Javier Assad
- Free agent est. 1 yr × $2.8M ($1M–$7M) if his club option is declined · +0.2 wins to Pittsburgh’s Winter Plan as call-up depth
2 cautions
- His $3.3M club option for 2027 is expected to be declined (projected value below it); the decision comes about five days after the World Series.
- Free agency not confirmed by the contract data: Under six years of service after 2026 (at most 4 years, 27 days): a declined option would leave him under his club's control through arbitration (Keystone's reading of the CBA; the data don't show his contract's terms).
Pitching · 2026 percentiles
vs. MLB pitchers with 500+ pitches · 1,506 pitches
Arsenal & Pitch Lab
Movement normalized to arm side · Keystone Stuff by pitch
| Pitch | Use | Velo | IVB | HB | Stuff | Loc | Whiff | xRV/100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinker42% use | 42% | 93.4 | 10.8 | +14.4 | 101 | 107 | 9% | +0.14 |
| Four-seam19% use | 19% | 93.5 | 16.0 | +5.3 | 95 | 106 | 19% | −0.36 |
| Cutter12% use | 12% | 88.9 | 6.6 | −5.0 | 97 | 95 | 14% | −1.55 |
| Changeup8% use | 8% | 86.0 | 1.6 | +11.4 | 100 | 100 | 31% | −1.41 |
| Sweeper8% use | 8% | 81.9 | 1.6 | −14.8 | 101 | 76 | 35% | +0.67 |
| Curveball7% use | 7% | 77.7 | −8.9 | −13.1 | 90 | 86 | 20% | +0.67 |
| Slider4% use | 4% | 85.3 | 0.5 | −5.4 | 98 | 100 | 21% | −0.06 |
No mix change or new pitch clears its bar. The arsenal is efficient for its shapes.
Most similar pitchers
Pitches like Assad: same hand, shape, slot and mix
| Similarity | Player | Stuff | ’26 WAR | ’27 proj | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | Mitch Keller PIT · ’96 | 93 | 1.0 | 1.3 | Signed $18.4M |
| 43 | Ryan Gusto MIA · ’99 | 97 | 1.0 | 1.1 | — |
| 43 | Sonny Gray BOS · ’89 | 95 | 3.4 | 1.7 | Free agent |
| 43 | Zach Agnos COL · ’00 | 87 | 0.1 | 0.1 | — |
| 39 | Brandon Sproat MIL · ’00 | 94 | 0.1 | 0.7 | — |
Same-handed pitchers nearest on fastball velocity and shape, arm angle, extension, pitch mix, secondary shapes, Stuff, whiff rate and workload. 2026 regulars only.
Pitch locations · 2026
Where each pitch finishes, by batter side
Where each pitch finishes, catcher’s view. The bar marks the batter’s side; the box is an average strike zone. Pitches with 40+ thrown to this side.
Contract & projection
Club control (RosterResource) · Keystone projected WAR
* projected arbitration or minimum salary. His 2027 is a $3.3M club option, decided by the Cubs ≈ Nov 1–5. The Free-Agent Board expects it declined, so it prices him as a free agent. Caution: Under six years of service after 2026 (at most 4 years, 27 days): a declined option would leave him under his club's control through arbitration (Keystone's reading of the CBA; the data don't show his contract's terms). Contract Studio →
Minor leagues
MLB Stats API · public box-score data
| SeasonLevel | Level | Team | Age | G | PA / IP | PA / IP ·Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026AAA | AAA | Iowa Cubs | 28 | 7 | 25 IP | 25 IP · 6.12 ERA · 18.1% K · 9.5% BB |
| 2025AAA | AAA | Iowa Cubs | 27 | 4 | 15.1 IP | 15.1 IP · 2.93 ERA · 22.4% K · 10.4% BB |
| 2025ROK | ROK | ACL Cubs | 27 | 1 | 3 IP | 3 IP · 0.00 ERA · 60.0% K · 0.0% BB |