Another Arm for September: Cubs bring in lefty Austin Gomber

Isaiah Downing - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 2 hours ago

Evidently, Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins must've found a time machine, as they are treating the past few days like it's 2021. For those who know what I am talking about, 2021 was the last time that the expanded September rosters could extend beyond 28 players while also having both an MLB trade market and a waiver market.

Since then, the expanded rosters have been reduced to only 28, while any player added after September 1 isn't playoff eligible, making any late-season signing interesting. Well, the Cubs don't think like that, and less than 24 hours after adding Joe Ross to a Minor League deal, they added another name, Austin Gomber, and the Cubs have agreed to a Minor League deal to finish out the season.

For whatever reason, the Cubs have done a great job keeping this deal under wraps, as he was officially signed on August 26. Yet, it wasn't reported until late Tuesday when he took the mound for AAA Iowa for his organizational debut. The August 26 date is significant, as he could land on the playoff roster should the Cubs choose to do so; however, that doesn't seem like a likely scenario, given that this is another late-season depth addition.

The 31-year-old lefty has struggled most of his career and has pitched to a career 35-47 record while also posting an ERA of 5.08. That alone is a massive reason why he went from a potential back-of-the-rotation arm to now what you would call a journeyman player, as things haven't clicked for him in a while.

After going 6-2 as a rookie in 2018 and posting a 4.44 ERA, Gomber got off to a great start to begin his career, as his first few seasons in the league were very successful. His two best seasons came in 2021 and 2023, during which he went 9-9 in each season, although he has never posted an ERA lower than 4.44.

The past two seasons, especially this season, have been a struggle for Gomber, who finished 2024 with a 5-12 record before hitting rock bottom at 0-7 with Colorado this season. The 2024 season wasn't quite as bad as the results initially suggested, as his 4.75 ERA was his lowest since 2021, when he posted a 4.53 ERA. That was an impressive feat in itself, considering he pitched most of his career in Colorado, which indicated that some bad luck was involved.

Bad luck or not, this season was pure batting practice off Gomber, who posted a 7.94 ERA across 12 starts this season, lasting just 57 2/3 innings in those starts. The results shouldn't surprise you this season, as Gomber missed the first two months of the season with elbow discomfort and hasn't seemed to be healthy at any point until now.

Normally, a pitcher who averages 92 MPH with his heater, Gomber saw a shocking decline in velocity this season, as he was consistently around 89-90 MPH all season, which also resulted in a loss of some of the movement on his pitches. That alone was a significant reason for the massive struggles, as was his career-worst strikeout rate, which fell to only 12.5% this season.

I don't care who you are or what park you pitch in. A strikeout rate below 13% won't get it done in the majors, and if you can't consistently miss bats, you will get pounded as a pitcher. Signed to a 6.5 million dollar deal this season, the Rockies are on the hook for that contract as they released him at the end of July.

With the Cubs, Gomber is set to receive $760,000 to finish the season, but the payment would be prorated should he reach the majors at any point during the final four weeks. If anything, with Gomber entering free agency next season, you could look at these final three weeks as an audition for a job next season. AAA or not, Gomber needs to demonstrate improvement from his performance at Colorado, and pitching with the Cubs and their established pitching infrastructure could be the key to making that happen.