Chicago Cubs: Cody Allen could be a buy-low bullpen option

Chicago Cubs: A perfect match for both sides?

His fastball velocity ticked in the wrong direction and as a two-pitch guy, losing any degree of separation between those can prove costly. He allowed a career-worst 11 home runs and very quickly, he went from a premier free agent to be to a guy stuck waiting out a free agent market that’s moving at a snail’s pace for the second-straight winter.

I’m not proposing the Cubs give him three or four years. But if Allen, who was one of baseball’s best late-inning arms for a half-decade, wants to re-establish his value on a one-year deal and re-test the waters next winter (it’s not like his value will go much lower) – the Cubs could be a perfect fit.

He could shore up the ninth with Morrow sidelined, allowing manager Joe Maddon to somewhat preserve the bridge to the closer, using Cishek and Strop (along with Carl Edwards, Brandon Kintzler and Brian Duensing) in the mid-to-late frames as needed.

This is far from a sure thing – but it could be a match made in heaven.