Ryan Borucki became the latest left-handed pitcher to sign with the Cubs, agreeing to terms on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, the team announced Tuesday.
Of the six such signings the Cubs have made official in the last month, three have been lefties. Borucki, who played high school ball at Mundelein, joins Roenis Elias and Eric Stout in that group. Throughout their rebuild, the Cubs have valued left-handed pitching depth in their acquisitions and draft choices.
Borucki and Elias have a combined 229 games of major-league experience. Both have played for multiple organizations and most recently pitched for the Mariners. Borucki, 28, is younger than Elias, 34. Elias has been turning heads in the Dominican Winter League, entering play Tuesday with a 0.92 ERA in seven starts.
Stout, who played high school ball at St. Francis in Wheaton, has appeared in only 23 major-league games. But he rejoins the Cubs after a momentous return to the big leagues last season at Wrigley Field. His Cubs debut was also his first major-league appearance since 2018.
The Cubs also announced catcher P.J. Higgins rejected his outright assignment to Triple-A Iowa and chose to become a free agent.
