Chicago Cubs: Minor leaguers who could play a role in the pen

Chicago Cubs: The return of James Norwood

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Right-hander James Norwood was a relative unknown to many fans before the 2018 season. He was called up in July when the Cubs were desperate for relievers and went back and forth between Iowa and Chicago for the rest of the season. He had a decent first stint in the major leagues, pitching 11 innings with 4.09 ERA.

Norwood had a great season in the minor leagues between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, throwing 50 1/3 innings with a 2.50 ERA.

Norwood could be an easy option to turn to early on since he’s pitched at the big league level before and shown an ability to handle the pressure. While Mekkes might be a more exciting, up-and-coming option from the right side, Norwood is a bit more of a proven commodity.