Cubs Sign Free Agent Right Handed Reliever Steve Cishek
Ken Rosenthal tweets this morning that the Cubs have signed 31 year old right handed reliever Steve Cishek. Cishek spent 2016 with Seattle and Tampa Bay. Jerry Crasnik reports it is a 2 year deal in the $12-$14 pending a physical. million dollar range pending a physical.
Cishek was 3–2 with 1 save and a 2.01 ERA last year. He made 49 appearances, striking out 41 and compiling a minuscule 0.896 WHIP. In 8 seasons he has had an ERA above 3.00 three times. In the past 2 seasons combined he has walked 14. He also holds the Mariners franchise record for consecutive saves at 33.
Cishek has made a total of 422 appearances in the big leagues and has compiled a 24–28 record with 121 saves. He also has a career ERA of 2.73 and a WHIP of 1.16
Cishek is a side-armed pitcher. In spite of that he is able to throw his sinker with above average velocity, ranging from 91–94 m.p.h. His secondary pitch is a slider at 82–85 m.p.h. He also throws a four-seam fastball and a change up.
Cishek will look to join Pedro Strop, Justin Wilson, and Carl Edwards, Jr. to set up Brandon Morrow at the back end of the bullpen.
Doug Preszler is the type of person who can be a Cubs fan and an Iowa fan while living in South Dakota. He is a man who cares not for regional loyalty. He can be found on Twitter here, telling tales of the Dakotan Cubs fan’s existence.
