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Drew Smyly

Drew Smyly

36-Year-Old PitcherRP
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2025 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
W-L
ERA
WHIP
K
SV
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2025 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Drew Smyly in 2025. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
Bats L
Throws L
40 Man No
Height 6'3"
Weight 190
DOB 6/13/1989
Drafted 2nd Rd 2010
Signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Cubs in December of 2022. Exercised $8.5 million player option for 2024 in November of 2023. Contract includes $10 million mutual option ($2.5 million buyout) for 2025. Contract includes annual $250,000 escalators for 110 and 120 innings pitched, $750,000 for 130 and 140 innings pitched and $1 million for 150 innings pitched. Club declined mutual option in November of 2024.
Let go by CHC
PFree Agent  
November 2, 2024
The Cubs declined Smyly's $10 million mutual option for 2025 on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis
Smyly moved to the bullpen full-time in 2024 and logged a 3.84 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 58.2 innings. While those are both improvements from his 2023 statline (5.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP), the Cubs will elect to pay the southpaw's $2.5 million buyout rather than keep him on the squad for his age-36 season.
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2024 MLB Game Log
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Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-20%
BAA vs RHP
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
-2%
BAA vs RHP
2023
 
 
-29%
BAA vs RHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2023vs Left .303 274 58 24 73 12 2 9
Since 2023vs Right .243 609 139 57 131 31 0 27
2025vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Left .255 114 22 9 26 1 0 3
2024vs Right .250 143 34 16 31 6 0 7
2023vs Left .338 160 36 15 47 11 2 6
2023vs Right .241 466 105 41 100 25 0 20
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-10%
ERA on Road
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
-16%
ERA at Home
2023
 
 
-19%
ERA on Road
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2023Home 4.92 1.28 93.1 7 4 0 10.0 2.6 1.5
Since 2023Away 4.43 1.54 107.2 8 15 0 7.8 4.5 1.7
2025Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Home 3.52 1.24 30.2 2 1 0 9.4 2.9 1.2
2024Away 4.18 1.57 28.0 2 7 0 7.7 4.8 1.9
2023Home 5.60 1.29 62.2 5 3 0 10.3 2.4 1.7
2023Away 4.52 1.53 79.2 6 8 0 7.8 4.4 1.6
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Drew Smyly See More
The Z Files: Normalizing the ATC Pitching Projections
MLB
The Z Files: Normalizing the ATC Pitching Projections
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Todd Zola
129 days ago
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
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NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
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Jan Levine
May 26, 2024
The Z Files: Can the Drop in Flyball Distance Influence Roster Management?
MLB
The Z Files: Can the Drop in Flyball Distance Influence Roster Management?
Author Image
Todd Zola
May 1, 2024
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
MLB
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
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Jan Levine
April 28, 2024
Collette Calls: The State of Pitching
MLB
Collette Calls: The State of Pitching
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Jason Collette
April 19, 2024
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Drew Smyly See More
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
It was a mostly forgettable 2023 campaign for the veteran Smyly. On a positive note, he was able to rack up 142.1 innings across 41 appearances (23 starts), which was his biggest workload since 2016. However, Smyly didn't pitch particularly well while he was out there, finishing with a 5.00 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. By comparison, the lefty managed a 3.47 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 2022, which was his first season with the Cubs. He lost a few ticks on his fastball, falling from a 92.6 mph average in 2022 to 92.0 last year, though his K/9 actually increased in 2023, settling in just below 9.0. Smyly ultimately suffered from some bad luck in 2023, as evidenced by his .305 BABIP, which was up 30 points from a year earlier. The lefty also had a 3.54 BB/9, which was his highest mark since 2019. That season was also the last time Smyly had an ERA of 5.00 or higher, so it stands to reason that if he can cut down the free passes some in 2024, he should be able to lower his ERA as well. Whether the veteran attempts to do that from a starting role remains to be seen. The Cubs have Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Kyle Hendricks locked into rotation spots, with the likes of Jordan Wicks, Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski behind them. That could push Smyly into more of a long-relief or swing role, which would limit his already diminished fantasy value.
Brought in as a veteran option on a rebuilding team, Smyly pretty much delivered as advertised for the Cubs in 2022. The lefty made 22 starts, compiling a strong 3.47 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 106 innings. He missed some time with oblique and shoulder issues, but for someone who last topped 130 innings in a season back in 2016, it would have been unrealistic to expect much more in terms of workload. Smyly recorded a 7.70 K/9 last year, which was a tick below his 8.79 career mark, though his average fastball sat at 92.6 mph, which was a bit ahead of his fastball in 2021 and mostly in line with his career numbers. Smyly declined his portion of a $10 million mutual option with the Cubs but will return to Chicago on a two-year, $19 million deal. He'll turn 34 during the 2023 season, so he's unlikely to take a huge step forward as a pitcher, and injuries remain a concern. However, Smyly should again provide a veteran presence in the rotation, and it's reasonable to expect production that looks similar to his 2022 numbers, especially with the signings of Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger lifting the floor of Chicago's defense.
