Former Cubs closer Carlos Marmol could land a deal soon

Aug 11, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Carlos Marmol (49) throws in the 9th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The erratic former closer for the Chicago Cubs, Carlos Marmol could sign a deal soon and has interest from three big league clubs, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.

After a rocky start to the 2013 campaign with Chicago, in which he went 2-4 with a 5.86 earned run average and what seemed like an endless barrage of blown saves and surrendered leads, the Cubs dealt him to Los Angeles, where he put up more respectable numbers down the stretch. With the Dodgers last season, the 31-year-old posted a 2.53 ERA in 21 1/3 innings of work, in which he notched 27 strikeouts and allowed 19 walks – evidence of lingering control issues.

It remains unclear which teams are interested in the former National League All-Star reliever, but odds are if current market trends hold true, he will likely receive a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp. Many teams have begun to rely on this tactic when signing risky players, which by most accounts, Marmol is.

Over his eight-year career, Marmol has averaged a 3.46 ERA and 15 saves per season, finishing a total of 253 games as a reliever. His best season came back in 2007 with Chicago, when he went 5-1 with a minuscule 1.43 ERA in 59 appearances, finishing 26th in the NL MVP balloting.