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There is absolutely nothing going on in free agency right now, so let’s just take a look at who the Cubs could sign to help out the bullpen.
Heading into the offseason, the Cubs’ bullpen isn’t in great shape. Pedro Strop is back in 2019, and he’s really the only guy you can count on right now besides Mike Montgomery. Oh, my bad, I did forget Steve Cishek, who was great in his first season with the Cubs.
My apologies, Steve.
Anyway, once again getting one or maybe a couple relievers in the offseason is a top priority for the Cubs. I’m not going to get into trade scenarios right now because those can get wild, so let’s focus on the free agent class.
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Here’s what 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine wrote a few weeks back. Seems like the Cubs might be and probably should be targeting a left-handed reliever.
Via 670 The Score.
Left-handed specialists are high on the Cubs’ wish list, with Justin Wilson representing their only power arm from the left side in 2018. Wilson has now entered free agency himself, creating a hole in the back of a bullpen in which Pedro Strop, Carl Edwards Jr. and Brandon Morrow are big arms from the right side.
OK, cool. So, who’s available?
There are two elite lefty relievers in free agency, Zach Britton and Andrew Miller. Both have been previously linked to the Cubs in trade rumors as well.
Here are the projected contracts for both, coming from a few different sources.
Andrew Miller projected contract
2 years, $22 million – Kiley McDaniel (Fangraphs)
2 years, $22 million – median crowdsource (Fangraphs)
1 year, $13 million – Jon Heyman
2 years, $20 million – Jon Heyman expert
3 years, $27 million – MLB Trade Rumors
| IP | BB% | K% | GB% | ERA | FIP | xFIP | WAR | RA9-WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65.0 | 8.5% | 31.0% | 46.2% | 3.07 | 3.06 | 3.14 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
Zach Britton projected contract
3 years, $30 million – Kiley McDaniel (Fangraphs)
3 years, $36 million – median crowdsource (Fangraphs)
4 years, $60 million – Jon Heyman
4 years, $56 million – Jon Heyman expert
3 years, $33 million – MLB Trade Rumors
| IP | BB% | K% | GB% | ERA | FIP | xFIP | WAR | RA9-WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65.0 | 9.6% | 23.0% | 64.3% | 3.01 | 3.24 | 3.24 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Miller is three years older than Britton (34, 31) and is also coming off a worse season, so that explains why the projections have Britton getting more money. That despite when you think of both names, you’d think that Miller being the bigger name would receive more. Not quite the case according to the experts.
The Cubs are also reportedly looking to bring back right hander Jesse Chavez. He really was the savior along with Strop in the bullpen in 2018 and after the season ended emphatically made it known he wanted to come back to the Cubs or retire.
Jesse Chavez projected contract
1 year, $8 million – Kiley McDaniel (Fangraphs)
1 year, $5 million – median crowdsource (Fangraphs)
2 years, $12 million – Jon Heyman
1 year, $5.75 million – Jon Heyman expert
2 years, $10 million – MLB Trade Rumors
Obviously there are several more free agent relievers, but Miller, Britton and Chavez are the names that make the most sense for the Cubs right now both in need and fit and are the relievers who have been linked to the Cubs so far in the offseason.
Yeah, there’s Craig Kimbrel, the top reliever available, but the Cubs haven’t shown they’re all too interested in spending top dollar for closers. So, expect them to target some of the second tier guys.
You can see more projected contracts for free agents below.
Fangraphs top-50 free agents
Jon Heyman and expert predict contracts for 131 free agents
MLBTR top-50 free agents
