Cubs non-tender 3 players, sign Patrick Wisdom to new contract

Cubs non-tender 3 players, sign Patrick Wisdom to new contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Amid the baseball world’s tender deadline, the Chicago Cubs have reportedly taken action on four players, ushering in the offseason with a string of decisions.

On Friday, the Cubs announced the non-tendering of pitchers Codi Heuer, Brandon Hughes, and Ethan Roberts, while extending a new contract offer to corner infielder Patrick Wisdom.

While the deadline poses significant decisions for players, non-tendering does not necessarily mark the end of the road for teams and players. This period often leads to minor league deals with non-tendered, arbitration-eligible players.

Heuer, 27, joined the Cubs in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, but injuries have prevented him from playing at the MLB level since 2021 due to Tommy John surgery and a subsequent elbow fracture surgery.

Roberts, a 26-year-old righty and 2018 Cubs’ draft pick, missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and had limited big league experience in 2022.

Hughes, who will be 28 next month, battled injuries in the 2023 season after a strong performance in 2022, ultimately undergoing knee surgery that ended his season.

All three provided organizational depth, but recent injury struggles likely influenced the decision to avoid arbitration-level salaries for these relievers.

While the three relievers are now free agents, they could potentially sign with the Cubs or other MLB clubs on a minor league deal.

Although the terms of Wisdom’s new contract were not disclosed, the Cubs also confirmed that they have tendered 2024 contracts to several arbitration-eligible players.

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