Cubs sign hard-throwing righty Zach Pop |
Dustin Riese
· · 1 day ago
At some point, you would love for the Chicago Cubs to make a trade or, at the very least, do something to improve their roster. Until that time comes, the minor league signings will have to suffice, as the Cubs continue to make moves on the Minor League front.
Lost in the shuffle of constant roster transactions and draft signings is the Cubs' latest Minor League free agent signing, as right-hander Zach Pop has agreed to a Minor League deal with the Cubs. The former New York Met and Seattle Mariner, Pop was outrighted to AAA Syracuse late last week before ultimately choosing to hit free agency. His time on the open market didn't last long as Pop and the Cubs have come to terms on a new minor league deal, thus keeping him in the Cubs organization the rest of the season. The 28-year-old right-hander is known for his big fastball, but unlike most hard throwers who tend to be strikeout pitchers, Pop is more of a groundball pitcher, which would play well at Wrigley Field. He now has 162 1/3 innings under his belt with a 4.88 earned run average across 163 big league games, including a rough 14.85 ERA this season. Looking at his Minor League career, you have a guy who has appeared in 138 games, posting a robust 2.47 ERA in those games. That alone makes his pickup all the more worth it as he has proven to be a reliable arm, even if it only comes at the AAA level. You can never have enough depth on a roster, and adding Pop to the Cubs will provide them with some late-season flexibility when it comes to promotions or demotions, as he can serve as the stabilizing force that remains in Iowa. As mentioned, his 17.8% strikeout rate is below average, especially for a hard thrower, but so is his walk rate of 7.8%. You then have his nearly 56% ground ball rate, which is not only elite at the minor league level but also ranks in the top 5% at the Major League level. The elite ground ball rate is what the Cubs are banking on, as they need as many pitchers as possible who cannot only get outs but also keep the ball on the ground, allowing the defense to do the work. To say the 2025 season has been a whirlwind for Pop would be an understatement, as he signed a $900K contract with the Blue Jays in the offseason before Spring Training elbow pain saw him get released. The Mariners and Mets have given him brief looks this year, with Pop making four appearances for Seattle and one for New York, but since he’s out of options, he has quickly been dispatched by both of those clubs. The Cubs are just the next organization in a long line of organizations to take a look at him, as this deal is strictly a minor league contract and is more likely being used to audition him for 2026 and beyond. Should Pop come in and dominate the way he is capable of, not only will the Cubs have a nice piece to keep around in the minors, but it will also give them some options for the future, as he could make things tough on them this offseason. If he continues to struggle as he has this season, the Cubs will be on the hook for practically nothing, and it essentially becomes a win-win for both sides. Hopefully, the elbow soreness and struggles are in the rearview for Pop, and he can get a fair shake with the Cubs, as they could use another strong reliever to build around. Best of luck to him and what the future holds, as this could be his last chance to stay on a roster this season.
