Chicago Cubs bullpen can be dominant without Brandon Morrow

Even without Brandon Morrow, who is officially out for the 2019 season, the Chicago Cubs bullpen can dominate the rest of the way.

At this point in the 2019 season, former closer Brandon Morrow was merely going to be a luxury for the Chicago Cubs.

Morrow, whom the Cubs signed to a two-year deal ahead of the 2018 season, last pitched on July 15, 2018. The 35-year-old hit the shelf last season with biceps inflammation, missing the entire second half of the season.

Morrow underwent elbow surgery over the offseason and was expected to miss at least the first month of the 2019 season. Multiple setbacks in his rehab delayed that timeline, the latest of which seemingly closing the book on Morrow’s Cubs career.

On Wednesday, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein announced that Morrow will officially miss the entire 2019 season. Although his contract features a $12 million team option for 2020, it’s highly unlikely the Cubs exercise it.

Thus, Morrow’s time with the club is likely over after just 35 appearances, though his time in a Cubs uniform will be remembered as electric. In 30 2/3 innings last season, Morrow converting 22-of-24 save opportunities while spinning a 1.47 ERA and 1.076 WHIP.

With the Cubs signing Craig Kimbrel to a three-year contract in June, Morrow would not have retained the closer role, had he returned this season.