Chicago Cubs acquire 36-year-old former All-Star from the Seattle Mariners

The Chicago Cubs got some terrible news last week when it was announced left-hander Justin Steele would miss the rest of this season due to an elbow injury that required surgery. Steele’s injury will test the Cub’s pitching depth, which so far has held up well and has only suffered minimal injuries.

The Cubs will soon get right-hander Javier Assad back, as he is down with Triple-A Iowa rehabbing after rehabbing from an oblique strain, which he suffered at the beginning of spring training. Assad will give the Cubs rotation a boost, as he was solid there for the Cubs last season.

Assad won’t be the only arm the Cubs will be adding to the roster, with the Cubs adding another left-hander to the bullpen, which they needed as they only had one lefty in their bullpen to begin the season.

The Chicago Cubs make a trade for a left-handed pitcher

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, he is reporting that the Cubs are acquiring 36-year-old left-hander Drew Pomeranz from the Seattle Mariners.

“Cubs acquiring left-hander Drew Pomeranz from Mariners, sources tell @TheAthletic. Pomeranz, 36, had been pitching at Triple A – 14 strikeouts, 6 walks and a 4.66 ERA in 9 2/3 innings.”

Cubs acquiring left-hander Drew Pomeranz from Mariners, sources tell @TheAthletic. Pomeranz, 36, had been pitching at Triple A – 14 strikeouts, 6 walks and a 4.66 ERA in 9 2/3 innings.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 21, 2025

Rosenthal is also reporting, that Pomeranz had an upward mobility clause in his contract, which means the Mariners had to offer him to a team willing to add him to their major league roster.

“Pomeranz had upward mobility clause. Mariners needed to offer him to every other club. If a team was willing to bring him to the majors, they either had to promote him or trade him there. Pitched for Craig Counsell in Milwaukee in 2019.”

Pomeranz had upward mobility clause. Mariners needed to offer him to every other club. If a team was willing to bring him to the majors, they either had to promote him or trade him there. Pitched for Craig Counsell in Milwaukee in 2019.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 21, 2025

Pomeranz has not pitched in the major leagues since 2021 when he made 27 appearances with the San Diego Padres, where he had a 1.75 ERA in 25.2 innings. Pomeranz missed the 2022 season due to an injury and has spent the past two seasons in the minor leagues jumping from the Los Angeles Dodgers Triple-A team to the Mariners this season.

How will Pomeranz be utilized by the Cubs?

Pomeranz has been used as a starter and reliever in his career with relieving becoming his role and will likely be his role with the Cubs. The Cubs only had one lefty in their bullpen, Caleb Theilbar, before Pomeranz came, and having another lefty will lighten the load for Theilbar.

The Cubs should have Pomeranz available for the Dodgers series, which begins tonight with Cubs Ace Shota Imanaga taking the hill for the Cubs while the Dodgers will send Dustin May.