This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CHICAGO -- Drew Pomeranz was warming up for the Giants at Citi Field last May, preparing to make his long-awaited return to a Major League mound. The veteran lefty was beginning to visualize the moment, which would complete a comeback from multiple arm injuries that cost him two-plus years on the shelf.
¡°And then Patrick Bailey hit a home run,¡± Pomeranz said.
Bailey launched a grand slam in the eighth inning of an 8-7 win for the Giants on May 24 against the Mets, swinging the momentum back San Francisco¡¯s way. For Pomeranz, it robbed him of a chance to take the mound in a lower-leverage spot that night, and he was released a few days later without an appearance.
The 36-year-old Pomeranz -- the latest addition to the Cubs¡¯ bullpen -- stood in front of his new Major League locker on Wednesday, feeling like a rookie all over again in some ways. His last outing in the big leagues fell on Aug. 10, 2021, with the Padres before a flexor tendon injury that fall and an elbow issue in ¡®23 got in the way.
¡°I would just get so close and then get knocked right back down,¡± Pomeranz said.
And after the Giants parted ways with Pomeranz last May, the southpaw went home and considered calling it a career after logging 289 games in parts of 11 seasons with six ballclubs. That moment in New York stayed with him, though, and Pomeranz signed a Minor League deal with the Mariners this season to give it one more shot.
¡°I¡¯m just happy to be here right now,¡± Pomeranz said. ¡°I was thinking I was done playing baseball last summer. I had a good Spring Training, and I pitched pretty well so far to this point. Good enough to get me here. Again, I¡¯m just happy to be here. Literally, it feels like the first time all over again.¡±
Pomeranz¡¯s deal with Seattle included a clause that required the Mariners to either promote him this week or see if there might be a big league opportunity with another team. The Cubs liked what they saw within the reliever¡¯s recent appearances with Triple-A Tacoma and traded for Pomeranz to help the team¡¯s need for left-handed depth.
It also helped that Cubs manager Craig Counsell knew Pomeranz from their time together with the Brewers in 2019. Milwaukee landed the lefty in a Trade Deadline deal, and he spun a 2.39 ERA with 45 strikeouts and eight walks in 26 1/3 innings down the stretch. Counsell has seen Pomeranz at his best and the lefty thrived under the manager¡¯s approach.
¡°It¡¯s always good when he calls and the name pops up on your caller ID,¡± Pomeranz said with a smile. ¡°I loved playing for Counsell. I was with him for two-and-a-half months, and that¡¯s probably the best two-and-a-half months I¡¯ve ever pitched, to be honest. I told him, ¡®I was pretty good for you last time, so hopefully I can give you something like that again.¡¯¡±