*Photo from USA Today*
The Chicago Cubs said they were going to address the issue of pitching this offseason, and they are starting to get that done early in the offseason. The Cubs have claimed LHP Wade Miley off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. The Cubs have confirmed the transaction.
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said of adding Miley that "We need to dramatically improve our pitching. I don't think there's any question about that. Our starting rotation simply wasn't good enough this year to compete. That'll be the No. 1 priority. Because that, said simply, was the downfall of this season, that our rotation was short and we weren't effective enough in terms of run prevention."
Last season, the Cubs had to use 12 starting pitchers to fill out their rotation from April to early October, due to plenty of turnover, whether it be by trades, injuries, or underperformance. Those 12 starters combined for a rotation ERA of 5.27, ranked 14th in the NL, and 27th in all of baseball. The rotation also combined for a 2.6 WAR, which was last in the NL and second to last in all of baseball.
With the Reds in 2021, Miley put up very solid numbers for a team that needed it. Miley ended last season with a 12-7 record and a 3.37 ERA, throwing 163 innings, striking out 125 hitters and issuing 50 walks, starting 28 games for the Reds, including throwing a no hitter on May 8 against the Cleveland Indians.
Across 11 big league seasons, split between 7 teams, Miley has a 97-92 record with a 4.15 career ERA, striking out 1,252 hitters and walking 549 of them, while throwing 1,581 innings across 283 games, 277 of which were starts. In two years in the postseason, Miley has a 0-0 record with a 2.08 ERA, throwing 17 1/3 innings in 5 games, 4 starts.
Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said of Miley that there are "Nothing but good things I've heard on the person and competitor. We need starters and this is basically like signing him to a one-year deal. He definitely adds depth to what we want to do this year and being left-handed adds more diversity to the group. Pumped we got him."
As the roster shakes out now, Miley joins a Cubs rotation that includes Kyle Hendricks and Alec Mills at the top of the rotation, and youngsters Adbert Alzolay, Keegan Thompson, and Justin Steele in competition for the final two spots during spring training.
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