Julian Merryweather - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Avoids arbitration Merryweather agreed to a one-year, $1.225 million contract with the Cubs on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Merryweather missed the majority of last season due rib and knee injuries, though he wasn't very effective when healthy, logging a 6.60 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 15 innings. He'll officially stick around for another year in Chicago, though there is still no word on if he'll be ready for spring training after undergoing surgery on his right knee in late September.

NOVEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Shifted to 60-day injured list The Cubs transferred Merryweather (knee) to the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Impact The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster. Merryweather underwent right knee surgery earlier this month to address tendinitis.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Surgery scheduled Merryweather will undergo surgery on his right knee Friday, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Impact Merryweather has been on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa since last Friday, during which he's thrown two scoreless innings while striking out three batters and walking one. However, his attempt at a return this season will be put to an abrupt end, as he's elected to undergo surgery to address the tendinitis in his knee. A recovery timeline will likely emerge after the 32-year-old goes under the knife.

SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Rehabbing at Triple-A Merryweather (knee) made his second rehab appearance at Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, striking out one and giving up no hits and one walk over a scoreless inning.

Impact Merryweather was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 27 with right knee tendinitis but was cleared to begin a rehab assignment last weekend. Assuming he checked out fine coming out of his second outing Tuesday, Merryweather could rejoin the Chicago bullpen for the team's four-game series with the Nationals that begins Thursday.

SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Out with knee injury The Cubs placed Merryweather on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to right knee tendinitis, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact It's unclear when the injury first surfaced, but Merryweather surrendered four runs over one inning during his last appearance Sunday in Miami. The right-hander is without a clear timeline for his return but will be eligible to rejoin the active roster during the second week of September.

AUGUST 27 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles badly Sunday Merryweather allowed four runs on five hits and a walk across an inning of relief in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Marlins.

Impact While starter Javier Assad took the loss as he allowed three runs across seven innings, Merryweather didn't do the Cubs any favors in an effort to keep the team in the game. The righty reliever saw his ERA climb from 4.50 to 6.60 in the process. Merryweather has overpowering stuff when he's on, as evidenced by his 98 strikeouts across 72 innings last season, but he's yet to find consistent success from year to year at the MLB level. His fantasy appeal is limited at the moment due to his up-and-down play and lack of save opportunities behind Jorge Lopez and Porter Hodge in Chicago's bullpen.

AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE

Norby misses cycle by a triple, Marlins beat Cubs 7-2 to snap a five-game losing streak

Connor Norby homered, doubled and singled, and the Miami Marlins snapped a five-game losing streak with a 7-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday

AUGUST 25 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes first 2024 loss Merryweather (1-1) allowed one run on three hits and a walk over an inning of relief to take the loss Monday against the Guardians. He struck out one.

Impact Merryweather worked a quick seventh inning but he couldn't keep things going in the eighth, when he allowed three straight hits to start the frame, with the final one bringing in the go-ahead run before he got the hook. The righty missed most of this season with a rib stress fracture, as this was just his 10th appearance of the year. Merryweather was much more heavily used in 2023, when he posted a 3.38 ERA and 98 strikeouts across 72 innings out of the bullpen. If the 32-year-old is healthy heading into next season, he should be able to secure a middle-relief role again for the Cubs or another team.

AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE

Rookie Noel homers twice, Guardians outlast Cubs 9-8 in matchup evoking 2016 World Series memories

Josh Naylor drove in José Ramírez with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Cleveland Guardians held on for a 9-8 win over the Chicago Cubs in a back-and-forth matchup tha...

AUGUST 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Patrick Wisdom hits grand slam as a pinch hitter in the 7th, the Cubs beat the Royals 9-4

Patrick Wisdom hit a grand slam as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, Seiya Suzuki also homered and the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 9-4 on Saturday night

JULY 28 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brice Turang's RBI grounder in the eighth gives the Brewers a 1-0 win over the Cubs

Brice Turang drove in the only run with a grounder in the eighth inning to spoil a superb start by Chicago’s Jameson Taillon, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cubs 1-0

JULY 24 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Returns from 60-day IL The Cubs activated Merryweather (ribs) from the 60-day injured list Monday, Ryan Herrera of CHGO Sports reports.

Impact Merryweather has missed most of this season with a rib stress fracture but is ready to go after allowing one run with a 5:0 K:BB over 4.2 innings on a rehab assignment. The hard-throwing right-hander should handle high-leverage spots for the Cubs, although he might be eased back into such situations.

JULY 22 • ROTOWIRE

Expected back within week Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Merryweather (ribs) is on track for a return by next weekend, "at the latest," Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Impact Merryweather has allowed one run with a 3:0 K:BB over three innings so far on his rehab assignment and will make a fourth appearance Friday with Triple-A Iowa. As long as the reliever continues to progress as expected, he'll be back in the Cubs' bullpen soon. Merryweather has been out since early April with a rib stress fracture.

