Welcome back to Chicago, Yency Almonte. Yesterday, the Cubs signed relief pitcher Yency Almonte to a minor league contract. Cubs fans will recognize his name, as he pitched for Chicago last season after being traded from the Dodgers in a deal that also brought Michael Busch to the Cubs. Almonte posted a solid 3.45 ERA in 15.2 innings, contributing 0.2 bWAR in 17 games. His 1.085 WHIP was also better than the league average.
Unfortunately, his time with the Cubs was cut short by a shoulder injury on May 11th that ended his season. His final appearance for the Cubs was on May 7th against the Padres, where he pitched one inning, allowed one hit, and no runs.
Over his career, Almonte has pitched 223 innings across three teams since 2018. His standout season came in 2022 with the Dodgers, where he threw 35 innings with a remarkable 1.02 ERA and posted a 398 ERA+—a high mark, though based on a small sample size. The Cubs were impressed by his potential and included him in the trade that brought Michael Busch from the Dodgers.
Improving the Bullpen The Cubs are looking to strengthen their bullpen after a mediocre performance last season. They ranked 11th in bullpen ERA and 19th in WHIP, numbers that left fans frustrated with late-game losses. Bringing Almonte back on a minor league deal adds depth to the bullpen, and his veteran experience could make him a solid contributor at the major league level, potentially spending half the season with the Cubs.
Almonte is an intriguing case. His xERA, xBA, extension, and whiff rate all show promise on Baseball Savant, but his walk rate (11.9), fastball velocity (93.8), and barrel rate (8.1) are concerning. Combine that with his injury history and limited big-league experience, and it’s clear why there wasn’t strong market interest for the 30-year-old. Still, he could be a valuable addition for the Cubs. Even with recent bullpen additions like Eli Morgan and Ryan Pressly, depth is always crucial, and Almonte offers intriguing upside.
A Low-Risk, High-Potential Move While this signing doesn’t dramatically shift the needle for the Cubs’ 2025 outlook, it adds a solid depth piece. In a sport where depth is key, this low-risk move is unlikely to backfire. If Almonte performs well, the Cubs will have another potent arm for the bullpen. If not, he remains in the minors, with minimal impact on the 2025 payroll. It’s a potential win for the Cubs with very little downside.
