The Cubs signed the relief pitcher to a minor league contract yesterday, bringing him back after his stint with the team last season.
Cubs fans may remember Almonte from 2023, when he arrived from the Dodgers as part of the same trade that brought Michael Busch to Chicago. He posted a 3.45 ERA over 15.2 innings, accumulating 0.2 bWAR in 17 appearances. His 1.085 WHIP was also better than the league average. However, his season was cut short by a shoulder injury on May 11, with his final appearance coming on May 7 against the Padres, where he pitched one inning, allowing one hit but no runs.
Since debuting in 2018, Almonte has logged 223 career innings across three teams. His best season came in 2022 with the Dodgers, when he posted a stellar 1.02 ERA over 35 innings, leading to an eye-popping 398 ERA+. While the small sample size played a role in that number, it highlighted just how dominant he was. The Cubs saw his potential and ensured he was part of the Michael Busch trade with Los Angeles.
Anything to fix the Bullpen
Chicago has been looking to strengthen its bullpen after a lackluster performance last season. The Cubs ranked 11th in bullpen ERA and 19th in WHIP—numbers that don’t fully reflect the frustration of fans who watched the team let too many late leads slip away. Bringing back Yency Almonte on a minor league deal provides additional depth and flexibility. Given his veteran experience, he could spend a good portion of the season in the majors.
Almonte is an interesting case as a pitcher. His xERA, xBA, extension, and whiff rate all grade well on Baseball Savant, but he struggles in areas like walk rate (11.9%), fastball velocity (93.8 mph), and barrel rate (8.1%). Combined with his injury history and limited big-league experience, it’s understandable why his market wasn’t particularly strong.
That said, he could still be a valuable piece for the Cubs. While they’ve already added arms like Eli Morgan and Ryan Pressly to the bullpen, depth is always crucial. Given Chicago’s recent struggles with bullpen consistency, having a potential impact arm like Almonte in the mix is a smart move.
A Solid Depth signing
This move won’t drastically impact the 2025 Cubs, but it’s a solid depth addition. In a sport where depth is crucial, there’s little downside to bringing Almonte back. If he performs well, the Cubs gain another reliable bullpen arm. If not, he remains in the minors with minimal impact on the team’s payroll. It’s a low-risk move with the potential for a worthwhile reward.