After allowing just two homers in 26.1 innings the previous season with the Giants, Smyly's long ball issue returned last year as he surrendered 27 dingers in 126.2 frames with the Braves. However, he caught a break as a fortunate 77.4 percent LOB mark helped keep his 4.48 ERA somewhat respectable. That said, Smyly's 21.4 percent strikeout rate was the lowest of his career as his cutter wasn't as effective as normal. Smyly had one only IL stint, a two-week stay in April for a sore forearm. After posting a 6.08 ERA in August, Atlanta moved the lefty to the bullpen. The veteran is slated to embark on his age-32 season and will begin the year with a back-end rotation spot for the Cubs. With his injury history and home run proclivity, he's hard to trust for fantasy purposes. Favorable matchups in pitcher's parks could be in play, but that's not the sort of outlook worthy of a roster spot.
You could be forgiven for forgetting about Smyly heading into last year, as he missed 2017 and 2018 due to Tommy John surgery before struggling to a 6.24 ERA in 2019. A solid 25.9 K% and 8.0 BB% in 12 starts that year after a mid-season trade to the Phillies hinted at a modest amount of promise, but few would have predicted his 37.8 K%, 3.42 ERA and 2.01 FIP for the Giants last season. That came in a tiny sample of 26.1 innings, as he missed time with a strained finger, but was backed by a 2.6-mph jump in fastball velocity, enough to convince the Braves to give him a one-year, $11 million deal. It's not like his success came completely out of nowhere, as the lefty managed a 3.24 ERA over his first four seasons, and getting back to that level now that he's fully healthy could certainly be sustainable. He's still firmly in lottery-ticket territory, but he's one of the most interesting members of that group.
When the Cubs signed Smyly prior to the 2018 season, they understood that he might not contribute much in his first season with the club. The southpaw spent the early portion of the campaign continuing to rehab from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June of 2017, and he progressed to simulated games after the All-Star break. Just when he appeared to be closing in on a return from the disabled list, the Cubs opted to shut him down for the season. After the extra-long layoff, the hope is that Smyly will be fully healthy and ready to compete for a spot in the Rangers' rotation following a November trade. He turns 30 in June and his medical history is lengthy, but in AL-only leagues and deep draft-and-hold formats, there are worse late-round speculations.
A strong showing last spring -- which he split between the Mariners and Team USA in the WBC -- signaled that Smyly was ready to bounce back from a poor 2016 season, but an elbow injury suffered in late March prevented him from being ready for the start of the season. His season was ultimately over for good when it was decided he would need Tommy John surgery in June. Smyly will not be ready to return until the middle of the 2018 season at the earliest, and it's possible he could miss the entire year. His respectable career marks of a 3.74 ERA and 8.7 K/9 make him worth holding onto in deep keeper leagues, but it's a long shot that he will pay off as a long-term stash in single-season leagues in 2018. The Cubs signed him to a two-year deal in December, likely banking on his Year 2 contributions with the club once he's completely healthy again.
The 27-year-old left-hander managed to stay healthy but struggled through the majority of the 2016 campaign. His first half of the season was particularly poor, with Smyly tallying just a pair of victories against 10 losses to go along with a 5.47 ERA. He rebounded in the second half to forge a 5-2 record and generate a more respectable 4.08 ERA, but still saw a significant drop in his K/9 and the home runs have become a major issue at this point (43 allowed in 242 innings over the past two seasons). There was no accompanying rise in BABIP to blame for his struggles in 2016, as that figure remained at a reasonable .291. A full offseason of rest will create further distance from the shoulder problems and he's relatively safe in his role even after a trade to Seattle, but Smyly remains a risk in the ratio categories.
After a pair of DL stints and just 66.2 innings pitched in 2015, Smyly is officially an injury risk who is more potential than performance at this point. He has spent some time in the bullpen so we can't just judge him strictly on the innings, but four DL stints, major shoulder issues in 2015, and a max of 153 innings as a big leaguer all ding his reliability, especially at 27 years old now. There is still a lot to like when he does pitch, including the strikeout surge from last season. He needed an 87 percent strand rate to limit the damage of a 1.5 HR/9 rate, but both were career outliers and should be expected to regress. His fastball has experienced a four percent jump in swinging-strike rate with Tampa Bay and the key difference has been elevating it. The pitch has been instrumental in cutting his platoon split with righties posting a .641 OPS against him with Tampa Bay, down from .799 with Detroit. Intriguing skills, but the health history has to temper expectations.
