Trevor Bauer is still available for MLB teams including Cubs |
Now that the wait is over and the Cubs know that Roki Sasaki will not be signing with them, the Cubs can now focus on the rest of free agency. With that comes plenty of tough roster decisions as this team needs a closer, could use another bat, and, according to Jed Hoyer, would love to add at least another middle-of-the-rotation arm.
Jack Flaherty is the name that keeps popping up as a possibility for the Cubs, but at this point, no one expects the Cubs to fork out the cash and or the years he is looking for. That could be why they signed Colin Rea to a one-year deal over the weekend, as he, at the very least, gives them some rotation depth on the back end. If the Cubs are content about adding another middle-of-the-rotation arm to stabilize the rotation, why not look at Trevor Bauer as that option? Sure, Bauer comes with plenty of baggage and hasn't pitched a game in the MLB in roughly three years, but given the success he had before his suspension and watching what he has done in Japan and Mexico since it's clear that he has plenty left in the tank and would make any team better. Bauer has been very vocal about his desire to get back into the majors, but for whatever reason, no team has had the guts to give him a look. Whether it is by design or the Commissioner has had a say in that is a big question, but when he has said he would pitch for a veterans minimum, it makes no sense why you wouldn't take a look at him. Given his track record as a starter, there would likely be a long list of teams looking to give him a chance, especially when you consider his final years in the bigs pre-suspension. The Cubs should be one of the teams to, at the very least, pick up the phone and start the conversation because getting an Ace-caliber pitcher on a veteran's minimum deal doesn't come around too often. Adding Bauer will undoubtedly raise questions, but it does fill a need that the Cubs are looking to fill for various reasons. Most notably, the Cubs are looking for another arm to add to the middle of their rotation. Bauer addresses all those needs as he is a proven ace and is 33 years old, meaning you could have him beyond this season at a cheap price should he prove he still has it. For a rotation built around location and off-speed stuff, Bauer is the type of pitcher that this rotation needs, as he is the definition of a hard thrower. That is something the Cubs rotation hasn't consistently had since prime Jake Arrieta, and it would be nice to add that to the mix. Bauer is known for his high energy and who-cares attitude, but he also brings some of the best stuff in the game. Looking at that stuff, Bauer consistently sits in the 95-96 MPH range but will touch 98 MPH plus occasionally. To go with that heater comes a steady diet of secondary pitches, including a change-up, Cutter, Slider, and Curve. The cutter acts more like a two-seam fastball, while his change-up acts more like a Split Finger, and both sit in the upper 80s to low 90s. Granted, he doesn't use his slider a ton; it reacts more like a screwball and is extremely hard to hit. However, the curveball sets Bauer apart as that pitch is the true definition of a 12-6 bender. Not only is the velocity in the 83-86 MPH range with that pitch, but it also sits above 2900 RPMs, making it one of the fastest-spinning pitches in baseball. All that together has seen Bauer post an 83-69 career record with a 3.79 ERA and 1416 strikeouts. However, the last few seasons have set Bauer apart and why he has been such a highly coveted player in recent years. After going 17-9 in 2017, Bauer went on to win 12 games in 2018 and 11 games in 2019 while posting a 2.21 ERA in 2018. Then came the 2020 and 21 seasons, where he combined 13-9 with an ERA in the 2.30 range. That may not be the best record, but with an ERA like that, Bauer has CY Young potential if he can get more run support. Who knows what he could do now if you give this man 28 starts a season?
If the past three years are any indication of what he could give this team, it's clear that he would make any rotation better. Over the past two seasons, Bauer has bounced between Japan and Mexico, looking to, at the very least, prove he is worth an opportunity. Granted, the level of competition is nowhere near the MLB level, but Bauer still posted a 21-4 record the past two seasons with a combined 2.53 ERA.
That includes a 10-0 mark in Mexico last season with a 2.48 ERA. That record came across 38 starts in two seasons where he logged 240 innings of work. Not only was the command sharp with 55 walks, but with 280 strikeouts on top of those walks, he continued to show the overpowering stuff he brings to the table. At some point, the Bauer situation will come to a rest, and someone will give him a chance.
Maybe that team should be the Cubs, as adding him could be the most interesting pickup of the year.
