The Chicago Cubs have recently signed pitcher Edwin Escobar to a deal, according to multiple sources. The news was first reported by Luis Enrique Morales in Venezuela, where Escobar is currently playing in the Winter Leagues. The deal was also confirmed by several outlets in Japan, where Escobar had spent the past six seasons pitching for the Yokohama Bay Stars.
Escobar, a former Top-100 prospect, last pitched in the big leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016, appearing in 25 games and posting a 7.23 ERA. Over the past seven years, he has honed his skills in Japan and has been very successful. In 58 total appearances between the Japanese and Venezuelan Winter League, Escobar has a 4-2 record with a 3.33 ERA, striking out 46 batters in 51.1 innings of work.
One notable aspect of this signing is that Escobar was previously teammates with pitcher Shota Imanaga, who is expected to come to the big leagues in 2024 and has been frequently linked to the Cubs in free agency rumors. It is not yet clear what type of contract Escobar signed, but it is likely that he will have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Cubs’ bullpen during spring training.