Cubs BCB After Dark: Should the Cubs bring back David Peterson?

It’s Tuesday night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest gathering of night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and join us. We’re so glad to see you. There’s no cover charge. We still have a few tables available. The hostess will seat you now. There’s a two-drink minimum, but it’s bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last night I asked for an updated grade on Alex Bregman’s free agent contract. Sixty-one percent of you gave it a “B.” which seems about right, although I could see an “A” too. Some 23 percent of you also could see an “A” and voted for it.

On Tuesday evenings I don’t normally do any movie stuff. But we always have time for some music and that time is now.

Tonight we’re featuring some fusion from noted jazz ensemble Snarky Puppy. This is a performance of “What About Me?” from their 2014 album We Like it Here.

Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.

David Peterson started a big game for the Cubs tonight against the Brewers and did fine. Peterson held the Brewers to just one run, struck out four and left the game with the score tied. On the downside, Peterson gave up six hits, walked three and only lasted 4.1 innings. He also would have been charged with another run were it not for a highlight-worthy outfield assist from Seiya Suzuki, although that came after Peterson left the game in the fifth.

The Cubs acquired Peterson in May from the Mets when it seemed that the entire Cubs starting rotation was on the injured list. The Cubs gave up promising hitting prospect Cole Mathis, who had trouble staying healthy with the Cubs. Well, he’s had trouble staying healthy with the Mets as well as he’s only played six minor league games for New York since the trade.

But that’s neither here nor there. With the Cubs, Peterson has been a stabilizing force as a 5th starter. While his ERA with the Cubs doesn’t look too good—4.41 over 63.1 innings—much of that is because of one disastrous start against the Cardinals when he gave up ten runs over 3.2 innings. If you give him a mulligan on that one, his ERA with the Cubs drops to 3.18.

But even if you give Peterson that mulligan, it’s clear he’s been benefitting from the Cubs defense behind him. Peterson is walking almost 10 percent of his batters and he’s striking out fewer than 20 percent. He also gives up a lot of home runs for someone who gets ground balls on around 50 percent of his balls in play.

So Peterson isn’t perfect, but if he was, he wouldn’t be a fifth starter. Do you want him back as a fifth starter next year? Peterson is a free agent at the end of the year, along with Clay Holmes, Kevin Gausman, Matthew Boyd, Shōta Imanaga and Colin Rea. The Cubs can’t re-sign all of those pitchers (and Holmes should be the top priority) but they have to re-sign some of them, don’t they?

Peterson is not a top free agent who is going to command a large salary this winter. He’s making $8.1 million this year and he’s probably due for something similar to that next year. It’s possible someone offers him two years, but I think it’s more likely that he agrees to a one-year deal with a team option for 2028 with a reasonable buyout.

So would you bring back David Peterson?

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