Free agent left-hander Drew Smyly, who underwent Tommy John surgery
in early July, signed with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
The two-year deal is worth $10 million, according to multiple media
reports. Smyly will get $3 million in 2018 and $7 million in 2019,
when he is expected to return to action.
"Anything we get out of him next year will be sort of gravy,"
general manager Jed Hoyer said. "We'll rehab him and hopefully get
him back to exactly where he was."
Hoyer is hoping Smyly can pitch out of the bullpen at some point in
the 2018 season and then return to the rotation in 2019.
Smyly, 28, got hurt while with the Mariners in March after pitching
for the United States team in the World Baseball Classic. He never
ended up appearing in a game for Seattle.
In 156 games with the Detroit Tigers and the Tampa Bay Rays, he has
a career record of 31-27 along with two saves and a 3.74 ERA. Smyly
went 7-12 with a 4.88 ERA in 30 starts for the Rays in 2016.
