The Rundown Lite: Cubs Sign Maton, Excuse or Smokescreen, Interesting Non-Tenders, Familiar Names in Coaching Carousel -

"This isn't the multiyear reliever contract I'd have pegged, but the 32-year-old Maton has consistently put up big strikeout numbers while keeping the ball in the yard for the most part. That he does it without much of a fastball is interesting enough to keep me from complaining about him barely throwing 90. Maton ditched his four-seam back in 2023 with the Astros, opting instead for a cutter/curve/sweeper mix with the occasional sinker."

"That latter pitch was up to a career-high 12.0% last season with the Cardinals and Rangers, though he only threw it at a 10.2% clip following his trade to Arlington. No stranger to mid-season trades, Maton has played for two different teams in four of his nine MLB seasons as either a hired gun or a reclamation project. He's made at least 63 appearances with over 61 innings pitched in each of the last five seasons and is familiar with late-game situations."

"I was very pleasantly surprised by Maton's Baseball Savant sliders, which are almost all bright red with some obvious exceptions. The walk rate is a bit troublesome, but he makes up for it by missing barrels as well as anyone. If he keeps spinning the hell out of his riding cutter and sweeping curve, the Cubs should have themselves a very reliable bullpen arm."

The Cubs declined to tender contracts to backup catcher Reese McGuire and injured reliever Eli Morgan, then signed veteran right-hander Phil Maton to a two-year deal. Maton, 32, generated high strikeout totals while limiting home runs despite rarely throwing a traditional four-seam fastball, favoring a cutter/curve/sweeper mix and an occasional sinker. The sinker usage reached a career-high 12.0% with the Cardinals and Rangers, dropping to 10.2% after a trade to Arlington. Maton has been traded midseason multiple times, logged at least 63 appearances and over 61 innings in each of the last five seasons, and is experienced in late-game situations. Concerns include a higher walk rate, but elite spin and barrel-missing ability project him as a reliable bullpen arm.

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