You wanted some bullpen help, well here it is!
The Cubs have reportedly signed right-handed reliever Brad Brach. Ken Rosenthal was the first to break the signing.
#Cubs in agreement with free-agent reliever Brad Brach, pending a physical, sources tell The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 24, 2019
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the one-year deal is for $3 million.
Free agent reliever Brad Brach has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 24, 2019
Rosenthal followed up by saying the deal will be worth more than $3 million and the Cubs will have an option in 2020.
Brach guarantee with #Cubs will be more than $3M, source tells The Athletic. Includes buyout on club option for 2020.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 24, 2019
Brach will be 33-years-old in April. He was traded to the Braves in the middle of 2018, and was great for Atlanta. He pitched in 27 games for the Braves, recording a 1.52 ERA, but did have a high 1.31 WHIP.
Overall in his career, the righty has 33 saves and a 3.08 ERA. From 2014-17, Brach’s ERA didn’t go over 3.18 with the Orioles and had his best numbers in 2016, when he posted a 2.05 ERA in 79 innings.
I mean, it’s help. You hope Brach has a steady season, despite projections for 2019, showing he’ll have a 4.08 FIP.
But hey, this can still be a solid signing even if it’s not exciting. Brach threw harder after the trade in 2018, and the results showed, after recording a 4.85 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in 39 innings with Baltimore last season.
Brach deal with #Cubs is at least $4.35M for one year, sources tell The Athletic. Both player and club have options for 2020. Deal could grow to two years, $9.5M if Cubs exercise their option. Two-year guarantee would be less if team declines and Brach exercises his option.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 24, 2019
Overall, it’s a fine deal. It’s OK. The Cubs have been lucky to have Pedro Strop be the most consistent reliever in team history, but relievers can be so volatile from one year to the next.
2014-18
Pedro Strop: 2.61 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 3.34 xFIP, 28 K%, 9.7 BB%
Brad Brach: 2.89 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 3.83 xFIP, 25.1 K%, 9.8 BB%A slightly worse Strop. Decent signing.
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) January 24, 2019
Just hope there’s enough mixing and matching to get a solid group in the bullpen and the Cubs could once again patch things up despite the worry that the bullpen is a big weak spot. Which, frankly, it is heading into spring training.
Welcome aboard, Brad Brach!
