Trevor Cahill Signs with Padres on Bargain Basement Deal

Once the World Series celebration settled in for a long winter’s nap, the requisite prognostication on 2017 team makeup began to rear it’s head. Throughout all of the speculation and free agent signings – guys like Brian Duensing, Koji Uehara, and Jon Jay – there hadn’t been much talk about reliever Trevor Cahill. Of course, that shouldn’t come as much surprise considering that he was noticeably absent from the Cubs’ 2017 postseason roster.

We found out yesterday that Cahill has indeed been signed, though it’s not with the Cubs. According to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune, the 28-year-old righty has been signed to a rock bottom one-year, $1.75 million deal. There are additional incentives totaling up to $1 million if Cahill can reach minimums for starts and relief appearances.

Cahill wasn’t a star, but he wasn’t exactly a slouch for the Cubs in 2017. Over 65 2/3 innings he posted a 2.74 ERA, which by all accounts is more than respectable. But look no further than his FIP of 4.35 and you’ll start to get a sense of just how much he benefited from the Cubs top-ranked defensive unit. That, coupled with the signing of veteran righty Koji Uehara – a definitive upgrade to Cahill, at least based on his career numbers – and suddenly there was no reason to speculate on Cahill’s return to Chicago.

Of course, this could lead to an all-out conversation on the Cubs’ bullpen strengths and weaknesses, but we’ll save that topic for spring training which, by the way, is only 35 days away. Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the Cubs World Series win, doesn’t it?  I could get used to this short offseason filled with parades, parties, CubsCon, and a brief month off before spring training.