Chicago Cubs look to replace Brian Duensing in the bullpen

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The most obvious choice, to me, is Xavier Cedeno. But since signing a minor-league deal in mid-February, he’s yet to throw a meaningful pitch is spring ball. He’s likely going to miss the opener, and might not return until the first or second week of April. That being said, he might have the most promising numbers of all the candidates.

Last season, between the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers, Cedeno pitched 33 1/3 innings with 34 strikeouts and a 2.43 ERA combined. In an eight-year career, he’s carried a 3.69 ERA with an ERA+ of 111. Last season, his ERA+ between both stops was 175.

Cedeno also saw a higher amount of high-leverage situations, which in my opinion, is what ‘LOOGYS’ are often put into. One thing to point out, of 21 inherited runners, seven crossed the plate (33%). Many of these were with the White Sox, who while turning the corner, weren’t a good team last year. So take those numbers with a grain of salt.

Once healthy, could Cedeno fill that void that Maddon will call upon often in 2019?