The Chicago Cubs are taking a chance on a seasoned pitcher who was just cut by the weakest team in Major League Baseball.
Austin Gomber, a veteran left-hander, was sent to Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs on a minor league contract, and he began the game on Tuesday night.
According to the MLB.com transaction tracker, Gomber was signed on August 26th, even though the trade was not previously publicized. He may play for Chicago in the postseason this season because he signed before September 1.
Gomber pitched five scoreless innings in his first appearance with the Cubs’ Triple-A club, giving up only two hits and one walk while striking out five batters.
After being cut by the poorest team in Major League Baseball, the Colorado Rockies, in late August, the left-hander is now getting a chance with the Cubs, who are headed to the playoffs.
This season, Gomber, 31, made 12 starts for the Rockies and tossed 57.2 innings with a career-worst 7.49 ERA. He gave up 48 earned runs, a pitiful 16 home runs, and only 34 strikeouts to 17 walks.
Gomber’s 8.58 ERA over 28.1 innings at the hitter-friendly Coors Field was awful, but his 6.44 ERA over 29.1 innings on the road wasn’t any better. Gomber signed a $6.35 million, one-year contract, and the Rockies will reimburse him the remaining balance for declining to play for them.
Ahead of his upcoming free agency, Gomber now has a chance to make things better with Chicago. Having started his career with the rival St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central, the native of Winter Garden, Florida, is well acquainted with the Cubs.
Gomber made his debut in 2018 after being selected by St. Louis in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. Before being the main target of the Nolan Arenado trade ahead of the 2021 season—a move that didn’t work out for Colorado—he played in 43 games (15 starts) with St. Louis.
During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with the Cardinals, Gomber recorded an ERA of 1.86. In 2021, he had 23 starts and a 4.53 ERA at the end of the season, which was his lowest with the Rockies.
Gomber has a 5.31 ERA and a 28-44 record overall in 125 games (109 starts) with Colorado.
With a zero-risk deal, Chicago is taking a chance on the Cardinals’ former top prospect. He may provide the club innings in the closing stages and possibly even throughout the postseason if he works out. If not, the Cubs will pay almost nothing when he enters free agency next month.
