Cubs offseason trade options: Bullpen |
There were many reasons why the Cubs missed the playoffs this season. Having a bullpen blow 27 saves and 42 games in total was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, reason, as those games are games you can't get back. Even if they had saved just seven or eight more of those games, they would probably have made the postseason, and once that happens, who knows what could've happened?
The Cubs added Yency Almonte and Hector Neris to their pen to set things up for Adbert Alzolay, but with two of them having season-ending injuries and the other (Neris) struggling all season long before being released, having a solid back of the bullpen was an issue all season. The Cubs made some moves as the season went on, trading for Tyson Miller, landing Jorge Lopez on a minor league option, trading for Nate Pearson, and promoting Porter Hodge. Those four alone helped stabilize the bullpen to the point where they had one of the best bullpen ERAs after June 27, but you have to wonder if all four of them will be able to perform at that level again. Hodge, Pearson, and Miller are all expected to take on a similar role next season, while Lopez has chosen to hit the open market, although a reunion does appear likely. You add him back to the mix, and the Cubs' back end of the bullpen will be solid. Ben Brown could also emerge as a serious threat if he is healthy next season. As improved as that sounds, the Cubs are in a position where they could ultimately run this exact same roster back again, and with consecutive 83-win seasons, can they afford to do that? The short answer is no. If the Cubs want to eliminate the pain of some of their early losses, finding some dominating relief help should be at the top of their list. That is why acquiring Emmanuel Clase should've been their top priority last season. He went on to have an amazing season and was getting some Cy Young consideration most of the year. Clase did fall apart in the postseason, but you have to wonder why fatigue was why. Mason Miller is another name that is going to be highly coveted, and if the Cubs are serious about winning, he is the closer this team desperately needs. He is young, throws the ball around 102 MPH, and can dominate hitters with ease. That is something the team hasn't had since the Aroldis Chapman days, and you saw the immediate impact he made on their pen that season.
Both of these guys seem like the perfect additions for any team, but looking at how the Guardians performed this season, Clase is most likely off the table, while Miller is going to cost a ton to get a deal done. While adding a closer is very important, the Cubs may be confident enough in what they saw from Hodge last season to give him the opportunity to earn the closer role in camp.
Getting guys who cannot only get him the ball but also have some closer experience could help solidify the pen, which is where Pete Fairbanks comes into play. Set to enter his age 31 season next year, Fairbanks is a hard thrower who sits in the 97 MPH range, strikes out a ton of batters while minimizing walks, and has some closer experience, which is always a plus.
As is the case with many hard throwers, injuries have derailed him the past few seasons, but with a cap hit of 3.6 million this season and seven million next season, he makes a lot of sense as an eighth-inning guy. If the Cubs are able to retain Lopez this season, that would solidify at least one of the back-inning roles, and if not, the Cubs could always go after Ryan Pressly, who continues to impress.
Like a bottle of fine wine that gets better with age, the 35-year-old Pressly continues to be one of the best relievers in the game. He has posted 380.2 IP (9th), 4.75 K/BB (15th), and a 2.88 ERA (33rd) over the past seven seasons. However, his sudden drop in velocity, paired with a decreased strikeout rate, is a cause for concern, as his best days are behind him.
Considering what happened with Neris last season, the Cubs may look to avoid a guy like him despite his success, as they put a lot of stock into both his career and recent success. If the team does go with Hodge as the closer and that ends up failing, there is an option out there who will be an interesting case to follow all season: David Bednar, who will be worth watching.
Armed with a 98-100 MPH heater, Bednar was one of the best, if not the best, closers in baseball from 2021-23. He logged 61 saves while posting a 2.25 ERA across 179 innings. As is the case for many Pirates players, Bednar is reaching the end of his deal, and when that happens, the Pirates tend to flip their players for something in return, as that is what small market teams do.
If this had happened before the start of 2023, you can bet the Cubs would've done what they needed to do to land him, but coming off the season he had in 2024, his market is going to be far less exciting for the Pirates. Last season was a disaster for him as his ERA ballooned up to 5.77 despite seeing an uptick in velocity.
That almost never happens, and to happen to a guy who hasn't even turned 30 yet makes you wonder if there were some other lying issues. Ultimately, the Pirates would love to sell high on the former all-star, but at this point, you have to wonder if they would take an all-you-can-get type of deal. That is something the Cubs could work with, and they should make a play for him.
