Cubs Make Trade with Mariners

Huh, didn't see this one coming. The Cubs have acquired veteran, left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz, making a trade with the Mariners on Monday. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal was the first to report the deal and it's now two straight years that the two clubs have come together for an April trade.

Pomeranz, now 36-years-old, was an All-Star in 2016 and won a World Series title with the Red Sox in 2018. The left-handed pitcher transitioned from a starter to full-time reliever in 2019, when he was with the Milwaukee Brewers, managed by current Cubs skipper Craig Counsell. Since then, Pomeranz has been stellar out of the bullpen, just one catch though.

In 2021, Pomeranz recorded a 1.75 ERA in 25.2 innings with the San Diego Padres. That was his last season in the majors. Pomeranz had surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in Aug. 2021, which then limited him to a handful of minor league rehab appearances in 2022. He had another procedure done in 2023, and a setback once again cost him the chance to return to the majors with the Padres.

In 2024, Pomeranz signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers. He made some outings at Triple-A, but was then released in May. The left-hander then signed with the Giants, but never pitched for their organization.

That brings us to this past offseason, when Pomeranz agreed to a minor league deal with the Mariners. He was let go in spring training, but re-signed and began the season at Triple-A. Now, he'll be in the Cubs bullpen.

Drew Pomeranz deserves a spot on an MLB roster https://t.co/qCwykeS7Jb pic.twitter.com/82hEWVYv3v

— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) March 23, 2025

According to Rosenthal, Pomeranz had a clause in his contract that he had to be offered to every team in MLB and if any of the other 29 organizations would agree to call him up to the majors, then the Mariners would either have to trade him or call him up themselves.

Pomeranz had upward mobility clause. Mariners needed to offer him to every other club. If a team was willing to bring him to the majors, they either had to promote him or trade him there. Pitched for Craig Counsell in Milwaukee in 2019.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 21, 2025

From 2019-21, Pomeranz posted a 1.73 ERA as a reliever in 75 appearances. The left-handed pitcher had an unbelievable strikeout rate of 38.8% and held hitters to a .177 batting average.

According to the Cubs transactions page, Jordan Wicks has been optioned back to Triple-A. So, Pomeranz will take his spot in the bullpen, beginning Tuesday as the Cubs begin a two-game set against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field.