Report: Cubs actively looking for bullpen help |
It certainly has been an interesting few days for Cubs fans, and not all of it has been good. Let's start with the bad, or should we say indifferent, as the Cubs and LHP Matthew Boyd have reached a two-year agreement for 29 million. His addition gives the Cubs another starter to add to their rotation, as he will most likely take over for Kyle Hendricks in the back of the rotation.
Now comes the good, and it shouldn't surprise anyone unless you have followed how the Cubs have conducted business the past three offseasons. According to MLB Insider Jon Morosi, he hears that the Cubs are one of the most active teams in the industry going after bullpen arms. Plenty of good names are available, including on the trade market. I know it's a shocker, right? The Cubs have been trying to build up their bullpen for the past three seasons, and when you think they have done that, things go completely wrong. This season is a prime example of how bad things got. Your closer, Adbert Alzolay, went from being their closer to blowing out his elbow and has now been non-tendered by the team. Hector Neris was brought in as an eighth-inning option, only to go through the worst season of his career, and was ultimately released late in the season. You also had Mark Leiter Jr and Julian Merryweather expected to play massive roles last season, only to have Merryweather battle through injuries. At the same time, Leiter Jr was traded to the Yankees for Jack Neely. All of that put together makes an implosion of a bullpen that not only blew 43 games last season but blew 27 saves. That alone was the biggest reason they missed the playoffs a season ago, and the Cubs know that can't happen again. To Hoyer's credit, he admitted they didn't do a good enough job fixing the Bullpen last season and knows that needs to be the focus this offseason. He tried to erase some of their wrongs last season by making in-season moves as Tyson Miller and Nate Pearson were picked up via trades, while Jorge Lopez and Porter Hodge were called up from the Minors. Miller was a godsend for the Cubs after they traded for him in April, going 5-1 and posting a 2.15 ERA across 49 games. He will once again be in the middle of the pen, filling various roles. Pearson was another mid-season acquisition by the Cubs, and he proved why he was once a top-100 MLB prospect. In his 19 games (1 start) with the Cubs, Pearson went 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA, flashing his 98-100 MPH heater. It was something he lacked during his time with the Blue Jays, and it does appear that he may have found a home in Chicago. The same can be said about Jorge Lopez, who was added mid-season but is still a Free agent. Despite dealing with a series of groin injuries late in the season, Lopez was still lights out in his time with the Cubs, posting a 2.03 ERA in 24 games, which included two horrible outings. He should be one of the Cubs' priorities this offseason, as they need to bring him back again. Like Lopez, Hodge was another late-season acquisition, although he was called up from the Minors. As most rookies do, Hodge struggled with his command at times, but once he was moved to the closer role, he was about as good as you could've hoped for. Across 39 games, Hodge posted a 3-1 record with a 1.88 ERA. He did that while saving nine games in 12 chances but was 7-7 down the stretch. Those four guys combined for a 2.43 ERA with the Cubs, and should Lopez return, those four are the main late-inning arms for this team. Throw in the trade for Eli Morgan earlier this offseason, and the Cubs have five legitimate arms that they can count on right now as their Bullpen is starting to take shape. However, it will take eight arms to open the season and arguably several more to make this Bullpen the way the Cubs hope to, which is where the offseason comes into play. Fortunately for them, they have Ben Brown cleared to return and Hayden Wesneski as in-house options, which could give the Cubs two more bullpen arms. Should Ethan Roberts return to his 2024 form and Luke Little come back from his injury, the Cubs have a strong base to build around depending on the direction they would like to go. As good as it sounds, the team still lacks bullpen depth, especially from the left side, so it is refreshing to hear them be one of the most active teams when it comes to finding bullpen arms. Whether that is true or not remains to be seen, but the Cubs have plenty of options to improve this team. Tanner Scott and Jeff Hoffman would be great additions, especially Scott, who is a left-hander. Both are expected to command a pretty hefty price tag, and whether the Cubs will want to meet those demands for a reliever is unclear. That is where the trade market comes into play, as the Cubs have the ammo needed to get something done. While no names have been discussed to this point, the Cubs are actively in talks with several teams as they know how vital the Bullpen will be this season. With the Winter Meetings set to begin a week from Monday, look for the Cubs to be the center of attention in more ways than one. I expect them to make a splash at the meetings in one way or another, and it wouldn't shock me to see that splash being a bullpen arm.
