Cubs ink veteran reliever Josh Staumont |
For whatever reason, Cubs President Jed Hoyer is treating the month of August like a Winter free-agent period as he continues to add players to the organization. Unlike the free agency portion of the Winter, where some of these deals are expected to be MLB Deals, the ones Hoyer is making right now are solely depth deals as he continues to stockpile the Minor League system.
His recent signing is another one of those Minor League options, but this one comes with plenty of upside and could be a play for next season and beyond. According to recent reports, the Cubs and hard-throwing right-hander Josh Staumont have agreed to a Minor League deal and will report to AAA Iowa. Staumont was once one of the nastiest relievers in baseball, and at one point, he was viewed as a potential trade candidate for the Cubs when they were last in the playoffs. In his prime, Staumont not only had one of the best heaters in the game, consistently sitting between 98 and 100 MPH, but that heater came with some absurd movement across the board. The Cubs found that out firsthand a few years ago when he struck out the side on 12 pitchers and blew hitters away in the process. That was one of those moments when you look back and wonder where this guy came from, but it also gave you a feeling of optimism when the Cubs were mentioned as potential trade suitors for him. After breaking onto the scene in 2020, Staumont went on to dominate again in 2021 and was a key piece to the Royals pen for several seasons. During those two seasons, Staumont appeared in 90 games, posting a 2.63 ERA and collecting five saves. He did that while walking 43 and striking out 105, as the elite strikeout numbers are what stood out the most. Following his two-year stretch of dominance, Staumont hit a wall. He posted a 6.45 ERA in 2022 and then a 5.40 ERA in 2023. That was over a 64-game sample size, so it's not like it was one or two bad outings. This was a two-year stretch during which he went from being one of the game's best relievers to putting himself in a position to get released, which is what happened following the 2023 season. This season, Staumont signed with the Twins, and he has mostly started to turn himself back into a reliable option. Across his 25 games, Staumont posted a solid 3.70 ERA, walking 14 and striking out 18. The walks are a concern, but he still can get guys out at the plate, even if his velocity isn't what it used to be. While everyone has their own opinions on why he struggled so much after a dominating stretch, a big reason for his struggles came from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Once he returned from that surgery, Staumont lost the initial velocity he once had, which forced the Royals to remove him from his role in the bullpen. The now 30-year-old has gone through quite a whirlwind of a journey the past few seasons, but he does seem to be trending upward, given the year he has had with the Twins. This is where the Cubs come into play, as this can be seen as another one of those reclamation projects. From the surface, this deal is nothing more than a depth signing this season, as the Cubs are getting him into their system to see what he can do as a player. If things don't work out, it will cost the Cubs nothing to bring him in, and they wouldn't be tied to him long-term. However, should it work out in their favor and he can show that he is starting to round back into form, not only do the Cubs have a bargain signing for a reliever, but someone who could carve out a role in 2025 and beyond. He may not be the fireballer he once was, and from all accounts, the 3.70 ERA is deceiving, but with an average fastball at 94 MPH, he still has some velocity in the tank to try and get hitters out. It will be interesting to see how the Cubs use him going forward this season, but look for him to possibly get some closing opportunities with Iowa as he continues to work his way back into a reliable reliever.
