Chicago Cubs: Is it too early to worry about the 2020 bullpen?

Chicago Cubs: Brach was a great setup man in Baltimore for years

Brad Brach was the biggest addition to the bullpen for 2019. However, the 32-year-old only signed a one-year contract with a $5 million team or $1.35 million player option for 2020.

Brach’s deal took a while to be finalized and was eventually restructured. Turns out he suffered from mononucleosis during the offseason. If he is healthy, Brach will earn the same amount in 2019. But if he misses time, the restructured contract provides the Cubs salary relief.

The right-hander has been a great relief pitcher for a while. He carries a career 3.08 ERA and 3.68 FIP in 424 relief appearances spanning 456 innings. He strikes out 9.5 batters per nine innings while averaging four walks.

Brach was not his usual excellent self early last season with the Orioles. He had a 4.85 ERA and 4.01 FIP in 39 innings. However, after he was traded to the Braves, the hurler rebounded in a big way, compiling a 1.52 ERA and 3.12 FIP with 8.4 strikeouts per nine.

Certainly, the front office hopes that Brach will pitch well this year and that they will want to pick up his option for next season. But the same thing probably could have been said this time last year about Morrow. However, I think the options in Brach’s contract are mostly a result of the depressed free agent market.