Cubs agree to terms with left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd on a two-year major league contract. The 40-man roster currently stands at 39.

Boyd, 33, is 46-69 with a 4.85 ERA (489 ER/908.1 IP) in 182 career games (168 starts) across parts of 10 major league seasons with Toronto (2015), Detroit (2015-21, 2023), Seattle (2022) and Cleveland (2024). Since 2015, his 168 starts ranks 22nd among all major league left-handed pitchers. He made his major league debut with Toronto on June 27, 2015, before he was traded to Detroit in a four-player deal involving left-handed pitcher David Price on July 30, 2015.

The six-foot three-inch Boyd went on to pitch in eight-straight seasons for Detroit from 2015-21, including back-to-back 30-plus start seasons in 2018 and 2019. During the 2019 campaign, he established career-highs in starts (32), innings pitched (185.1) and strikeouts (238). His 238 strikeouts ranked sixth in the A.L. and 10th in the majors, while his 11.56 strikeouts per 9.0 IP ratio set a Detroit franchise record. He also ranked in the top 10 in the A.L. in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4th, 4.76), WHIP (9th, 1.23) and opponents’ batting average (10th, .247).

After missing parts of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons due to injury, Boyd was signed by the Cleveland Guardians on July 29, 2024 and made his debut with the club Aug. 13 vs. the Cubs (1 ER/5.1IP). He posted a 2.72 ERA (12 ER/39.2 IP) to end the regular season, including three-straight quality starts from Aug. 25-Sept. 6. The left-handed pitcher made three starts during the 2024 postseason, allowing one run in 11.2 IP (0.77 ERA).

A native of Mercer Island, Wash., Boyd attended Oregon State University and helped lead the Beavers to the 2013 College World Series. He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth round of the 2013 draft.