is getting a fresh start in the Windy City.
The former Rockies right-hander signed a three-year, free-agent contract with the Chicago Cubs Thursday. The deal is worth $38 million.
Chatwood, 27, is 40-46 with two saves and a 4.31 ERA over 130 major-league appearances, including 113 starts. He projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter for the Cubs, who lost Jake Arietta and John Lackey to free agency.
Chatwood’s best season was 2016 when he finished 12-9 with a 3.87 ERA in a career-high 27 starts with the Rockies, including an 8-1 mark and 1.69 ERA on the road. That stellar season came after he missed all of 2015 because of his second Tommy John surgery. He also underwent TJ surgery in high school.
Last season, Chatwood was 8-15 with a 4.69 ERA in 33 appearances (25 starts) with the Rockies, tying for the most losses in the National League. He was also hurt by too many free passes, as his 77 walks were fourth-highest in the majors.
While Chatwood struggled at , he thrived on the road. In 2017, he was 3-8 with a 6.01 ERA in 17 games (12 starts) in Denver, while finishing 5-7 with a 3.49 ERA in 16 games (13 starts) on the road. Over the last two seasons, he tied with Washington’s Stephen Strasburg for second in the NL in road ERA (2.57). Only three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw (2.16) has a better road ERA mark over the last two seasons.
