Cubs sign Chatwood to 3-year deal
With Jake Arrieta expected to move elsewhere this winter, the Chicago Cubs dipped into the free-agent market Thursday to bolster their rotation, signing right-hander Tyler Chatwood to a three-year deal.
Chatwood, who turns 28 later this month, will reportedly make $38 million over the next three seasons, according to multiple reports.
chatwood $13M salary in 2020 escalates to $15M if he makes all-star game in 2018 AND 2019 or receives 1 cy young vote in 2018 OR 2019. it escalates to $17M if receives 1 cy vote in 2018 AND 2019. so 2 writer votes could mean $4M. #cubs
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 8, 2017
With the Cubs, who locked up a second straight National League Central title in 2017, Chatwood will slide into a deep, veteran-heavy rotation anchored by left-handers Jon Lester and Jose Quintana and right-hander Kyle Hendricks.
Projected 2018 rotation
| Player | 2017 WAR |
|---|---|
| Jon Lester | 2.7 |
| Jose Quintana | 3.9 |
| Kyle Hendricks | 2.5 |
| Tyler Chatwood | 1.1 |
| Mike Montgomery | 1.3 |
Last year, in his fifth season with the Colorado Rockies, Chatwood managed a 4.69 ERA (107 ERA+) and 1.44 WHIP over 25 starts and eight begrudging relief appearances, as his inconsistency prompted the club to relegate him to the bullpen shortly after the All-Star break. In 2016, however, he was quietly one of the better starters in the National League, crafting a 3.87 ERA (125 ERA+) with a league-leading 57.2 percent ground-ball rate (min. 150 IP) over 27 starts.
Over parts of six seasons in the majors, Chatwood owns a 4.31 ERA (105 ERA+) and 1.49 WHIP in 113 starts and 17 relief appearances split between the Rockies and Los Angeles Angels. Throughout his career, the bulk of which he's spent in hitter-friendly Colorado, Chatwood has fared much better on the road (3.31 ERA) than at home (5.25 ERA).