5 free agent relievers the Chicago Cubs need on their wish list

With Major League Baseball currently in a lockout, teams are no longer able to sign players to major league contracts until a new CBA is reached. However, that does not stop front offices from doing their due diligence and coming up with a plan on who to go after in free agency once CBA talks finalize and free agency becomes available again.

The Chicago Cubs quickly learned the importance of urgency in this offseason’s free agency foray prior to the lockout hitting – and pulled off a major win in signing Marcus Stroman and Yan Gomes last week. Chicago’s starting rotation, on paper at least, is much improved from a season ago. You already have three guys in Kyle Hendricks, Stroman and Wade Miley who are capable of putting up above-average numbers in any given season.

Where the Cubs still lack however, is the bullpen. As many remember, the Cubs sent Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel packing at the trade deadline, ultimately ripping up the greatest strength the team had in the back end of their bullpen. Needless to say, things quickly unraveled after the deadline and a bullpen that saw itself grace many leaderboards early in the year, quickly went down in flames as pitching proved to be the team’s undoing.

Luckily, with a strong free agent class and ownership’s willingness to spend this winter, the Cubs can patch things up in short order. Though several All-Stars have already inked new deals, there is still a lot of quality out there. The Cubs will need to be ready to strike as soon as free agency reopens. Let’s take a glance of some of the best arms that could be key in reigniting the bullpen flame that was put out at the trade deadline last season.

Chicago Cubs: Top 5 free agent relievers to target – #4: Ryan Tepera

Ryan Tepera was a key piece of the Cubs’ three-headed monster at the back end of the bullpen last year. He went on to put up even better numbers on the South Side upon being traded at the deadline. In a Cubs uniform, Tepera had a 2.90 ERA – and with the White Sox, he worked to a 2.50 mark. All told, he put up a 2.79 ERA and 2.73 FIP between the teams, establishing himself as a premier bullpen arm.

Once Tepera left, there was a gaping hole in the late innings for the Cubs. Re-signing Tepera after losing him at the deadline could end up being a power move. Twenty-three-year-old Bailey Horn, who was acquired by the Cubs via the Tepera trade, struggled at South Bend this summer – but going out and bringing Tepera back in free agency means it’s a no-risk situation for Chicago.

Tepera likely won’t garner elite-level money – and could be a significant boost to the bullpen mix. Given the improvements in the rotation, there’s likely less to be asked of when it comes to the relievers. Hopefully that means guys like Tepera aren’t run ragged like they were in 2021. Given the success he had on the North Side in the past, there’s cause to have hope he can do it again moving forward.

Chicago Cubs: Top 5 free agent relievers to target – #3: Andrew Chafin

Andrew Chafin is yet another former Cub who was sorely missed post-trade deadline. Much like Tepera, the veteran left-hander experienced a career year at the Friendly Confines – and he picked up right where he left off upon joining the Athletics. In Chicago, ‘the Sheriff’ had a 2.06 ERA, which was then shaved to a minuscule 1.53 ERA in 29 1/3 innings during his time in Oakland.

During his brief stay in the Windy City, Chafin quickly became a fan favorite and rightfully so. He was seemingly lights-out every time he took the mound. Another sorely-needed veteran presence, Chafin actually recorded five saves in an Athletics uniform which set a career-high for him, further proving his value for a team in desperate need of bullpen help.

Chafin is definitely someone the Cubs need to target and be ready to make a phone call to once the lockout is over. The three-man combo of Tepera/Chafin/Kimbrel pretty much ensured the Cubs a victory if they held a lead heading into the seventh inning. Regaining that type of confidence late in games could make a dramatic difference in how the team fares in 2022.

Chicago Cubs: Top 5 free agent relievers to target – #2: Trevor Rosenthal

Trevor Rosenthal graces this list due to the probability of him being a budget-friendly option post-lockout. Signed in February by the Athletics, Rosenthal found himself sitting out for the entirety of the season due to a torn hip labrum that ultimately required surgery. He never threw a pitch with the team.

For his career, however, Rosenthal has showcased closer abilities and has impressed with a sub-3.00 ERA in four of the last eight years. Most notably, in 2014 and 2015, Rosenthal recorded a total of 93 saves between the two campaigns and is still thought to have a good amount left in the tank as he now just 31 years of age.

Though a risk factor after season-ending surgery, Rosenthal’s upside is extremely high. Should he get back to form, he is a steal for any team as his injury will more than likely force him into a lower dollar contract and we all know the Cubs are all about trying to find the cheapest/highest upside player they can find.

If Rosenthal does become his dominant self once more, he can be one of the main catalysts to a bullpen’s success. There’s risk, sure – but his potential upside could likely prompt the Cubs to roll the dice.

Chicago Cubs: Top 5 free agent relievers to target – #1: Kenley Jansen

A staple in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen and the reliever who ranks second in saves among active players behind only Kimbrel, Kenley Jansen lands at number 1 on this list. Jansen is a future Hall of Famer who has already amassed 350 saves to go along with a dazzling 2.37 career ERA.

In 2021, Jansen had another spectacular year. Proving there is plenty more where that came from, Jansen hurled 69 innings, the third-most of his career and only 7 2/3 innings shy of his career-high mark from 2013. Along with that, he had an incredible 2.22 ERA, the best mark he has had since 2017 and 2016 where he had an ERA of 1.83 and 1.32, respectively.

The only area of concern for Jansen in 2021 was his elevated walk rate which rose to a 4.7 base on balls per nine innings, up from his career mark of 2.6 BB/9. As Jansen has done over the years, I have full confidence he will continue to adjust his pitches while mixing in his dominant cutter to keep hitters guessing as he has over the course of his career. His walk rate in 2021 elevated his FIP to 3.08, which is still quite impressive.

A three-time All-Star, Jansen’s list of accolades speaks for itself. Should the Cubs go after at least two names on this list, their bullpen will be mightily improved from a mere two months ago. With a patched up starting rotation and bullpen, Chicago could once again will find itself in the postseason hunt.