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

Chicago Cubs: Will they simply look to retain Justin Wilson?

Don’t get me wrong. Justin Wilson made tremendous strides in his second season in Chicago. After turning into a dumpster fire late in 2017, the southpaw bounced back in a big way this year.

He pitched to a 3.46 ERA, nearly cut his walk rate in half from his first run with the Cubs and struck out north of 11 batters per nine. But he still walked greater than five per nine, an issue that’s plagued him for most of his career.

I’m not saying Chicago shouldn’t look to retain Wilson, because I believe they should. But if we’re talking about a guy who takes the ball and you know it’s as good as done, this isn’t the answer. He could be a solid middle-relief arm, but he’s no shutdown answer who takes the ball late.

There’s no telling what Theo Epstein has in mind with three months till spring training, but there is little doubt in my mind that the Cubs will shore up the bullpen in a big way. Because doing otherwise would be a tragic failure that could write the story of the 2019 club before it even begins.