JULY 19 • ROTOWIRE

Set for rehab appearance Merryweather (ribs) is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Merryweather fanned two across a perfect inning in his first rehab appearance Tuesday and will take the mound once again with Iowa on Friday. The 32-year-old should rejoin the big-league bullpen before the end of July.

JULY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Starting rehab assignment Merryweather (ribs) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact It will be his first game action in three months, as Merryweather has been shelved with a rib stress fracture. Given his lengthy time away, the reliever will need a handful of rehab appearances before the Cubs are ready to activate him.

JULY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Set to begin rehab assignment Merryweather (ribs) threw a live batting practice Saturday, and manager Craig Counsell said the 32-year-old right-hander will out out on rehab assignment with High-A South Bend nex...

Impact Merryweather landed on the injured list April 7 with a right shoulder strain, and he was transferred to the 60-day IL 10 days later after additional testing revealed a rib stress fracture in his right back. He's been slowly working his way through baseball activities, and he'll likely need multiple rehab outings as he looks to return to the big club after the All-Star break.

JULY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Set to begin rehab assignment Merryweather (ribs) threw a live batting practice Saturday, and manager Craig Counsell said the 32-year-old right-hander will be out on rehab assignment with High-A South Bend next...

Impact Merryweather landed on the injured list April 7 with a right shoulder strain, and he was later transferred to the 60-day IL after additional testing revealed a rib stress fracture in his right back. He's been slowly working his way through baseball activities, and he'll likely need multiple rehab outings as he looks to return to the big club after the All-Star break.

JULY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Facing hitters Tuesday Merryweather (ribs) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Merryweather has thrown a pair of bullpens and faced live batters for the first time since being placed on the IL on April 7. Manager Craig Counsell already ruled Merryweather out through the All-Star break, but the 32-year-old could be ready to go coming out of the layoff.

JULY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Out through All-Star break Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Merryweather (ribs) will not return until after the All-Star break, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Merryweather has been on the IL since early April due to a rib stress fracture in his back. He's only a couple weeks into his throwing program, but the Cubs have already determined that it will take at least another month-and-a-half to get the 32-year-old reliever ready for game action. As Merryweather continues to check off boxes in his rehab process, a more exact return date should emerge.

JUNE 1 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs place RHP Julian Merryweather on 15-day IL The Chicago Cubs will miss a key bullpen component for at least a couple of weeks, placing right-handed reliever Julian Merryweather on the...

APRIL 7 • SUNHERALD.COM

Cubs place RHP Julian Merryweather on 15-day IL The Chicago Cubs will miss a key bullpen component for at least a couple of weeks, placing right-handed reliever Julian Merryweather on the...

APRIL 7 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Cubs lefty Justin Steele exits 1st opening-day start with left hamstring strain

Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele exited his first career opening-day start with a left hamstring strain after going down awkwardly when fielding a sacrifice bunt in the fifth inn...

MARCH 29 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shuts door Sunday Merryweather worked around two walks to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and secure the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Rockies. He struck out one.

Impact Merryweather is now 2-for-3 in save opportunities this season, with both of his conversions coming in the last two weeks. The righty has apparently stepped in as Chicago's top option to close with Adbert Alzolay (forearm) out, and Mark Leiter has stayed in a setup role. Alzolay could return as soon as Tuesday, however, which would push Merryweather down the bullpen pecking order.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Records first save of 2023 Merryweather worked around a walk to pitch a clean ninth inning and record the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.

Impact Regular closer Adbert Alzolay pitched each of the last two days, so the Cubs turned to Merryweather instead Sunday. The righty did the job, recording his first save since he earned two of them with the Blue Jays back in 2021. Merryweather has been a pleasant surprise this season with a 3.18 ERA and 90 strikeouts across 65 innings out of Chicago's bullpen after he posted a 6.75 ERA for Toronto last year.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Earns fourth win Merryweather (4-0) tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win Saturday against the Blue Jays. He walked one and struck out two.

Impact Through his first five appearances of the season, Merryweather had an unsightly 12.71 ERA. Since then, the righty has managed a 2.31 ERA across 46 appearances (46.2 innings). The strong, consistent play has made Merryweather a reliable relief option who typically pitches in front of closer Adbert Alzolay.

AUGUST 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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Norby misses cycle by a triple, Marlins beat Cubs 7-2 to snap a five-game losing streak

Rookie Noel homers twice, Guardians outlast Cubs 9-8 in matchup evoking 2016 World Series memories

Patrick Wisdom hits grand slam as a pinch hitter in the 7th, the Cubs beat the Royals 9-4

Brice Turang's RBI grounder in the eighth gives the Brewers a 1-0 win over the Cubs

Cubs lefty Justin Steele exits 1st opening-day start with left hamstring strain