Cubs sign former Phillies LHP Adam Morgan to MiLB deal

Former Phillies LHP Adam Morgan has signed with the Cubs.

While the Philadelphia Phillies recently added a left-handed reliever via trade — Jose Alvarado from the Tampa Bay Rays — one of their former southpaw bullpen pitchers has signed with a National League Central team. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury, the Chicago Cubs have inked Adam Morgan to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training.

The Phillies drafted Morgan, who will turn 31 next month, in the third round of the 2011 draft out of the University of Alabama.

The left-hander went on to make his big-league debut as a starting pitcher in June 2015, allowing only one run across 5 2/3 innings in a victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. Morgan made 36 of his first 38 career big-league appearances as a starter, going 7-18 with a 5.37 ERA and 1.391 WHIP ratio.

It wasn’t until the 2017 season when he fully transitioned to the bullpen. Since, he went 6-9 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.295 WHIP ratio, and 158-56 strikeouts-to-walks ratio across 161 appearances and 146 2/3 innings. Morgan also finished 19 games and recorded one save. This past season, specifically, the six-year veteran struggled with a 5.54 ERA and 1.538 WHIP across 17 appearances and 13 innings. He surrendered 14 hits, eight runs, three home runs, and six walks through 58 batters faced.

After the 2020 season under manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Bryan Price, Morgan underwent left elbow surgery to repair his flexor tendon, and it was announced that he would miss six-to-nine months. In late October, he elected free agency after being outrighted off of the Phillies’ 40-man roster.

Morgan may not be ready to start pitching for the Cubs until the summer, but he could be a solid left-handed option that they turn to at some point during the 2021 season. The Phillies are overhauling their bullpen this offseason, and it appears a comeback from Morgan will not be in the cards.