Cubs To Sign Bob Howry

We can all calm down now, the Cubs bullpen has finally received the right handed veteran reliever it has needed since the beginning of the season. Well okay, their still is reason to worry. Because that reliever comes in the name of Bob Howry, yep that’s right Bobby “Home Run” Howry, who pitched for the Cubs from 2006-2008. As according to Comcast Sportsnet the Cubs signed Howry , and he will meet the team in Texas.

Overall Howry was pretty successful in a Cubs uniform as in 2006 he posted a 3.17 ERA, in 2007 he posted a 3.32 ERA, but in his final year with the Cubs in 2008 he posted a 5.35ERA. Last year, with the San Francisco Giants he posted a respectable 3.39 ERA, however in 14.1 innings with the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to his release, Howry had an abysmal ERA of 10.67.

I would suspect that Howry will become the Cubs set-up man from the right side, as he was when he was last year. However, I kind of have a mixed reaction about this move for the Cubs. Because, on one hand you have the fact that he did not end his last season with the Cubs pitching too well, and he is off to a bad start this year. But, looking at his first two season with the Cubs in 2006, and 2007, and last season when he was with the Giants, that gives me some hope that maybe just maybe he can be a solid reliever for the Cubs.

But in all honesty, given how bad the Cubs bullpen has been this season, one would think that the addition of Bob Howry could make the Cubs bullpen any worse than it already is.

Now, comes the question of who is going to be sent down? In all likelihood it will probably be Justin Berg, who has an ERA of 6.43, or it is possible that it could be Jeff Stevens, who was called up today in place of the injured Esmailin Caridad.

The Cubs denied the CSN report, but the Tribune is reporting that the Cubs are interested in signing Howry, more than likely I would expect a deal to be official within the next couple of hours.

UPDATE

Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago is reporting that the Cubs will announce the Howry signing either on Thursday or Wednesday.

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