Cubs close out closer Morrow’s injury-filled stint

The Cubs finally, mercifully ended the Brandon Morrow era Monday, when they declined to exercise the $12 million option on one of their worst free-agent contracts in recent years.

Paying the closer’s $3 million buyout was the least surprising of a handful of recent option decisions that all went as expected.

Signed to a two-year, $21 million deal after a breakout 2017 season for the Dodgers, Morrow was dominant in the 35 games he pitched for the Cubs.

But the right-hander lasted less than half a season. He has not pitched a full season in the majors since he was a rookie in 2007, mostly because of eight stints on the injured list for injuries to five body parts. He did not pitch for the Cubs after the 2018 All-Star break because of persistent elbow problems. His absence in 2019 contributed to the bullpen’s poor performance in leverage situations much of the season.

Six of those IL moves came before the Cubs signed him, making the contract arguably the worst of the three excessive pitcher signings before last season, if only because of the track record and small return. The Cubs also signed Tyler Chatwood for three years, $38 million and Yu Darvish for six years, $126 million that winter.

The Cubs exercised only two of their seven 2020 contract options, for first baseman Anthony Rizzo ($16.5 million) and left-hander Jose Quintana ($10.5 million).

They also declined options for pitchers Derek Holland ($7 million), David Phelps ($5 million), Kendall Graveman ($3 million) and Tony Barnette ($3 million).

The Cubs have 10 players, including six pitchers, under contract for next season for a total of $134.5 million. That includes closer Craig Kimbrel, signed in June after Morrow experienced another setback.

They also have seven arbitration-eligible players, including All-Stars Javy Baez, Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras.

In other moves announced Monday, the Cubs added right-hander Colin Rea (14-4, 3.95 ERA at AAA Iowa) to the 40man roster and outrighted right-hander Allen Webster to Class AAA Iowa.