The 2016 postseason proved how valued the closer position is in baseball, with guys like Aroldis Chapman working on no rest, Andrew Miller enter games in the 6th inning, and arguably the league’s best closer in Zach Britton not even appearing in his clubs lone playoff game.
The closer position has never been looked upon as so crucial, and it’s why the Cubs twice traded for two of the game’s best over the course of six months. And it’s also why it would be completely reasonable for the Cubs to be concerned about the performance of newly acquired Wade Davis this spring. The 31-year-old closer is currently sporting an egregious 19.64 ERA with an opponent batting average of .474 in 3.2 innings this spring.
And while those gaudy numbers would normally raise most coaches blood pressures, Joe Maddon is still cool and collected, according to Bruce Levine.
