Chicago Cubs: Free agent relievers that could interest the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs need to focus on revamping the bullpen this offseason. While some guys may come up from the farm and/or via trade, there are some notable veterans out there that could come in via free agency.

We’re still months from Spring Training and the Chicago Cubs already suffered a tough blow. Closer Brandon Morrow recently underwent elbow surgery and likely won’t be ready for Opening Day. The Chicago closer missed the entire second half of last season due to injury, leading to Pedro Strop doing most of the closing duty.

The bullpen simply needs to add more reliable arms for next year. Right now the guys that can fully be trusted over a season are basically Strop and Steve Cishek (even he ran out of gas in September). There needs to be more depth added – period.

Right now there is a crop of veteran free agent relievers that can provide that. The two biggest names constantly being discussed around baseball are Andrew Miller and Craig Kimbrel.

If the Cubs budget is truly tight, then it is hard to see any of those guys coming to Chicago, but we will wait and see what they truly have in terms of flexibility in the Winter Meetings. That, and Miller’s regression since his 2016 season raises some red flags.

Here is a list of relievers that may be of interest to the Cubs.

Chicago Cubs: Cheap veteran arm could give Cubs depth

Joakim Soria signed with the White Sox on a one-year deal last season and was eventually flipped to the Brewers. Soria, 34, was once an All-Star caliber reliever for the Royals from 2007-2010 and has since bounced around after injury issues.

Yet he has been able to put up some solid numbers since missing the 2012 season. Last year he posted a 3.12 ERA, 2.43 FIP, 1.137 WHIP and 11.1 K/9 in 60 2/3 innings between Chicago and Milwaukee. His 75 strikeouts last year tied his career-high. 38 2/3 of those innings were with the Sox, where he put up a 2.56 ERA and 2.15 FIP. Despite the 4.09 ERA in Milwaukee he still put up a 2.93 FIP and 1.091 WHIP – indicating he pitched better than one might assume.

Even after having a really good season last year overall, he will still come pretty cheap. Relievers at his age do not tend to get massive deals unless they are a rare perennial All-Star type. Feels like the Cubs could snatch him on a one-year deal easily.

Chicago Cubs: Ottavino looking to cash in after a stellar campaign

Adam Ottavino has had an up and down career in Colorado, as many pitchers who pitch multiple years in Coors Field do. Last season he posted a career-best 2.43 ERA, 2.74 FIP, 0.991 WHIP and 112 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings. That works out to 13 punchouts per nine.

Ottavino has struck out 10 or more per nine every season since 2015 and has a 3.12 ERA and 3.31 FIP going back to 2013 spanning north of 300 innings. The righty has plenty of value right now. Can he be what he was in 2018? Hard to say, because these are kinds of numbers that are often seen when veteran relievers hit their peak.

However he can at the very least be a good/solid arm for any bullpen. Despite some ups and downs, he has had a pretty solid career overall. His season last year suggests he will get offers bigger than a one-year deal on the low, but it would seem worth it for the Cubs to explore him.

Chicago Cubs: It may not be overly exciting, but a solid veteran helps

Dan Jennings is not someone who is going to light the world on fire or strike out a ton of batters even, but he could give Chicago cheap lefty depth.

Jennings, 31,  is a career 2.96 pitcher with a 3.83 FIP, 1.404 WHIP and 7.1 K/9 in seven seasons with the Marlins, White Sox, Rays and Brewers. Last season in Milwaukee he pitched to a 3.22 ERA and 4.09 FIP in 64 1/3 innings.

One of the big concerns with him is a higher WHIP as his career BB/9 clocks in at 3.9. He is not a guy used in high-leverage situations necessarily, but an arm that can come in and try to give you a scoreless seventh inning.

Unlike Ottavino and Robertson, Jennings at this point would probably come pretty cheap. Hard to see him getting anything more than a one or two-year deal.