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Cubs Make Announcement on Former First-Round Pick

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Apr 22, 2025 7:20 AM ET

Former All-Star reliever Drew Pomeranz is ready to throw his first MLB pitch in nearly four seasons.

The Chicago Cubs announced Monday that they acquired Pomeranz, the 2010 No. 5 pick, from the Seattle Mariners for cash. Pomeranz, 36, is expected to join the first-place Cubs on Wednesday during their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Pomeranz recorded a 4.66 ERA and 14-6 K-BB ratio over 9.2 innings at Triple-A Tacoma.

It’s been a long road back to the majors for Pomeranz, whose last MLB appearance came with the San Diego Padres in August 2021. Various elbow injuries, including the 2021 Tommy John surgery and a 2023 “cleanup” procedure, have regularly kept him sidelined since then.

Interestingly, this won’t be Pomeranz’s first big-league stint in four years. He spent four days with the San Francisco Giants last May but never made it into a game.

A journeyman starter who pitched for six teams in his first nine seasons, Pomeranz is 45-58 with a 3.91 ERA across nearly 860 innings. He earned All-Star honors with the Padres in 2016 and joined the Boston Red Sox that summer.

The Padres thought highly enough of Pomeranz to bring him back—and on an impressive contract, no less—following the 2019 season. San Diego inked Pomeranz to a four-year, $34 million deal after he recorded a 2.39 ERA and 15.4 K/9 rate over 26.1 innings with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Pomeranz tallied 1.8 bWAR and a 1.62 ERA in 44.1 innings with the Padres. The Cubs would likely be thrilled if he can replicate those numbers, even in a mediocre NL Central.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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