Cubs Rumors: Will the team go all-in on Pirates hurler Felipe Vazquez?

Cubs Rumors: Maddon doing the best with what he has

To this point, he’s gotten by utilizing the likes of Kyle Ryan, Mike Montgomery and Tim Collins – hardly an imposing trio of southpaws. The addition of Kimbrel allows Maddon to shift Pedro Strop back to where he’s at his best – as the setup man. Guys like Steve Cishek and Carl Edwards move back to the middle innings as firemen, immediately lengthening the bullpen in a big way.

But things just keep circling back to the team’s glaring lack of even a high-quality lefty. Chicago could not only become a powerhouse in the National League by adding someone like Vazquez but keep the Dodgers from adding what could be the missing piece in the club’s quest to return to a third-straight World Series.

Vazquez is enjoying yet another stellar campaign with the Pirates, converting 19 of 21 saves and putting up some pretty eye-catching numbers in the process. He boasts a 1.91 earned run average to go along with a 1.09 WHIP and .210 opponent batting average.

The 27-year-old boasts one of the liveliest fastballs in the league, averaging a well above average 98.1 MPH heater with a 2,622 rpm spin rate. He’s known as a guy who pounds the zone – walking fewer than 2.5 batters per nine while averaging a staggering 13.91 punchouts.