At the trade deadline, Smyly was 6-9 with a 3.93 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and had struck out 20 percent of the batters he faced. He was then shipped to Tampa Bay as part of the David Price deal and things took a different course. He made seven starts for the Rays and posted a 1.70 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and struck out 25 percent of the batters he faced. The amazing part is the Rays barely made a tweak to his mechanics as they typically do not like doing many changes during a season. Smyly increased the strikeouts with sequencing more than a new pitch, and there is a very good chance the team teaches him a changeup this offseason as every pitcher within the organization is encouraged to throw the pitch. There is some concern with Smyly since his innings total jumped from 76 to 153 last season, which is why the team shut him down in early September. He will not come at a discount in 2015.
After working as a starting pitcher and reliever for Detroit in 2012, Smyly was moved to a full-time role in the bullpen last season. The 25-year-old lefty excelled in his new role, finishing 6-0 with a 2.37 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 63 appearances. He improved both his strikeout rate (9.6 K/9), walk rate (2.0 BB/9) and limited the long ball (0.5 HR/9). The young southpaw was lights-out against left-handed hitters (.189 BAA), but he also limited right-handed hitters to a .242/.374/.293 line, proving that he’s far more than a situational pitcher. Originally a starter, Smyly has a steady five-pitch arsenal at his disposal. His fastball usually sits in the 90-92 mph range. He also mixes in a curveball with plus-pitch upside, a cutter and a changeup that needs some work. While none of his pitches are dominant, Smyly does a great job locating and keeping hitters off balance. The Tigers traded Doug Fister to the Nationals in December, opening the door for Smyly to take a permanent spot in the rotation and making him an excellent sleeper for 2014.
Smyly was an early-season surprise in 2012, as he earned the No. 5 spot in the rotation out of spring training. The 23-year-old lefty got off to a great start in April, posting a 1.23 ERA and 22:8 K:BB in 22 innings, but his performance dropped off in May and he eventually lost a spot in the rotation when Detroit acquired Anibal Sanchez in a midseason deal. Despite the up-and-down season, there was plenty to like with Smyly. He aptly mixed in a low-90s fastball with an effective slider to post a 3.99 ERA while striking out nearly one hitter per inning (8.5 K/9). The big question mark with Smyly is whether or not he can earn a spot in the Opening Day rotation again. With the Tigers' decision to re-sign Sanchez, Smyly will be left battling out for a rotation spot with Rick Porcello, who would likely hold the edge. Keep a close eye on Smyly's competition this spring, as he could be a decent rotation filler for mid-sized leagues.
Selected in the second round by the Tigers in 2010, Smyly has quickly moved up the team’s prospect list. He impressed during his first season in the minors, going 11-6 with a 2.07 ERA and 130:36 K:BB ratio while splitting time between High-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie. The 22-year-old southpaw’s two best pitches are a sinking 89-92 mph fastball and a mid-80s cutter. He also mixes in a curveball and change-up but needs to refine both pitches. Unless the Tigers go out and sign a proven veteran prior to spring training, Smyly is expected to compete with fellow prospects Jacob Turner, Duane Below and Andy Oliver for the final spot in the rotation. Despite being named as part of the competition, Smyly is a long shot to earn a place on the Opening Day roster, but he could see his first cup of coffee in the big leagues in 2012 if he shows continued success in the upper levels of the minors. He’s worth keeping an eye on in keeper leagues.
More Fantasy News
Takes loss Saturday
PChicago Cubs  
September 15, 2024
Smyly (3-8) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while retiring just one batter to take the loss in Saturday's 6-5, extra-inning defeat to the Rockies.
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Placed on waivers
PChicago Cubs  
August 26, 2024
The Cubs placed Smyly on outright waivers Monday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
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Takes loss Tuesday
PChicago Cubs  
August 13, 2024
Smyly (3-6) allowed a solo home run across 1.1 innings of relief to take the loss Tuesday against the Guardians. He struck out one.
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Earns win in relief Monday
PChicago Cubs  
July 22, 2024
Smyly (3-5) tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Monday against the Brewers. He allowed one hit and didn't record any walks or strikeouts.
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Effective again Saturday
PChicago Cubs  
July 21, 2024
Smyly tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Diamondbacks. He allowed a hit and struck out one.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could stay in Chicago
PChicago Cubs  
August 28, 2024
The Cubs will keep Smyly on the big-league roster if he passes through outright waivers unclaimed, reports Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Analysis
The left-hander has been an effective reliever this season with a 2.84 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 43:18 K:BB across 50.2 innings, so there's likely to be some interest on the waiver wire. However, Smyly also seemed like a good bet to be traded ahead of the July deadline but ended up staying put. One reason could be the 35-year-old's salary, as he signed as a starter in 2022 and is making $10.5 million this season and has a $10 million mutual option for 2025 that includes a $2.5 million buyout.
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