Updated 11:53pm CST – According to Hardball Talk, Phil Coke can earn at least $2.25 million if he makes the Cubs roster out of Spring Training.
The minor league deal includes $900,000 appearance-based incentives package. Patrick Mooney added that Phil Coke still has to pass a physical and that is the reason the Cubs did not acknowledge the deal Thursday. Mooney reported Coke’s deal is for around $2 million.
According to a report from Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs signed left-handed reliever Phil Coke to a minor league contract. Coke will compete for a job on the big league team and is expected to report to Cubs’ camp on Friday.
Ken Rosenthal reported that Coke turned down at least one Major League contract to sign with the Cubs on a minor league deal. Phil Coke told Rosenthal the Cubs made him feel welcomed and he thinks he has a chance to take the team to the next level.
Zac Rosscup, Joseph Ortiz and Drake Britton are on the Cubs’ 40-man roster in camp and competing for the lefty reliever jobs in the bullpen. Felix Doubront and Tsuyoshi Wada could also take a role in the bullpen if they cannot beat out Travis Wood for the fifth rotation spot.
The Cubs were reportedly close on a minor league deal with lefty reliever Pedro Feliciano last month. The team did not announce the signing and he’s yet to sign with another organization.
Phil Coke, 32, pitched for the Tigers last season and was 5-2 in 62 games with a 3.88 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 3.98 FIP. In 58 innings, Coke gave up 69 hits with 20 walks and 41 strikeouts.
In his five seasons with Detroit, Phil Coke was 17-24 in 299 games with a 4.25 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 3.63 FIP. Coke finished 73 games and picked up six saves.
Lefties hit .257/.310/.381 against Coke last season and for his career, lefties have batted .243/.297/.352 against him.
• Phil Coke’s Page on Baseball-Reference
With Phil Coke on the Spring Training Roster, the Cubs have 33 pitchers in big league camp.