional league, as he did in the 2020–21 offseason following a year in the Korea Baseball Organisation. Despite not having reached the six-year mark, Flexen will once again be a free agent in the winter of 2019.
