Chicago Cubs: Closer set with Wade Davis and Carl Edwards

Wade Davis — perfect in saves — and Carl Edwards Jr., a potential All-Star, both help form a valuable duo in Chicago Cubs bullpen.

Chicago Cubs‘ Wade Davis is perfect in saves through nearly the first-half of the regular season. Traded for fourth outfielder Jorge Soler last winter, the trade has been an automatic boon for Theo Epstein and Joe Maddon.

Davis has been as consistent as they come for the Cubs in 2017 and established that reputation across baseball going back to 2014.

Officially putting his days as a starter behind him, he excelled out of the Royals bullpen, first as their setup man, before taking over as the closer late in the 2015 season and closing out the World Series.

No pain no gain?

In 2016 Davis only appeared in 45 games for the Royals, accumulating 27 saves. Dealing with injuries to his forearm and right flexor, there could have been a concern in the event Davis suffered any recurring injuries or effects in 2017.

Not so much.

Got that stuff

Before the season FanGraphs listed Carl Edwards Jr. as that non-closer that could likely take over and thrive in the role if given a chance. Some consider the wiry 25-year-old a potential starter for the Cubs.

I’m always a little leery about entrusting a guy with a dominant relief presence instead into a starting role. Mainly, will it translate?

After seeing the Yankees go back and forth on that very dilemma with Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes, and whether or not the resulting indecisiveness messed with their heads, and the Reds at one time looking at Aroldis Chapman as a starter, sometimes, you just can’t beat that lethal late-inning punch.

Look at the Washington Nationals with their relief issues.

Glimpse of greatness

In Edwards’ finest big league season yet, and really, his first full season, the six-foot-three righty is a potential All-Star with 10 holds and 2.56 ERA. Since his permanent call-up and subsequent stay in the majors last season, Edwards has flourished out of the Cubs bullpen.

Mainly coming into middle innings and letting it fly.

Sure, he’s had occasional blips, including the very rare bad inning, and has walked 16 batters in 31.2 IP. He walked just 14 batters in 36.0 innings last season.

Then there’s the sight at Nationals Park last week.

Entering the sixth inning Monday with a 1-0 lead, Edwards struck out his three batters faced, including Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman. The slender righty routinely threw 97 MPH before hitting 81 MPH on a 12-6 curveball.

Nationals’ broadcaster F.P. Santangelo called it the best stuff he had seen out of any bullpen all season.

Just like Wade Davis has turned into a valuable reliever years after first starting, and proving the ability to thrive no matter the spot, Edwards, who started and pitched in relief in the minors is following a similar course.

One is nice, two is great

Both Edwards and Davis in the bullpen provide the Cubs with an immensely capable duo late in ballgames. Just all the more reason why the Cubs would be hard-pressed not to extend Davis beyond 2017.

In a relatively weak free agent class for closers, Davis represents the cream of the crop.

The other notable impending free agent closers include Pittsburgh Pirates‘ Tony Watson who has an over four ERA and six blown saves. Minnesota Twins‘ Brandon Kintzler is another option which has been rather effective given he doesn’t fit the prototypical closer mold.

Next: It’s time to put the past in the past and move forward

If and when the Cubs do bring Davis back into the fold beyond 2017, the Chicago Cubs would greatly benefit from his late-inning impact. It’s just nice to know there’s the other option should they need it in Carl Edwards Jr.

A guy with the potential to be the closer down the road.

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