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After All the MLB Free Agent Signings, The Cubs Sign Minor League Free Agent Locke St John



What were we really to expect? Of course, the Rangers, Mets, Marlins, etc. are all signing top free agents, and the Cubs (who have money to spend) don't sign a single MLB FA (yet) and instead sign a minor league free agent.

First, let's recap yesterday's signings:
  • Marcus Seimen signed a 7-year deal with the Rangers. Not a huge surprise there, seeing how the Rangers wanted a top-tier free agent and had money to spend.
  • Kevin Gausman signed a 5-year deal with the Blue Jays. Yes, I wanted the Cubs to get him, but I didn't really think that would happen. Makes sense for the Blue Jays, especially if they lose Ray.
  • Jon Gray signed a 4-year deal with the Rangers. I thought he'd be a good fit for the Cubs as well, but it doesn't seem like they're actively pursuing starters right now. Strange. 
  • Michael Lorenzen signed a 1-year deal with the Angels. The Cubs were rumored to be connected to him, but seeing the Angels' success with two-way players (Ohtani?), it's not a big surprise.
  • Corey Kluber signed a 1-year deal with the Rays. Another risk pitcher that would have been a good fit for the Cubs, but I'm not surprised the Rays were able to get him.
  • Not a signing, but Byron Buxton signed a 7-year extension with the Twins. He's a valuable player when healthy, so can't blame them there.
  • Sandy Alcantara signed a 5-year extension with the Marlins. They have so many young talented pitchers, but I guess this one's staying. The Cubs also have someone to extend...hint hint. 
Those are the list of those that have already signed, but a couple more are likely going to make their decision today. We'll list a few rumors:
  • Maz Scherzer's offers are from the Mets (who reportedly have the highest offer), and the Dodgers. Deals sometimes take a little while, but I'm guessing he'll go with the Mets.
  • Kris Bryant has been getting attention from the Mariners and Phillies. He'll likely make his decision today as well, so all the best to him!
  • Corey Seager is also expected to choose which team to sign with today. However, rumors on which teams are interested in him have not surfaced, so that is a little suspicious. Earlier this month the Yankees were interested in him, and the Cubs were rumored to be as well, but we'll see. 
  • Nick Castellanos is looking in the 7-8 year range, so it depends which teams are still interested with a range like that. I really don't think the Cubs will be targeting him.
Now, everybody has been getting really ancy as to "when are the Cubs going to actually sign somebody." I get it. Me too. I want the Cubs to sign Stroman, Rodon, and Seager, but I don't know if that will happen. We can be quick to assume that the Cubs are being cheap again, don't want to win, etc. But is that the case? We'll talk about that soon.

But hey. The Cubs did sign someone, howbeit a minor league free agent. It is LHP Locke St. John, who formerly played in the Tigers and Rangers' minor league system. Here's some bullets on him:
  • He had a 2.58 ERA in 59 IP with the Tigers in Triple A this past year. He had a 21.8% K rate, and a 37.9% GB rate. He had a giant 84.7% LOB percentage (Runners left on base), which certainly valuable.
  • Although a slow thrower (averaging 89.8 MPH with his fastball), he generates a lot of outs via flyouts. He had a 42.5% FB percentage, which is bigger than his groundout percentage. He only allowed 4 homeruns this past year too, so that's a plus.
  • He throws 4 different pitches, four seamer, sinker, slider and changeup. Slider would be considered his best pitch, but he throws it very slowly, averaging at 78 MPH.
That is one thing about this signing that does confuse me. The Cubs were trying to get away from soft-throwing pitchers like Hendricks and Mills, and this guy definitely is a soft-thrower. However, one main reason they got him (besides that he someone did well this year) is his arm angle. He throws a kind of three-fourths arm slot, and I believe they are trying to use the Ray's strategy of getting a bunch of different guys with different arm slots to confuse batters.

After all, the Cubs did hire former Rays' minor league pitching coach Greg Brown to be their new pitching coach. So, that's a couple reasons why he might have seemed tempting to the Cubs.

They're likely be more signings here soon, and if there's a Cubs one...

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