Failed Cubs pitcher Julian Merryweather has signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. Merrryweather, 33, was designated for assignment on May 24, and after clearing waivers the Cubs released the right-handed reliever.
Now, Merryweather will try to get back on track with the Mets after a drastic decline with the Cubs in his last month with the team. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported the signing on Saturday.
According to Merryweather’s profile on MLB.com, he’s been assigned to the Florida Complex League in the Mets’ minor league system.
Merryweather made 21 appearances with the Cubs this season. He posted a 5.79 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 18.2 innings. Things really went south beginning on April 27, when Merryweather allowed two runs in the 10th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday Night Baseball. He walked three batters in that outing and Merryweather proceeded to get progressively worse in May.
In his final nine games with the Cubs, Merryweather surrendered multiple runs in four of those appearances. He went from a high-leverage reliever for Craig Counsell to only being used when the Cubs were trailing or way ahead in games. No matter the situation Merryweather’s regression continued and the Cubs saw enough after he gave up two runs on May 23, against the Reds, cutting him the next day.
The Cubs originally acquired Merryweather after the 2022 season, claiming the right-handed pitcher off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. From 2020-22, Merryweather pitched in a total of 47 games and accumulated 52.2 innings. Injuries and inconsistency led to below average numbers with the Blue Jays as Merryweather posted a 5.64 ERA before he was designated for assignment heading into the 2023 offseason.
A fully healthy season and a change of scenery in 2023, led to Merryweather’s best year in the majors. In his debut season with the Cubs the hard-throwing righty recorded a 3.38 ERA in 72 innings. He pitched in 69 games and struck out 98 batters, ending the year with an impressive 32.3 K%, which ranked No. 8 among NL relief pitchers.
Unfortunately, Merryweather did not stay healthy in 2024, missing a big chunk of the season after he was diagnosed with a rib stress fracture in his back in April. He was limited to 15 games after needing patellar tendon debridement surgery on his knee in September that ended Merryweather’s season.
Merryweather has a career 4.72 ERA in 152 MLB appearances.
