The Cubs signed left-handed Austin Gomber A minor league contract was signed and he was assigned to Triple-Iowa. He will play against top members of Kansas City in the organization’s debut tonight. MLB.com Transaction Tracker said he signed a contract on August 26, although it was not announced until today.
This is a related difference because it gives Gunber a long-term possibility to take a look in the playoffs. He was in the organization before early September, so he qualifies for the playoff roster even if he is not currently in the 40-man roster. Obviously this won’t plan A for the team, but Southpaw provides rotation depth for teams that don’t Michael Soroka and Jameson Taillon at the moment. The bear also brought it Joe Ross By minor league deal.
Gunber was released by the Rockies last month. The soft Southpaw missed the first few months due to shoulder discomfort. Since being activated by the injury list in mid-June, he has earned a tattoo with an average run of 7.49 in 12 games. Gunber is not good at home or on the road. Regardless of the venue, he struggled to miss the Bats, with a career-worst strikeout rate of 12.5% in 57 2/3 innings. Gomber’s fastball averages over 89 miles per hour, up from last year’s Tick’s feet and three miles per hour in the first few seasons of his career. Last year, he was a fifth starter to pass the ball, turning 4.75 ERA at the start of 30 times.
The Rockies pays a salary of 6.35mm. The Cubs will owe him $760,000 in the league any time he spends in the major leagues. He will be a free agent again at the beginning of the offseason.
