Chicago Cubs need bullpen help, but boast several bounceback candidates

The Chicago Cubs will surely add to their pitching staff this winter but could get a further boost if these guys can return to form next season.

Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings are underway and the rumor mill is churning. Most of the reports on Monday centered around the Chicago Cubs and their interest in Bryce Harper. They ranged from the club being viewed as a long-shot to heavy favorites, so it’s anybody’s guess how this actually comes to fruition.

But, perhaps, more importantly, this week gives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer the chance to get in the same room as agents for free agent relievers. With Brandon Morrow sidelined until May and an overall lack of depth emanating throughout the pen, the Cubs surely need to add to their ranks.

That being said, they could also get a boost from some guys who turned in disappointing 2019 campaigns. Now, operating under the assumption that these arms will pitch better next year is setting yourself up to fail. Still, if they do figure it out and give you quality innings, the depth question surrounding the Cubs bullpen is maybe not answered, but you won’t lose sleep over it, either.

Chicago Cubs: Does the veteran have anything left in the tank?

On the heels of a breakout 2017 campaign, the Cubs inked veteran southpaw Brian Duensing to a two-year, $7 million deal. While it was probably unwise to expect him to match his standout showing (2.74 ERA, 3.41 FIP, 2.6 BB/9), no one expected such a dramatic regression in 2018.

Out of the gates, it was business as usual for Duensing. He did not allow a run in 13 appearances over the first month and pitched to a reliable 3.86 ERA in the month of May. But a red flag loomed – he was walking as many guys as he struck out. Through the end of May, the lefty struck out 12 and walked 11.

Then, everything completely unraveled.

A recurring shoulder injury sapped him of his strikeout ability and his walk rate skyrocketed. Over the final two months of the regular season, he pitched just 6 1/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs and walking four.

Getting a healthy Brian Duensing back doesn’t change the back end of the Cubs bullpen. But it would certainly deepen the arsenal of manager Joe Maddon and help extend the life of the pen. With Justin Wilson out the door via free agency, this team desperately needs its left-handed relievers to step up.

For Duensing, it’s simple. Cut down the walks. For a guy who averaged 2.8 BB/9 heading into 2018, you have to hope (and pray) he comes closer to hitting that mark instead of the 6.9 BB/9 we saw from him last season.

Chicago Cubs: Is Darvish the key to this team’s success?

In his first year as a member of the Chicago Cubs, Yu Darvish was, quite simply, a bust. He made just eight starts and didn’t throw a pitch in a big league game after mid-May. Safe to say that’s not what the front office had in mind when they inked him to a six-year, $126 million deal last offseason.

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But a lingering injury the Cubs seemingly failed to catch completely derailed the right-hander. He repeatedly attempted to pitch through arm pain, only to finally see a diagnosis come to light late in the season. After a clean winter where he will be able to focus on getting back to what once made him a Cy Young runner-up, there’s cause for optimism when it comes to Darvish.

Now, you’re probably wondering why we’re talking about Darvish in a piece dedicated to the Chicago bullpen. But it’s really quite simple. The Darvish injury resulted in Mike Montgomery moving from the pen to the starting rotation, taking away a critical swing man from Maddon and pitching coach Jim Hickey.

Since we’re sitting here talking about depth in the Cubs pen, it only stands to reason that keeping the rotation healthy at least, in part, helps address that issue. With a long guy like Montgomery in his traditional bullpen role instead of spot-starting, this team’s pen could stay fresher longer in 2019.

Chicago Cubs: Will the real Tyler Chatwood please stand up?

Looking at Yu Darvish, it stands to reason that, when healthy, he’ll be the guy he’s been his entire career. (In other words, a front-end starter with swing-and-miss stuff capable of anchoring a big league staff). When it comes to Tyler Chatwood, however, the same cannot be said.

Last winter, Epstein got the ball rolling with a three-year, $39 million signing of the former Colorado Rockies hurler. Most saw his numbers outside of Coors Field, an impressive spin rate and figured he’d slot in nicely as a replacement for John Lackey at the back of the rotation.

Well, we figured wrong.

Chatwood turned in one of the worst seasons in recent memory, leading the league in walks and ultimately losing his spot in the starting rotation. At least on paper, he won’t start for the Cubs again next season and appears destined to join Montgomery in the pen.

But here’s the kicker. If he can’t find the strike zone, Chicago may be forced to eat the final two years of his deal just to get him off the roster. He’s got good stuff – but when you turn in a 1.804 WHIP (driven largely by his 8.2 BB/9 – nearly twice his career average) you have little value.

On the flip side, if Chatwood somehow gets his head on straight and irons out his delivery, the Cubs may be able to utilize him in some sort of hybrid role out of the pen. At this point, though, it’s anybody’s guess.