Cubs News: Breaking down the Matthew Boyd signing |
Although the Dodgers may have taken the first big swing of Free Agency by going to get Blake Snell and re-signing Tommy Edman, they are not the only team trying to improve their roster. At some point, you knew the first domino would fall, and once it did all of the other pieces would start to fall in place.
While most of the baseball world awaits the Juan Soto and Roki Sasaki decisions, you have to keep an eye on the transaction wire, as some deals are often overlooked. The Cubs may have had one of those deals last night, and in case you missed it, they have reportedly come to terms with left-hander Matthew Boyd on a two-year, 29-million-dollar deal. The former Detroit Tiger had a run of small success with the Tigers but never fully lived up to his potential. Then came Tommy John in 2022, which was followed by a horrendous 2023 that left him looking for a job in 2024. That opportunity came with the Guardians, and Cleveland was happy to have him, especially late in the season. Although throwing 39 2/3 innings was only a small sample size, Boyd delivered in a big way. He gave the Guardians eight starts during the regular season and then several more in the postseason. From a record side of things, Boyd was just 2-2, but with a 2.72 ERA, he was outrageously good. That would've been his best ERA had he pitched an entire season. You always get concerned when any team, especially the Cubs, signs someone coming off an injury history and not having much success across their career, but you could view this as one of those reclamation projects that Hoyer loves to pursue. Clearly, the Cubs saw something in him when he faced them this season, and they must've been scouting him throughout the season. Always seen as a good but not a great starter, Boyd was viewed as a middle-of-the-rotation arm that could never get over the hump. There were times when it looked like he was about to take that next step in Detroit, only to have injuries set him back, ultimately costing him his job in Detroit. With Tommy John becoming so common in Today's game, in most cases, a pitcher coming back from that surgery throws better or at least harder than they did pre-surgery. The same can be said with Boyd, who was not only sitting around 93-94 MPH last season but looked like a completely different pitcher across the board. The biggest takeaway is the repertoire. He ditched his 84 MPH slider in favor of his 83 MPH change-up and used it at an all-time high last season. He mixed that with his fastball and curve, as he was a consistent three-pitch guy and, at times, four-pitch pitcher last season. That alone is something the Cubs could be looking at, as there may be something with one of those pitches that they want to get inside their lab. When Jed Hoyer pointed out that his team was looking for starting pitching help, this wasn't the move that people expected him to make. Boyd isn't a front-of-the-line starter by any means, and for the most part, he may not be a middle-of-the-rotation arm. Knowing that what value does Boyd even bring to the table? This is a lateral move to replace Kyle Hendricks, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels. With Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Justin Steele all expected back at the top of the rotation, Boyd will be nothing more than a No. 4 or No. 5 starter. He will battle Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Hayden Wesneski, and potentially others for innings. Adding back-of-the-rotation starters isn't going to move the needle all that much, but adding a back-of-the-rotation starter for 15 million per season raises eyebrows as to why. One thing Boyd brings to the table is that he is another lefty, as the Cubs will have three if not four, lefties in their rotation this season. That isn't ideal, but it is an approach that could work in their favor as teams like the Dodgers and Phillies traditionally struggle to hit left-handed pitching. Should you face them in the postseason, you want as many lefties as you can be lined up, and the Cubs are in a position to do that. Another thing Boyd brings with him is that he is a veteran innings eater coming off a strong season last year. That alone is something to build on, as Boyd will look to use a lot of what worked last season this season. Considering that Assad and Hendricks often had trouble going deep into games, Boyd can at least eat some innings, which will put less pressure on the bullpen later in the season. In any instance, this is just the first of what many fans hope will be a far more active offseason for the Cubs. Boyd fills one of the needs the Cubs wanted to address, and it comes in the payment terms they are looking for, both in terms of years and financial obligations. Matthew Boyd is reportedly headed to the Cubs on a 2-year deal!#MLBNHotStove discusses the move and what the veteran southpaw will bring to the Chicago rotation and clubhouse. pic.twitter.com/fjVQzwMPBq
