Filling an Expensive Hole
Is there a cheap way to do it?
Every Cub fan knew that the bullpen was one of the areas of significant concern heading into the 2017–18 offseason. Over the past decade, the price for top-notch backend relievers has skyrocketed. For example, the Yankees signed flamethrower Aroldis Chapman to a five-year contract worth an unheard of $86 million. The $86 million is a Major League Baseball (MLB) record for total value of a contract for a relief pitcher. Along those same lines now former Cubs closer Wade Davis signed a three-year deal worth $56 million. His $17.3 million average yearly salary set another MLB record.
Not wanting to spend an obscene amount of money on bullpen help the Cubs’ front office had to get creative on who they spent their money on, and how much of that money they decide to spend.
On paper at least it appears as if Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have worked their magic again. The signings of Brandon Morrow to a two year $21 million contract, and Steve Cishek to a two-year deal worth $13M address a glaring hole in the Cubs’ armor.
After signing Cishek and Morrow, the hunt for relief pitching went on. Surprisingly, the Cubs didn’t have to look too far away from home. Chicago brought back lefty Brian Duensing on a two-year deal worth $7 million.
The Cubs already had some power arms that will be returning to the pen in 2018. Pedro Strop and Carl Edwards Jr. will remain a vital aspect of the pen from the right side, and Justin Wilson joins Duensing as the critical arms from the left side.
A couple of names to keep an eye on heading into 2018 are lefty Mike Montgomery and young right-hander Dillon Maples. There is a chance Montgomery may have to slide into the starting rotation if the Cubs aren’t able to sign another starting pitcher. Dillon Maples got a little taste of the big leagues in 2017, but he did have his struggles. In his six appearances, he had a 10.13 ERA. Now granted, six games isn’t too many, but he just didn’t look conferrable on the big league mound. However, a full spring training with the Cubs should do him a lot of good, and if he pans out, he could become a very reliable late-inning option.
The most prominent question mark about the Chicago bullpen is lefty Justin Wilson. After he was acquired from the Detroit Tigers, he had a 5.09 ERA in his 23 appearances with the north siders. If he can return to anything close to how effective he was with the Tigers, then the Cubs bullpen will be one of the best in baseball.
The outlook for the Cubs’ bullpen on paper looks extremely bright on paper, but it all depends on whether or not they can get the job done on the pitcher’s mound. Unless something changes before the Cubs report to Masa Brandon Morrow will most likely slide into the closer’s role with Edwards, Strop, and Wilson being the primary setup men. The most prominent positive for the Cubs bullpen it that their celling is exceptionally high, but even during periods of struggles the quality of these pitchers should still be good enough to get the job done.
