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Reports: Cubs place another veteran reliever on waivers

6 months agoAndy Martinez

Just a week after moving on from a veteran reliever, the Cubs might be parting ways with another.

The Cubs reportedly placed lefty Drew Smyly on outright waivers. The move was first reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.

Smyly can be picked up by any of the other 29 teams, with teams in reverse order of standings getting preference. If he is picked up, the claiming team is responsible for the remainder of his salary and the $2.5 million buyout on his 2025 mutual option. The Cubs are reportedly planning on keeping Smyly, if he clears waivers, per the Sun-Times.

The move comes a week after the Cubs placed reliever Héctor Neris on waivers. He went unclaimed and the team designated him for assignment. He signed as a free agent with the Astros. The Astros are on the hook for the prorated league minimum, with the Cubs paying the remainder of his $8.5 million contract. The Cubs called up rookie Jack Neely to take his place.

The timing is significant — if Smyly is picked up by another team before Sept. 1, he will be eligible to appear in the postseason with his new club.

Last year, the Angels pulled off similar moves to sneak under the luxury tax threshold. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer last week denied they were trying to accomplish the same thing.

“No,” Hoyer said at Wrigley Field last week when he was asked if Neris’ contract situation factored into the decision.

Instead, Hoyer and the Cubs say, it’s about opportunity.

“We’re at the time of the year, I think that just really trying to take a look at different guys in different roles, and some new guys up here,” Hoyer said last week after the move. “And it made sense to bring up [rookie Jack] Neely, and potentially look at some other guys in different roles in the bullpen.”

The Cubs won again Monday night to get back to .500 on the season (66-66) but their playoff odds remain low at just 3.1%, according to FanGraphs. They are still 5.5 games behind the Braves for the final National League Wild-Card spot.

If the Cubs part ways with Smyly, it leaves them with no lefty in their bullpen, nor a lefty specialist. The Cubs have just 2 lefties at Triple-A Iowa, Lucas Luetge and Riley Martin. Neither are on the 40-man roster.

Jordan Wicks also is an option, but manager Craig Counsell told reporters Monday that he would make another rehab outing with Iowa.

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