Cubs Rumors: They have had plenty of flirtations with left-handed reliever Tony Watson throughout the last few years.
The Chicago Cubs have had his name on their radar for quite some time. Tony Watson–a member of the San Francisco Giants–had been a name that was thrown around in 2017 and was also discussed as a potential target this past winter.
The 34-year-old has a 2.71 ERA in his eight-plus years in the league and has a proven track record of success in the National League Central after making the NL All-Star team with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2014.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are in desperate need of an impact lefty at the back-end of their bullpen. Kyle Ryan has been serviceable, but manager Joe Maddon likes to deploy him in platoon situations. Randy Rosario is only just returning from Triple-A, and Mike Montgomery has struggled to find his groove this season.
Craig Kimbrel‘s arrival has allowed Pedro Strop to return to a setup role, and the Cubs are still hoping that Brandon Morrow will be available in the near future. But the team still lacks a left-handed arm that can come in and get crucial outs against some of the most dangerous hitters in the game.
At the very least, Chicago should make inquiries on his availability.