The Chicago Cubs have made a move to keep left-handed relief pitcher Brad Wieck with the team.
However, the deal for the 31-year-old pitcher isn’t a major league contract.
Wieck, who’s recovering from Tommy John surgery, is getting a minor league deal instead.
The deal is a two-year contract in the minors, which keeps him with the team despite him being unavailable for most of 2023.
Sources: Free-agent reliever Brad Wieck is in agreement on a two-year minor-league contract with the Chicago Cubs. Wieck missed all of last season with an elbow strain and underwent Tommy John surgery in July.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 4, 2023
With the recovery time for his surgery being at least one year, the soonest he can return is July 2023.
While that can give him some playing time, he’ll need to go through some rehab starts in the minor league system.
With him being a promising talent, the Cubs are hoping he can get back on track and be ready for 2024.
However, Wieck has had a history of injuries since coming to Chicago in 2019.
Besides his elbow injury, he’s had a knee injury and a problem with an irregular heartbeat.
While these things are a concern, the Cubs feel he can get back on track.
They believe in him after his dominating performance in 2021.
It was during that season he had 15 appearances, pitching 17 scoreless innings in those games.
He allowed only 10 hits while striking out 28 batters and walking 10 during that season.
If he can return to this form, the Cubs bullpen will have a dominant arm to help them secure wins.
However, it might not be until 2024 as to when fans can see him playing for the Cubs.
With him needing those rehab starts, it will be a long wait for the Cubs before he sees the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.
