Chicago Cubs: Looking at potential acquisitions to bolster the bullpen

Chicago Cubs: Proven veterans anchored the bullpen (mostly)

Cishek and Kintzler both has solid seasons and bringing both of them back for the 2020 season would be an ideal endeavor. However, since Cishek and Kintzler are both in their mid-30s and would probably cost near $10 million annually for two or three years, bringing both of them back seems like a stretch for the front office.

Cishek, 33, pitched in 70 games this season, working to a 2.95 ERA, but slightly less ideal 4.54 FIP. That marks two-straight campaigns where his ERA has outperformed his FIP by a wide margin. Kintzler, 35, pitched in 62 games this season, turning in a 2.68 ERA in a nice bounceback campaign. 

Meanwhile, Strop, who has already expressed that he wants to come back to the North Side of Chicago in 2020, made 50 plate appearances, going 2-5 with an uncharacteristic 4.97 ERA. Strop was injured for a portion of the 2019 season and endured one of the worst seasons of his career.

In the end, the 34-year-old did end the season strong and could be brought back on a fairly cheap deal. Besides looking internally, the Cubs should be looking toward free agents on the market and within their farm system.