The Cubs have acquired helpers Sean Newcomb by the Braves for right-handers Jesse Chavez and cash, according to announcements by both teams. Both clubs’ 40-man squads are now full.
It’s a new landing spot for Newcomb, who has spent the last six seasons in Atlanta. A first-round pick by the Angels in 2014, the left-hander quickly became one of the top pitchers in the sport. After the 2015 season, the Angels rotated him alongside Chris Ellis to Atlanta for five years Andrelton Simmons.
Newcomb was an aspiring pitcher at the time, and reviewers hoped his high-octane arsenal could make him a top-of-the-rotation caliber slinger. He remained in that role for his first few seasons in the major leagues, starting 2017-18 with 49 of his 50 appearances. Newcomb showed promise, posting a 4.06 ERA with a solid 23.3% strikeout rate. However, as he had throughout his minor league years, he struggled to throw strikes. After handling 12% of bats in his first few seasons, the Braves switched him to pen in 2019.
In his first season of relief, Newcomb posted a 3.16 ERA in 68 1/3 frames over 55 games. Oddly enough, his strikeout and swinging strike numbers took a step back from where they’d been when they started, but he did grounder against him on almost half the balls batted and posted a personally low walk rate of 9, 9%.
It looked like Newcomb could find success in shorter stints, but the Braves made an ill-fated attempt to get him back on the rotation in 2020. He was bombed in four starts and spent most of the season at the alternate training venue. He returned to the Big League bullpen last season but was dealing with his worst control issues yet. In 32 games, Newcomb walked against 18% of opponents while his groundball rate dropped to 39%. His strikeout percentage of 28.7% was a career high, but the free passes allowed players to hit a 0.383% base rate.
Newcomb has had another difficult start this season. He went five innings with four runs, allowing seven hits with four walks and strikeouts each. With his minor league option years remaining, the Braves either had to continue using him against MLB hitters or name him for use. They chose the latter course of action yesterday, probably because they knew someone else would give him a chance.
That team will be the Cubs, adding a live-armed southpaw to their bullpen. Newcomb has averaged north of 95 MPH on his heater each of the last two seasons. He scored last year on both his cutter slider and his curveball plus swing strike rates. For a team that entered the night Daniel Norris As the only left assistant, it’s understandable why Chicago will try to see if they can iron out Newcomb’s control issues.
He’s making a modest $900,000 this season (just over $800,000 of which remains owed) and is subject to arbitration control until 2025. There’s a chance that Newcomb will remain on the North Side for the next few seasons, but the Cubs — like the Braves before them — must keep him on the active roster or nominate him for the assignment themselves.
The Braves, meanwhile, will replace Newcomb in the bullpen with one of his old teammates. Chavez, a 15-year MLB veteran, spent the 2021 season with Atlanta after being named to the Big League roster in June. He posted a £2.14 ERA in 33 2/3 innings and hit a career-high 27.1% batter versus a fine 8.3% walk rate. Notably, Chavez never hit a home run in his 30 appearances.
That impressive strikeout total, however, came despite a 91 MPH fastball and a below-average swinging strike rate of 7.1%. Between Chavez’s lack of speed, swing-and-miss stuff, and understandable skepticism about his ability to repeat his 2021 home run suppression, teams didn’t passionately pursue him on the free hand. He signed a no-roster deal with Chicago, though he called camp anyway.
Chavez made three appearances as the cub, throwing 5 2/3 frames of a three-run ball. He punched out three batters with a pair of walks and a homer allowed. He will return to Atlanta and once again serve as a multi-inning bullpen option for skipper Brian Snitker.