Chicago Cubs look to replace Brian Duensing in the bullpen

Chicago Cubs: Tim Collins

In a correlating move, the Cubs’ signed Tim Collins who was released by the Minnesota Twins on Friday. Collins pitched just 22 2/3 innings since 2014 when he was with the Kansas City Royals in the World Series. He missed the chance to pitch for them in the World Series that they won, and has suffered through two Tommy John surgeries since then.

From 2011-2014 with the Royals, Collins was their go-to lefty out of the bullpen. In 211 innings, he posted a 3.54 ERA, with an ERA+ of 115. His K/9 of 9.4 was impressive, although he did walk hitters at a 5.2 BB/9.

When healthy, Collins was a reliable left-handed option out of the pen. Last season, he posted a plus-4.00 ERA for the first time in his career. But this was after two surgeries, and his first action in the MLB since the 2014 World Series.

Collins signed a major league deal with the Cubs but will open the season in Triple-A. It might not be long before we see him on the MLB roster. But for the time being, he won’t be the guy filling in–at least not initially–for the Cubs.