Chicago Cubs Hot Stove: Will the team check in on two former Yankees relievers?

Chicago Cubs: Robertson could help Cubs form elite relief corps

Let’s look at the big picture and where David Robertson could slot into a hypothetical Cubs bullpen.  You’ve got Morrow, Edwards and Strop. Don’t sleep on guys like Steve Cishek, Randy Rosario or Brian Duensing, either.

Assume Morrow takes the ninth again come spring. Strop and Edwards are clearly your seventh or eighth-inning options. Cishek is a jack-of-all-trades fireman who quickly became Joe Maddon‘s go-to in pressure-packed situations last year. Robertson could fill a similar role, helping bridge the gap to the late-inning guys like Strop and Morrow.

Last season, Robertson limited left-handed opponents to a .178 average. Getting him into a clean inning was a sure-fire recipe for success, as he pitched to a 0.25 ERA across 36 1/3 innings with no men on base.

He was particularly sharp in the seventh inning, where he could pitch for Chicago. He pitched to a 1.52 ERA and 0.930 WHIP in that frame. Having Robertson paired with Cishek gives Maddon two go-to options, both capable of handling the high-leverage moments in big ballgames.