Chicago Cubs: Team’s biggest need isn’t a slugger, it’s a shutdown lefty

Chicago Cubs: Does Britton fit the mold of what team needs?

This summer, the Cubs were rumored to be in on then-Baltimore Orioles southpaw Zach Britton. But, instead of Chicago, Britton wound up with the division-rival Yankees, where he excelled down the stretch.

Showing he was both healthy and effective, Britton made 25 appearances for New York, pitching to a 2.88 earned run average and 1.160 WHIP. Some of his peripherals, namely his FIP left something to be desired, but at the end of the day, he got the job done.

He was equally effective against both left and right-handed batters, limiting each to a .200 and .202 average, respectively. Down the stretch, he was lights-out, turning in 10 scoreless appearances for the Yankees, in which he pitched to a minuscule .0724 WHIP.

Britton turns 31 next month and would bring a much-needed left-handed veteran presence to the Cubs relief corps. Right now, Chicago would head into 2019 with two primary options: Mike Montgomery, who serves as more of an insurance policy for the rotation than anything, and Randy Rosario, who has less than a full season of big league experience under his belt.