The Cubs have officially declined a $10 million mutual option for left-hander Drew Smyly, which means he'll receive a $2.5 million buyout and head to free agency.
Smyly's 2023 season showcased a 3.84 ERA over 58 2/3 innings, but underlying metrics reveal concerns, including a drop in strikeout rate to 21.8% and a spike in walk rate to 9.7%.
The left-hander's performance was marked by an alarming jump in home runs allowed, averaging 1.53 per nine innings, while his hard-hit rate hit a troubling high of 38.2%.
This decision to decline the option reflects the Cubs' assessment of Smyly's decreasing efficacy on the mound, evidenced by his lowest swinging-strike rate of 11.3% since 2019.
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