Cubs Free Agent Target: Ryan Brasier |
Don't look now, but the Chicago Cubs are finally starting to hear their name linked to many more free agents, and it comes after a long period of not hearing much chatter. Now, having your name linked and making a move are two different things, but to hear the Cubs are involved on more names than the ones many expected is a good thing.
Lost in the shuffle of the Shota Imanaga sweepstakes and his upcoming signing, people tend to forget there are several big names still out there and ones that many may not feel are big names. One of those secondary names is Ryan Brassier, and the Cubs are discussing possible options with the right-handed reliever. The Cubs aren't alone, as the Brasier market has started to pick up steam and has really taken shape in the past 48 hours. Joining the Cubs are the Cardinals, Rangers, Orioles, Angels, and, of course, the Dodgers, as all of them would love for him to join their bullpen. With the Cubs still looking for their first major league signing this offseason that is a non-waiver wire pickup, focussing on the bullpen could be the way to get it done and why not add a guy coming off one of the most dominating halves in baseball? Much older than what most fans would like to see in a free agent pickup, the 36-year-old Brasier was part of the Dodgers pen and posted a ridiculous 0.70 ERA for the entire season. That's right, a 0.70 ERA for an entire baseball season is hard to fathom, especially when it comes from someone who is nearing the end of his career. I know what most of you are thinking. Who is this Ryan Brasier guy, and if he was that good, why haven't we heard of him? Well, you're not alone, as not many have a good grasp on him and what he can do. Brasier was a former Los Angeles Angels prospect who went on to make his major league debut in 2013. That is more than a decade ago so that has to be a reason why he went so long from having success at the MLB level. After busting through the Angels system to reach the majors, it has been nothing, but a journeyman type of journey for Brasier, as injuries and a lack of success have led to that. Not only did he bounce between organizations, but he had two Tommy John Surgeries, and he has played baseball in Japan as part of the NPB. He is the true definition of someone who doesn't give up, and that hard work started to pay off in the Dodgers organization last year. His last crack in the majors came from 2018-21 as part of the Red Sox organization, where he went on to have a nice run of success. That came to a screeching halt in 2021 when he took a line drive off of the face and was forced to miss the remainder of the season. While recovering from that injury, Brasier suffered some other injuries, and the Red Sox felt it would be easier for them to cut him, which is when the Dodgers picked him up. Talk about the classic case of one man's trash is another man's treasure. Brasier was everything the Dodgers could've imagined and more last season as he debuted with them in June and dominated ever since. Not only did he post the microscopic 0.70 ERA, but also had lines of 2.48 FIP, 26.6% K, 7.0% BB, 4.3% barrel, 51.1% groundball, on and on. To put that into perspective, those are the numbers you look for in a closer or late-inning reliever, so to get that from someone who has battled through so much adversity his entire career is nothing short of amazing. When you look at his career track record, a lot of people are wondering how the success he had last season came about. Credit the Dodgers for that, as they added a cutter to his repertoire, which tends to sit in the 92 MPH range. That pitch alone has helped improve his 94 MPH fastball and 87 MPH slider, as he has become a much better pitcher with a more complete arsenal. Looking at his story, you can't help but to compare it Robert Stephenson, who the Cubs are also linked to. Stephenson has been primarily a journeyman reliever who has now incorporated a cutter to make him one of the better relievers on the market. Even at 36 years old, you can't help, but notice the success Brasier had and wonder if he is worth looking at for a one-year deal.
