Cubs, lefty Boyd agree on two-year deal (report)

CHICAGO -- The Cubs’ goal of lengthening out their rotation this winter has led them to one of baseball’s feel-good stories from down the stretch last season. Matthew Boyd’s comeback from injury helped put Cleveland on the World Series’ doorstep, and now the lefty could be on his way to Chicago.

Boyd and the Cubs are in agreement on a two-year contract worth $29 million, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported early Monday morning. The Cubs have not confirmed the deal, which would reportedly pay the left-hander $14.5 million in each of the next two seasons (plus performance bonuses). Completion of the contract would be pending a physical.

Boyd, who will turn 34 on Feb. 2, returned on Aug. 13 last season from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow after signing a one-year deal with the Guardians in June. In his return to a Major League mound following a 14-month comeback, the lefty faced the Cubs, striking out six and pitching into the sixth in a 2-1 win in Cleveland.

That outing began an eight-start run over the final two months in which Boyd turned in a 2.72 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 13 walks in 39 2/3 innings. That helped solidify the Guardians’ starting staff in their run to the American League Central crown and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Boyd started three games in the postseason, including a Game 5 clincher against the Tigers (his former team) in the AL Division Series that pushed Cleveland to the AL Championship Series. The lefty allowed one run across 11 2/3 innings overall in the playoffs, giving the Guardians five strong frames in the Guardians’ Game 3 win over the Yankees in the ALCS.

On the mound, Boyd increased his changeup use in Cleveland, leaning on that pitch as his main secondary weapon behind his four-seamer. He dropped his usual volume of sliders, while also mixing in a sinker and curve. Behind the scenes, the pitcher was a strong presence in the clubhouse during his three-month stay -- to the point that the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America strongly considered him for their annual Good Guy Award.

Boyd has pitched in parts of 10 seasons in the Majors between stints with the Blue Jays, Tigers, Mariners and Guardians, but injuries have been a constant theme. Over the past four years, the lefty has averaged only 51 innings per year (topping out at 78 2/3 in ‘21). In that time period, Boyd logged a 4.04 ERA with 199 strikeouts and 69 walks in 202 2/3 innings overall.

The Cubs’ 2025 rotation consists of lefties Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga at the top, alongside righty Jameson Taillon. Javier Assad projects as the final starter at the moment, with Jordan Wicks, Hayden Wesneski, Ben Brown and Caleb Kilian serving as the rotation depth currently on the 40-man roster.

Going into the offseason, Chicago hoped to add at least one starter to strengthen the rotation’s depth, but targeting the top of the free-agent market (Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, in particular) seemed unlikely.

Boyd gives a veteran piece for the back end of the group, but the Cubs could still benefit from adding another arm either via trade or from the second tier of free-agent options. The North Siders are also expected to be among the long list of clubs competing to sign Japanese righty Roki Sasaki, who is set to be posted later this winter.