Chicago Cubs: Free agent relievers the team could look at

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 24: Sam Dyson #49 of the Minnesota Twins pitches in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field on August 24, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players' Weekend. The Minnesota Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers 8-5. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

3 of 4

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: An underrated asset who could fill a need

When Craig Stammen came up with the Washington Nationals in 2009, he was a starter that struggled over the next two seasons. When he made the switch to reliever he found his place in baseball. Since 2011 when he became a full-time reliever, Stammen sports a 2.92 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 1.18 WHIP, 8.5 BB/9 an 2.6 BB/9 in 384 games.

Last season he pitched to a 3.29 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 8.0 K/9 in 82 innings of work. Stammen has had very nice control only walking 32 batters the past two seasons (161 innings) and has recorded 70+ strikeouts in his past three seasons. Again, he is not a strikeout machine but he gets them. Kind of like the previous guys he gets a decent number of balls on the ground and uses his sinker more than any other pitch.

Stammen’s previous contract with San Diego was a two-year deal which saw him make $2.25 million last season. He is going not going to break the bank and the Cubs could get him at a very reasonable price. Since missing nearly two seasons he has given the Padres 60-76 games the past three years. This is the kind of pitcher that is nice to have available for multiple situations that are not necessarily back-end duties.

Home/Chicago Cubs News