Cubs 2020 bullpen could be better and cheaper than before

If you found yourself lamenting the performance and cost of the Chicago Cubs 2019 bullpen, there could be relief on both counts right around the corner.

The Chicago Cubs bullpens are fickle creatures that bear no resemblance to the oft mundane nature of consistent major league ballplayers who follow routines and have similar stats year-in and year-out. One year, you catch lightning in a bottle with a rare vintage of Brian Duensing, circa 2017. The next, you can’t get rid of that bitter and mediocre Riesling… er Duensing fast enough.

That being said, it’s hard to come to grips with how bad some of the usually stellar Cubs relievers were at times in 2019. Some of the guys, like Pedro Strop and Steve Cishek, had pitched fabulously for both the Cubs and Joe Maddon for years. Others had shown promise at times in big situations for the Cubs, like Carl Edwards Jr. and Mike Montgomery, but had struggled to find consistency out of the pen. Still others, like handsomely paid closer Craig Kimbrel, were expected to be very good and laid an egg in the first go-round in the Friendly Confines.

While the 2019 iteration of the Chicago Cubs bullpen came up a bit short in terms of expectations and performance, some signs could be pointing to a much better and a much cheaper relief unit next season. Between trades, saying goodbye to costly vets who were once good for the Cubs, and jettisoning oft-injured guys, the Cubs could very well experience a considerable upswing in performance out of the pen at a much cheaper cost than last season

Chicago Cubs: Strop will only be back in 2020 if he works cheap

While some of the expensive relievers from 2019 who are now free agents could quite possibly agree to new contracts with the Cubs, the cost of said contracts will not be an albatross to the Cubs free agent plan this offseason. Strop, Cishek, and Brandon Kintzler will no longer be making $17.75 million as they did in 2019.

That’s right, $17.75 million. While Kintzler was suitable for the most part, Cishek and Strop had their worst years as Cubs while making career highs in salary. With both being north of six million dollars and 33 years of age in 2019, the wall seemed to hit both rights in the foreheads this past season.

In addition to the guys who toed the rubber in 2019 for the Cubs, you also have the case of Brandon Morrow. Elite when healthy, Morrow struggled to stay on the mound at all after injuries in 2018. While there was hope at different points during this past season that Morrow might return, those hopes and dreams were completely unfounded in reality. At nine million dollars, Morrow’s salary relief adds to the coffers of the Cubs in 2020.

Another expensive veteran who cost the Cubs a bit of coin in 2019 was Tyler Chatwood. Originally signed to be a starter, Chatwood flashed some of the stuff Theo Epstein and company saw when signing him to a three-year deal to be a starting pitcher. There’s been more than a little whispering about a possible return to the rotation for Chatwood, mainly if Jose Quintana would be traded at some point. While these cost savings won’t help the Cubs in a broad sense, as the money from a “reliever” would just be shifted to a “starter,” the cost of the pen would undoubtedly decrease considerably should Chatwood go back to starting.

Chicago Cubs: Wick served notice to the NL that he could be a force

There is currently one big name on the bullpen salary list if Chatwood is considered a starter in 2020: closer Craig Kimbrel. At $16 million, Kimbrel could very well be the only reliever who makes more than a million dollars.

If they so desired, the Cubs could roll into next year carrying Kimbrel and a bunch of guys making somewhere between the league minimum and a million bucks. While it’s doubtful they do just that, given the performance of the pen last year, it’s hard to quibble with this cheaper alternative.

Epstein and Jed Hoyer will be on the lookout for bargain-basement options and dive into a few dumpsters. Still, without another big signing for the relief corps, the total damage for the entire 2020 pen would fall short of what we paid for Kimbrel, Cishek, and Strop a season ago.

Amongst those not making a ton of money but capable of making a ton of impact: Rowan Wick, Kyle Ryan, Alec Mills, Brad Wieck, Duane Underwood Jr. Dillon Maples, Adbert Alzolay, James Norwood, Danny Hultzen, Tyson Miller, Colin Rea, Justin Steele, and newly acquired Jharel Cotton. Chances are, the first four will be locks with the rest of the spots going to cheap veteran pick-ups and the rest of the guys on this list riding the Iowa shuttle based on need and performance during the season.