Former All-Star pitcher given away by Mariners is now thriving with the Cubs

Drew Pomeranz never threw a pitch for the Seattle Mariners. In fact, most fans probably forgot he was even part of the organization.

But since the Mariners shipped him to the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations on April 21, the 36-year-old lefty has done nothing but dominate — and it’s starting to feel like a missed opportunity for a Seattle bullpen that’s been running on fumes all season.

The Cubs’ acquisition of Pomeranz barely made a ripple at the time. After all, he hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2021, having spent the past few seasons dealing with injuries and setbacks. But since joining Chicago, Pomeranz has delivered something any contender craves: reliable, low-maintenance outs.

Pomeranz Is quietly thriving in Chicago — and the Mariners might be kicking themselves

Through his first 13 appearances, Pomeranz has yet to allow a single run — posting a sparkling 0.00 ERA over 12.1 innings with 14 strikeouts and a 0.57 WHIP.

Pomeranz is using an underappreciated formula of simplicity. He’s throwing his 93 mph four-seam fastball an ungodly 80.5 percent of the time, pairing it with a knuckle-curve that's keeping hitters guessing. He lives up in the zone with the heater and tunnels the curve down and away — a vintage combo that’s working like a charm.

Of course, the advanced metrics hint at some regression. His expected ERA (xERA) sits at 4.11, suggesting he’s dancing out of danger with a little help from Chicago’s defense. But it doesn’t erase the results. Pomeranz is giving the Cubs clean innings and veteran stability from the left side — two things the Mariners could use.

Seattle’s bullpen has steadied itself in recent weeks, climbing to ninth in MLB with a 3.43 ERA. But that’s only half the story. They’ve been worn thin, relying on creative roster gymnastics to keep arms fresh. Between constant call-ups from Tacoma and multi-inning rescue missions from veteran Casey Lawrence, the Mariners have played a dangerous game of bullpen roulette — one they might not need to play if they had kept Pomeranz around.

Seattle has long been a lefty or two short in the bullpen, and while their depth is commendable, depth only matters if it’s ready. Pomeranz may not be lighting up the radar gun or striking fear into the league, but he’s doing the job. Quietly, effectively, and consistently.

In a year where consistency has often been elusive, the Mariners letting him walk for cash might be one of those minor moves that doesn’t feel so minor anymore.