It seems that the Cleveland Guardians will not be signing pitcher Matthew Boyd. Reports suggest that Boyd, a free agent left-handed pitcher, has a deal in place to sign with the Chicago Cubs. Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports that Boyd, 33, will sign a two-year contract worth $29 million, with a potential performance bonus of $1 million.

Boyd's Journey and Impact

Boyd has pitched for parts of 10 big league seasons, starting with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015. He has also played for the Detroit Tigers, the Seattle Mariners, and the Guardians. Last season, after returning from Tommy John surgery, he helped the Guardians reach the postseason. In his eight Guardians starts, he went 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He struck out an average of 10.4 hitters and walked an average of 2.9 in 39.2 innings. In June 2024, Cleveland signed him to a one-year contract worth $740,000. He made his first start for the Guardians on August 13, 2024, providing a stabilizing addition to a staff in need of quality starting pitchers.However, the Guardians faced significant setbacks. Shane Bieber went to Tommy John surgery, creating a huge void in the rotation. Triston McKenzie was inconsistent early in the season and was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Lefty Logan Allen had early season pitching issues and was also sent down, leaving the Guardians with major gaps in their starting pitching.Clearly, Boyd was an outstanding help to Cleveland, and the team's front office expressed interest and hope that he would return. But that will not happen.When his new contract is finalized, Boyd will join a Cubs rotation that includes fellow lefties Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele. Boyd is a client of Scott Boras and the Boras Corporation. In years past, Boras' clients have often waited throughout the offseason to sign their free agent contracts. Boyd's reported agreement comes as a surprise as his counterparts generally take longer to make final decisions.The loss of Matthew Boyd to the Chicago Cubs leaves the Cleveland Guardians still in need of starting pitching help. Bieber is a free agent, and the Guardians have expressed their desire to retain him. Bieber, still recovering from surgery, may miss half of 2025, but any new contract is likely to include at least the 2026 season. Cleveland fans, hoping to see Boyd back in a Guardians uniform, are in a state of shock. Matthew Boyd will be joining the team that defeated the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 World Series, a fact that still stings with Cleveland baseball fans.