Chicago Cubs: Craig Kimbrel could decide the bullpen’s fate in 2020

Chicago Cubs: Focused, determined Kimbrel wants to rewrite the script

So that’s the taste left in Cubs fans mouths. More than a few people look at Kimbrel now as the latest swing-and-a-miss by the front office, which has been shaky, at best, when it comes to major free agent deals in recent years. With two years left on his deal, the right-hander is looking to silence his critics and prove that he still belongs in the conversation amongst the best ninth-inning arms in baseball.

"“By no means has the struggle that I had this year deterred me or given me any kind of feeling like, ‘I can’t do it,’ or anything like that. I know I can still come out here and be successful and do my job. I’m looking forward to digging into it a little bit more and doing what I can to get better.”"

Kimbrel will likely head into 2020 as the undisputed veteran leader in the Chicago bullpen. The Cubs are losing several key relievers to free agency, including Pedro Strop, Brandon Kintzler and Steve Cishek – to name a few. With young arms such as Rowan Wick, Brad Wieck, Kyle Ryan and Alec Mills – there’s potential and promise. But as we saw in 2019, it’s no longer about hype – it’s about delivering in the big moments.