Cubs roster move: Cody Allen signed to minor-league deal

Cody Allen was the closer for the Cleveland Indians from 2014-18 and put up some pretty good numbers overall in Cleveland: 153 saves in 173 opportunities, a K rate of 11.5 per nine innings and a good walk rate.

That walk rate ballooned in 2018, though, and Allen left Cleveland and signed with the Angels as a free agent. His walk rate soared to a Chatwoodesque 7.8 per nine innings and the Angels let him go.

Last summer I wrote the Cubs should have taken a chance on him. They didn’t; he signed with the Twins but never pitched in the majors for them. A free agent again after 2019, he signed with the Rangers before spring training this year but they released him July 24.

Now, he’s a Cub:

Allen is 31 and still has a good K rate — it was 11.3 per nine innings with the Angels last year. It’s just the walk rate that’s gone through the roof. Per Fangraphs his fastball velocity has dropped, it was a career-low 92.3 miles per hour last year.

So he might be done. But on a minor-league deal, why not? Maybe he can re-invent himself as someone who pitches instead of just throws hard.

Allen threw six scoreless innings against the Cubs in the 2016 World Series with two walks and 12 strikeouts. If he could get back to anywhere near that, he could be helpful in a bullpen that definitely could use some help.

Welcome to the Cubs, Cody.