Cubs sign ex-Ranger Scott Feldman to fill out rotation
BY TONI GINNETTI tginnetti@suntimes.com November 27, 2012 11:28AM
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Updated: December 29, 2012 6:18AM
The Cubs on Tuesday signed right-hander Scott Feldman, 29, who will join the rotation in hopes of rebounding from a poor 2012 season with the Texas Rangers.
Feldman agreed to a one-year deal worth an estimated $6 million. Incentives could add as much as $1 million to the deal.
The Rangers opted not to re-sign Feldman after he finished 6-11 with a 5.09 ERA in 21 starts and eight relief appearances.
But Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Feldman and former Minnesota Twins pitcher Scott Baker, who signed a one-year deal two weeks ago, were the free agents the Cubs targeted.
Feldman’s breakout season came with the Rangers in 2009, when he went 17-8 with a 4.08 ERA in 31 starts and three relief appearances. He was the Opening Day starter in 2010 but went 7-11 with a 5.48 ERA and had offseason surgery on his right knee.
He missed the first half of 2011 while he recuperated, finishing 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA.
“We signed Scott as a starter,’’ Hoyer said. “Given his age and his stuff, it’s another chance to get a quality arm. If you look inside his [2012] numbers, they weren’t what he hoped, but he also was one of the least lucky pitchers. It wasn’t as bad as the ERA on paper.’’
Feldman called the Cubs “a dream scenario’’ for him, especially with the assurance he would be in the rotation.
Hoyer also said he remains in talks with third baseman Ian Stewart, who missed most of last season with a wrist injury. The team has until Friday to tender him a contract.
