The Cubs launched right-handers Dan Straily and Kyle McGowin from their minor league contracts with the group, as per the official transactions web page for the Triple-A Iowa affiliate. Straily signed with Chicago in April and McGowin signed in Could, with each pitchers returning to the affiliated minors after initially signing offers with the unbiased Atlantic League for the 2024 season.
Straily posted a 4.56 ERA throughout 803 1/3 innings with six completely different Main League groups from 2012-19, primarily pitching for the A’s, Marlins, and Reds. He adopted up that MLB tenure with a four-season stint in Busan with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Group, by means of Straily additionally briefly pitched within the Diamondbacks’ farm system in 2022. Straily had a 3.29 ERA over 503 innings with the Giants, although that general profitable quantity masks some inconsistency, primarily in a 2023 season that noticed the righty ship solely a 4.37 ERA in 80 1/3 frames earlier than being launched final July.
The outcomes additionally haven’t been there for Straily in his age-35 season, as he has a 5.49 ERA, 21.4% strikeout fee, and 10.8% stroll fee over 78 2/3 innings for Iowa. A number of the injury has been attributable to the house run ball, as Straily has given up 18 round-trippers through the restricted pattern dimension of his time with the Cubs’ prime affiliate. Retaining the ball within the park was usually a wrestle for Straily throughout his days within the large leagues — he allowed a Nationwide League-high 31 homers in 2016 when a member of the Reds rotation, and he gave up an unimaginable 22 dwelling runs in solely 47 2/3 innings whereas pitching for the Orioles in 2019.
McGowin has additionally had a tricky time in Iowa this season, posting a 6.13 ERA in 10 begins and 47 Triple-A innings. The righty confirmed significantly better type in Double-A (2.22 ERA in 28 1/3 IP) and in his temporary time with the Atlantic League’s Charleston Soiled Birds (2.70 ERA in 10 innings), however McGowin’s lack of success in Iowa led the Cubs to half methods with the 32-year-old.
McGowin’s large league resume consists of a 5.98 ERA over 64 2/3 innings, all with the Nationals in components of each season from 2018-21. His 4.20 ERA over 30 innings in 2021 marked each his greatest ERA and his highest innings complete over a single MLB season, although the Nats outrighted him off their 40-man roster at season’s finish and McGowin hasn’t since gotten one other look within the Present. The righty didn’t pitch in any respect in 2022 whereas recovering from a UCL harm however resurfaced in 2023 to pitch in unbiased ball, the Chinese language Skilled Baseball League, and 62 1/3 innings with the Astros’ Triple-A membership.
