Cubs reach 1-year contract with third baseman Patrick Wisdom
The team announced the deal on Friday night. Wisdom hit .205 with 23 homers and 46 RBI in 97 games for Chicago this year.
The Cubs also offered 2024 contracts to six arbitration-eligible players: pitchers Justin Steele, Adbert Alzolay, Mark Leiter Jr., and Julian Merryweather, to go along with infielder Nick Madrigal and outfielder Mike Tauchman.
Steele and Alzolay are coming off breakout performances. Steele went 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA in 30 starts this year. Alzolay took over the closer role, finishing with a 2.67 ERA and 22 saves in 25 opportunities.
Leiter and Merryweather served as two of Chicago’s top setup men. Leiter had a 3.50 ERA in a career-high 69 appearances, and Merryweather went 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA and two saves in a career-best 69 games.
Chicago failed to offer contracts to relievers Codi Heuer, Brandon Hughes and Ethan Roberts, making them free agents. Heuer and Madrigal were acquired by Chicago when it traded closer Craig Kimbrel to the crosstown White Sox in July 2021.