Cubs sign former Cubs reliever Brandon Hughes |
We discussed this earlier in the week. Although Jed Hoyer said his team isn't done with adding pieces, most of those pieces could be served as minor-league depth options. Anytime you get this late in the game in an MLB offseason, most teams are doing whatever it takes to plug the holes on their roster, with many of those deals coming as minor league options.
Apart from the Jon Berti signing last week, the most recent signings by the Cubs have been minor league pickups, with this acquisition falling right in line as the Cubs and former friend Brandon Hughes have come together on a minor league deal. The now 29-year-old was a converted outfielder turned pitcher out of Michigan State and spent several years in the Cubs system learning how to pitch. Once he got to the level where the Cubs could trot him out in key situations, Hughes emerged as one of their better relief-only prospects, and he began to shoot through their system before making his MLB debut in 2022. Hughes is one of those rare cases where a position player turned pitcher has worked in the Cubs' favor, but to have someone do that as a relief-only arm makes his transition all that more impressive. Looking back at his time in the minors, Hughes was not only a good reliever, but sometimes he was flat-out dominant. Look no further than his 2021 season, where Hughes posted a 1.71 ERA across 42 innings, walking 17 and striking out 60. He followed that up with another strong showing to begin 2022 as he pitched 10 scoreless innings to start the season before getting the call to the majors. Once he reached the majors, Hughes played a significant role with the Cubs and emerged as one of their more trusted options. He was their primary lefty out of the pen. He pitched in 57 games that season on the Northside, going 2-3 and posting a 3.12 ERA in 57 2/3 innings. He walked 21, struck out 68, and converted eight saves to go with eight holds. Given what he showed as a rookie, everyone expected Hughes to play a massive role in 2023, but a knee injury in spring limited his time on the mound and forced him to miss part of the season. Once he returned, Hughes never seemed right as he posted a 7.24 ERA in 17 games before reinjuring his knee and missing all but the final few games of the season. It was a painful blow to someone who worked hard to get to where he was, and after having the season he had, the Cubs were forced with the tough decision to release Hughes. Not expected to be a free agent long, Hughes would eventually latch on with the Arizona Diamondbacks as his comeback trail began. Once again, Hughes put up incredible numbers in the minors that season, going 1-4 in his 40 games but posting a 2.03 ERA. The ERA, especially in AAA, is hard to ignore, as the Diamondbacks had no choice but to give him another shot. Hoping to keep the success rolling, Hughes struggled again, posting an 8.15 ERA in just 15 games. Given how his last two seasons have gone, Hughes is what you call an AAAA player or someone too good to be in the minors but not good enough to be in the bigs. That is a frustrating spot for a player, but the Cubs love players like that, as they give them depth and future roster flexibility. Chicago not only knows what to expect from Hughes, but they also know the roles he thrives in. The plan is to get him in one of those roles again to see what he can do. While he may not be the hardest thrower in the world, Hughes does sit between 93-94 with his fastball and does a great job working the corners. However, his 84 MPH back foot slider is his out pitch, as he is equally effective against righties and lefties with that offering. Whether or not he remains nothing but a minor league pickup is a topic for another day, but getting him back in the system allows the Cubs to develop him again and adds a potential lefty arm for the pen.
