Seattle, Washington: The Chicago Cubs are set to bring back veteran left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz to the Major Leagues after acquiring him from the Seattle Mariners. Pomeranz, who had an upward mobility clause in his deal with Seattle, will likely join the Cubs’ roster on Wednesday after a brief stint at Triple-A Iowa.
The 36-year-old Pomeranz, who pitched briefly in the big leagues last season with the San Francisco Giants, signed a minor league deal with the Mariners in December. Although he struggled with command in his recent minor league outings, the Cubs were enticed by his pitching arsenal and decided to give him another shot in the big leagues.
Pomeranz had a standout half-season with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019 under manager Craig Counsell, which ultimately led to a lucrative free agent deal with the Padres. However, injuries and a shortened 2020 season hampered his performance, limiting his appearances during his time with San Diego.
In order to make room for Pomeranz on the active roster, the Cubs have optioned Jordan Wicks to Triple-A Iowa and will need to add Pomeranz to the 40-man roster. This move signifies the Cubs’ belief in Pomeranz’s ability to contribute to their bullpen despite his recent struggles in the minor leagues.
With Pomeranz’s experience and past success in the Major Leagues, the Cubs are hopeful that he can provide a much-needed boost to their bullpen as they continue their pursuit of a playoff spot. Pomeranz’s return to the Major Leagues after four years will be closely watched by both fans and analysts to see if he can recapture his previous form and be a valuable asset for Chicago moving forward.
As the Cubs make this strategic roster move, it will be interesting to see how Pomeranz adjusts to the competition at the Major League level and whether he can make a significant impact for his new team in the upcoming games.