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The Cubs declined Smyly's $10 million mutual option for 2025 on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Smyly moved to the bullpen full-time in 2024 and logged a 3.84 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 58.2 innings. While those are both improvements from his 2023 statline (5.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP), the Cubs will elect to pay the southpaw's $2.5 million buyout rather than keep him on the squad for his age-36 season.
Smyly (3-8) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while retiring just one batter to take the loss in Saturday's 6-5, extra-inning defeat to the Rockies.
After Porter Hodge blew the save in the bottom of the ninth inning to force the game into the 10th, Smyly allowed the automatic baserunner to come around and score to take the loss. The lefty's record doesn't reflect it, but he's pitched well this year out of the bullpen with a 3.54 ERA and 53 strikeouts across 56 innings. Smyly was placed on waivers back in late August, though he's stuck around in Chicago and will likely continue to see high-leverage work for the Cubs in the final few weeks of the regular season.
