Inside The Cubs

Chicago Cubs Pitcher Declines Mutual Option, Becomes Free Agent

The Chicago Cubs have another free agent as starting pitcher Drew Smyly has declined his mutual option.

Kade Kistner

Chicago Cubs Pitcher Declines Mutual Option, Becomes Free Agent
Chicago Cubs Pitcher Declines Mutual Option, Becomes Free Agent /
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Starting pitcher Drew Smyly has declined his end of a mutual option with the Chicago Cubs, making him a free agent. Had both parties agreed to the option, Smyly would have been in line to make $10 million in 2023.

Instead, he will receive a $1 million buyout as he looks to ink a multi-year deal.

Smyly has dealt with injuries in the recent past, but when healthy he has been effective. Over the course of 22 games started during the 2022 MLB season, Smyly registered a 3.47 ERA with a 1.194 WHIP. However, he only pitched 106.1 innings.

Had Smyly accepted his end of the option, it appears likely that Chicago would have picked up their end as well, as extension talks were reported last month. 

Now, the lefty will look to sign a multi-year deal while the Cubs will look to add to their young, but promising rotation.

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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