Chicago Cubs: Team should move on from Wade Davis

The Chicago Cubs have made their first big move of the offseason by signing starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood. But with Wade Davis now a free agent, the team still doesn’t know who will be closing games in 2018.

The offseason hot stove is finally starting to heat up. The Chicago Cubs helped to round out their rotation by signing Tyler Chatwood. He should prove to be as solid of a 4-or-5 starter as any team could hope to find. But with Wade Davis gone and on the free agent market, the Cubs still need to figure out who will take over closer duties next season.

There aren’t a lot of options available as free agents right now. But the Cubs have some intriguing in-house players to consider. With other needs to check off and a free agent market which will be loaded with star players next year, it might be in the Cubs’ best interest to avoid spending the big bucks on a reliever.

The Chicago Cubs don’t need to re-sign Wade Davis

As far as relievers go, Wade Davis is among the elites in the league. Unfortunately for the Cubs, that also means he’s going to need an elite reliever’s salary if the team hopes to bring him back. Expect him to get somewhere in the neighborhood of four or five years and over $65 million.

That’s an awful lot of money and a fairly risky commitment to a reliever on the wrong side of 30.

Davis posted an impressive 2.30 ERA in 2017 and recorded 32 saves for the Cubs. On the surface, those numbers might make the team want to throw ridiculous money his way. But despite a highly effective season, there is some cause for concern.

The 32-year-old closer had some troubles with control last season. Davis walked 4.3 batters per nine innings pitched, a walk rate of 11.6 percent. That’s quite high, and a possible indicator that Davis might have had some good luck on his side in 2017.

While he still had good fastball velocity last season, it has been steadily declining for the past four seasons. Another potential red flag. The right-hander averaged 96.7 MPH in 2014 and 94.6 in 2017. For a pitcher in his thirties, you can expect that number to keep dropping each year. That’s not to say he won’t continue to be a quality closer, but it is something to be aware of.

Next: Chicago Cubs have needs outside Ohtani

Wade Davis is going to get a serious payday here pretty soon. Don’t be surprised if the Cubs decide to move on from him. Justin Wilson, despite completely forgetting how to throw a baseball when he arrived in Chicago last season, could be a candidate for the closer’s job.

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