Chicago Cubs add another starter to mix – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs finally made the move so eagerly awaited.
On Tuesday, November 27, the Cubs added another pitcher – right-hander Scott Feldman, to rotation with a one-year $6 million deal. The deal also includes another $1 million in incentives. With it, the Cubs have five starters available at their disposal to be used next season.
Earlier this month, the Chicago Cubs had added Scott Baker – another free agent, to the rotation. The one-year deal, worth $5.5 million, put the number of starters to four along with Jeff Samardzija, Travis Wood and Matt Garza. With Feldman there, the list is complete.
However, it appears this does not suffice. If and when needed, the Cubs will have another pitcher as the general manager Jed Hoyer explained.
"We're still going to look for talent," Hoyer said. "If that talent is in the rotation, then we wouldn't consider ourselves done and we'd certainly add someone else."
Feldman was part of the Texas Rangers for his last eight seasons. He had 4.81 ERA in his 204 appearances, holding 39-44 record. For 101 games, the Texas Rangers had slated him as the starter – having also had 30 relief appearances.
That which will be advantageous for the Cubs in the long run is the fact that Feldman has the experience of pitching both in rotation and the bullpen. That is what the Cubs were probably looking for.
A veteran, he will be a great asset for the Cubs as the club is going through a re-building phase; with a combination of experienced and young players.
"We always liked his stuff," Hoyer said. "He gets ground balls, he's got a really good walk-to-strikeout ratio and he's pitched in a very difficult environment. He pitched in the American League and pitched in Texas and that's hard. We felt he was a guy, given his stuff, given his age and given the ability to come to the National League and not pitch in Texas, we felt it was a great opportunity for us to add a quality arm."
His addition to the roster is a move welcomed by the Cubs’ fans.
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