What the Cubs See in (and Expect from) Cody Poteet

[Brian Kelder]

While the main thrust of the Cubs' latest deal was financial, they wouldn't have done it without getting an arm in which they can invest at least a bit of hope for 2025 contributions. What will they get from their new oft-injured swingman?

 

Image courtesy of © David Richard-Imagn Images

Cody Poteet debuted with the Miami Marlins in 2021 as a starting pitcher. Fantasy players may remember debating the "realness" of this debut. His first start went five innings, allowing two earned runs. His next two starts were even more tantalizing, totaling 12 scoreless innings between them. His fourth outing was less effective (five earned runs in four innings), however, and he didn't pitch into the fourth inning in any of his remaining appearances. We can all lament the wasted FAAB from that summer in 2021. (No? Just me. Ok, fine.)

Poteet rode the minors shuttle in 2022, amassing 29 innings in that season in the conditioned air in Miami, until his elbow blew out and he underwent Tommy John surgery. The entire 2023 campaign was a washout, and a triceps strain sidelined him for much of 2024. Four starts were all he could manage last season as a Yankee, after 13 in the minors. The results were solid for the Yankees; his 2.22 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in a small sample do catch the eye. With a 5.01 expected ERA, though, there are also reasons to temper any optimism.  

Lance Brozdowski wrote a better scouting report than I could, so you should definitely read the linked article. Statcast also has some interesting data. He has a 93-mile-per-hour fastball, slightly below league average for velocity. He throws the whole kitchen sink at hitters, though, with a sinker, changeup, curveball and sweeper to complete the set.

Though he's not likely to assert himself as Plan A anywhere, Poteet will be able to provide depth in the rotation and in the middle innings of the bullpen. There's absolutely nothing wrong with acquiring a pitcher like Cody Poteet. He will pitch some valuable innings for the Cubs this year, and presumably, they have at least one or two tips in mind to help him improve. This isn't the frontline starter the fan base wants, but it was never supposed to be. This move just sets the stage for that one. 

Poteet will likely start in Iowa as rotation depth. Javier Assad will get the first crack at the rotation, or possibly Jordan Wicks, but if either is injured or falters, Poteet will be ready to answer the bell at a higher-than-replacement level.

Of course, we don't live in a vacuum, and there's added money that is available to the Cubs now as a result. Don't think of the deal as Cody Bellinger for Cody Poteet. It's more Bellinger for Poteet and $20 million extra to spend. The final grade for this trade will come after some more offseason time for Jed Hoyer to work his job-saving magic.

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