NEWSLETTER
As expected after Josh Hader signed his record-breaking deal, the free agent relief market is finally moving along with some pace (and so far, without the Cubs). First, the Angels signed one of our favorite rumored targets Robert Stephenson. And tonight, they’ve reportedly signed another, Matt Moore.
Matt Moore Signs with Angels
While we were never expecting the Cubs to shop at the TOP of this market (that’s just not Jed Hoyer’s style), I do think some quality free agents in the next couple tiers are starting to get gobbled up at enviable prices.
Matt Moore, 34, just finished his second year as a full-time reliever, tossing 52.2 innings in 2023, with a 2.56 ERA, a 27.5% strikeout rate, and a 6.9% walk rate. Over the last two years, he has held opposing batters to an 88 MPH average exit velocity with a 5.9% barrel rate — both solidly better than average. Generally speaking, you’d like to see some more groundballs in his game, but with that big of a gap between his K and BB numbers (and so much mediocre contact), it’s not surprising to see him succeed.
It also doesn’t hurt that he was able to ramp his fastball up to 94.0 MPH and keep it there for the second straight season. All in all, I think Matt Moore would have been a really nice mid-to-late inning arm for the Cubs, whose options are running out.
(NOTE: You do have to wonder if Moore just wanted to be back with the Angels. In case you forgot, Moore started 2023 with the Angels (he signed with them last offseason), before they put him on Waivers in August to save some money. Maybe there were some promises made. I don’t know. He probably just liked it there.)
Cubs Up Next?
In any case, like most of the offseason so far, this is frustrating.
I know Jed Hoyer likes to build bullpens in a more short-term/affordable/under-the-radar/diamond-in-the-rough/whatever sort of way (which does often work). And I know the Cubs have a lot of young arms coming up to help this year. Perhaps more than ever. But I just thought there’d be more urgency, especially with Craig Counsell at the helm and given the way the bullpen failed in September, costing the Cubs the playoffs.
And it’s not like Matt Moore was expensive or long term! That’s a very reasonable deal. Again, maybe we’ll find it out it was always going to be the Angels, but yeesh.
Like Brett said when Stephenson signed: “The Cubs will have to move on to the next, next, and next options like David Robertson, Ryne Stanek, Phil Maton, Matt Moore, and Ryan Brasier, among others. I still want the Cubs to get one or more of those guys….”
Alternatively, maybe they could pull off a trade. There was the recently reported interest in Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, though the price is thought to be laughably high. And I did think Kenley Jansen could be a sneaky good trade target for the Cubs (and the Red Sox are reportedly open to it).
