Colten

Brewer

The quartet cleared waivers and have all elected free agency. Almonte is was an effective high-leverage reliever in the recent past and figures to get another shot somewhere else. With top catching prospect Moises Ballesteros on the doorstep of the majors there was no reason for the club to keep Bethancourt around any longer.

Well, that isn’t very smart. Brewer will hit the injured list as it’s difficult to pitch with a broken hand, although in this case it was apparently his non-throwing hand, so at least he thought about it a little bit. The right-hander has registered a 5.66 ERA in 20 2/3 innings with the Cubs in 2024 over 16 appearances. Hunter Bigge is replacing him on the roster.

Better umpiring would have helped the Cubs here, but it’s not like either Brewer or Smyly impressed tonight. The Cubs wanted Brewer to close over Héctor Neris, but he gave up hits to two of the three batters he faced. Smyly entered at that point and allowed a single and three walks. One of those was intentional, but the last, which pushed the winning run across, certainly wasn’t. With Neris out of the mix for the moment, Tyson Miller might be the current favorite for saves in the Cubs pen. He got the final two outs of the eighth before exiting tonight.

We’re not totally sure what to make of Chicago’s closing situation at the moment as Brewer became the sixth different Cubs reliever to record a save this year. The 31-year-old righty issued a pair of walks, but still managed to escape with his first career save.

Brewer rejoins Chicago’s pitching mix ahead of Tuesday’s contest against the Rays after missing just over three weeks recovering from lower back tightness. The 31-year-old righty figures to pitch in a long relief role for the Cubs moving forward.

Brewer had a 3.09 ERA with 12 strikeouts and four walks in 11 2/3 innings pitching out of the bullpen for the Cubs. He spent time with the Yankees last year as he’s bounced around after being drafted by the Pirates in the fourth round in 2011. The Cubs recalled Porter Hodge to fill Brewer’s spot while he’s out.

The 31-year-old veteran reliever will get some work in the Cubs’ bullpen after spending some time at the Triple-A level to start the season. Brewer was with the Yankees last season where he posted a 4.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 4/3 K/BB ratio in 8 1/3 innings. Given how depleted the Cubs are right now in the bullpen, Brewer has an opportunity to stay up and find a spot in low or high leverage situations.

The full details haven’t emerged yet, but it’s presumably a minor league deal that the 31-year-old hurler is inking with the Cubs. Brewer was terrific during the 2023 season — posting a 4.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 4/3 K/BB ratio in 8 1/3 innings with the Yankees while dominating at the Triple-A level and in 12 1/3 innings with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. With a strong showing in the spring, he should be able to secure a spot in the Cubs’ Opening Day bullpen — and given the uncertainty around that group at the moment he could even find himself pitching in some high leverage situations if all goes well.

Brewer was released by the Yankees over the weekend to pursue the opportunity overseas in Japan. The 30-year-old righty made just three relief appearances this season for New York and has made 84 career appearances in the big leagues since 2018.

The 30-year-old right-hander has a deal in place with a team in Japan, so the Yankees granted his release. Brewer posted a 4.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 4/3 K/BB ratio in 8 1/3 innings with the Yankees this season.