The Cubs are apparently in settlement with Colten Brewer on a contract for 2024, per a put up from Brewer’s own Instagram page. It’s not but clear if the association is a serious or minor league pact.
Brewer, 31, was a fourth-round decide by the Pirates within the 2011 draft. After a number of years within the Pirates and Yankees farm methods, Brewer made his massive league debut with the Padres in 2018 although the right-hander struggled to a 5.59 ERA throughout 11 appearances that first season. From there the right-hander joined the Purple Sox, the membership with whom he spent most of his time within the majors. In elements of three seasons with Boston, Brewer posted a 4.98 ERA and 5.20 FIP throughout 81 1/3 innings of labor. Whereas he struck out a decent 20.3% of batters confronted throughout that point whereas producing a strong 50.4% groundball charge, Brewer walked a whopping 13.3% of batters confronted throughout his time with the Purple Sox.
These management points led the membership to designate Brewer for project again in June 2021. He was ultimately outrighted to Triple-A and spent the rest of the season within the minor leagues earlier than signing a minor league take care of the Royals the next offseason however was confined to the minor leagues for your complete 2022 season. Throughout his 18-month stint on the Triple-A degree, Brewer put up a comparatively pedestrian 4.53 ERA over 57 2/3 innings of labor as his stroll charge remained over 10%.
That didn’t cease Brewer from touchdown with the Rays on a minor league deal throughout the 2022-23 offseason, although he finally wouldn’t make it to Opening Day as a member of the group. The Rays as a substitute received along with the Yankees on a minor commerce earlier than the beginning of the season that shipped Brewer to the Bronx, the place he joined the membership’s 40-man roster. He put up first rate sufficient leads to 8 1/3 innings of labor for the massive league membership with a 4.32 ERA however was nonetheless designated for project in mid-April.
Brewer accepted an outright project with the Yankees and pitched exceptionally effectively in 20 innings with the membership’s Triple-A affiliate, posting a 1.35 ERA with a whopping 29.9% strikeout charge. That transient flash of dominance earned Brewer consideration from Nippon Skilled Baseball’s Hanshin Tigers, and he signed with the membership for the rest of the 2023 season. Although he managed simply 12 1/3 innings down the stretch in Japan, the sturdy numbers continued. Brewer allowed an ERA of simply 2.19 throughout 14 appearances abroad, hanging out 30.2% of batters confronted whereas strolling 11.3%.
Brewer’s stretch of dominance within the higher minors and overseas final season has seemingly caught the eye of the Cubs. Chicago is amongst a handful of golf equipment identified to be in search of reduction assist this winter together with the Cardinals, Rangers, and Astros. Brewer may conceivably bolster the depth of a membership that noticed the likes of Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger depart free of charge company. With that being stated, the addition of Brewer appears unlikely to take the Cubs out of the reduction market given their reported curiosity in some higher-level arms like former Rays righty
Robert Stephenson and veteran closer Liam Hendriks. For now, Brewer figures to enter spring coaching with a shot at a job within the membership’s bullpen competing alongside the likes of Daniel Palencia and Jose Cuas.
