While the top story in baseball is the ongoing CBA negotiation between the owners and players, the Chicago Cubs continue to ensure their minor league group is being improved. On Tuesday, the Cubs added to the cupboard by signing RHP Eric Yardley to a minor league contract.
Yardley started in the independent Pecos league back in 2013. Three stops within the league led to him signing with the San Diego Padres as an undrafted free agent. Yardley spent majority of his career in the minors before debuting with the Padres in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, Yardley spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Yardley’s best career season came in the shortened 2020 campaign. In 24 games, Yardley pitched to a 2-0 record, 1.54 ERA, and 19 strikeouts over 23.1 innings. He also recorded one hold in 2020. However, last season wasn’t as good for Yardley. He finished the 2021 season with a 6.75 ERA in 17 games.
Ideally, Yardley provides minor league depth for the Cubs in 2022. Although he might get a look during Spring Training, he is likely an organizational depth piece for this season. However, as we’ve seen time and time again, the more depth in the bullpen a team has, the better off they usually are. In this case, having a player with MLB experience at Triple-A Iowa is only an asset for the Cubs.
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