It's time for Cubs to make a massive splash |
After Jed Hoyer publicly announced during Cubs Convention that the Chicago Cubs weren't done adding to their roster, many wondered what would be coming next.
According to Hoyer and even Carter Hawkins, the Cubs' primary targets the rest of the way will be adding to the bullpen and looking at potential third base help for Matt Shaw. Adding a third base is on the lower end of their list, as this team knows they need to improve their bullpen from last season. Adding to the bullpen is one thing, but this team blew 27 saves last season, so it will take more than one piece to prevent that from happening again. All offseason long, you have heard the Cubs linked to several relievers. One of those was Tanner Scott, who signed Sunday with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Carlos Estevez being another of the mentioned names. Given what Scott got for a contract and knowing what Estevez's asking price is, he has always seemed like a more likely fit for Chicago, but the Cubs aren't alone in trying to acquire him. Say Estevez chooses to sign elsewhere, with the Toronto Blue Jays seeming like a likely possibility, and Chicago would still have Kyle Finnegan and Kirby Yates as potential options. In other words, plenty of high-leverage relievers are still on the market, and the Cubs should be in on all of them. However, when you look at their track record of Scott, no one else comes close to doing what he can do in the pen as he is miles above Estevez, who would be the next man down. Any one of these men would be a massive upgrade for the Cubs, but in this situation with an offseason that has been quiet at best, it's time for the Cubs to swing for the fences and try to win some of the fans back. Typically, swinging for the fences means going out of your comfort zone to sign a free agent, but in this case, it means trading for an elite closer. The Cubs have already made a massive trade in acquiring Kyle Tucker, but given the state of the pen and knowing what happened last season, trading for a closer is the type of splash this team needs. When you look at the MLB landscape, apart from Robert Suarez, who was mentioned last week, not too many teams are looking to trade a closer. However, should the price be what a team is looking for, any player should be considered, and there are two closers that the Cubs should look into acquiring with the assets they have.
When discussing breakout candidates, 27-year-old Camilo Doval was the definition of a breakout candidate a few seasons ago. Coming off a horrendous season where the hard-throwing right-hander posted a 5-3 record with a 4.88 ERA, some may feel that Doval isn't worth what the Giants may be asking for him. However, with 23 saves and an ERA in the low 3s, Doval is worth looking at, as the overall stuff is fantastic. Armed with an impressive 99-100 MPH, Doval can easily put hitters away. You saw that during the 2022 and 2023 seasons when he combined for a 2.73 ERA and 66 saves. That included a career-high 39 saves in 2023 as he emerged as one of the best relievers in the game. Even with his struggles last season, Doval still managed to lock down 23 saves, but with an ERA close to 5.00, he may not be as much of a lockdown guy as you would think. The command was a big reason for his struggles last season, as his walk rate increased significantly while his strikeout rate was slightly down. You get into trouble when that happens, as no closer wants to put multiple men on base. When he is as dialed in as he was in 2023, command isn't even an issue, and he is one of those guys you can count on to lock down 35-plus games.CAMILO DOVAL
JHOAN DURAN
Speaking of hard-throwing lockdown closers, Jhoan Duran is the definition of that and could be a top-4 closer in today's game. Like Doval, Duran is coming off a down season where he posted a 6-9 record and a 3.64 ERA while also locking down 23 saves. However, at just 24 years old, Duran has a much better chance to bounce back and will look to get back to the pitcher he was in 2022 and 2023 when he combined for a 2.19 ERA and 35 saves.
One of the hardest throwers in the game, Duran lives with a heater around 102 MPH that also acts like a cut fastball. It's hard enough to hit a straight fastball that sits at 102, but to hit one with cutting movement is near impossible. To go with that fastball comes a lethal slider and a change, as Duran has some of the best stuff in the game.
Given his age compared to Doval, Duran is the least likely of the two to get moved and could also cost the most in terms of what it would take to get him. However, knowing the ownership issues the Twins are going through, it does appear that they are willing to move some of their pieces, and that alone is intriguing when you have a guy like Duran on your roster.
