Chicago Cubs: 3 cost-effective free agent relievers with huge upside

It’s easy to get caught up in the Carlos Correa and Seiya Suzuki rumors. After all, we watched our beloved Chicago Cubs dismantle the core last summer and in terms of star power, well, suffice to say it’s lacking right now on the North Side.

But there are several other areas the team will need to be active in once the lockout lifts if they want to make a surprise run in 2022 – or even be remotely competitive. One of those areas is the bullpen, which was ravaged in the midseason sell-off last year.

Early in 2021, the Cubs bullpen ranked among the best in baseball and was a main contributor for the team’s early success. After the trade deadline… well, things didn’t go so well. Thankfully, there are several relievers on the cheap side that could still allow some big-ticket shopping on offense. Revamping the bullpen is a must. Let’s glance over three of those high upside, cost-effective relievers that can be had before the season starts.

Chicago Cubs: 3 low-cost free agent relievers to consider: #3 – Juan Minaya

After a career year from Juan Minaya, the Minnesota Twins surprisingly decided to non-tender him. Through the first four years of Minaya’s major league career, he played for the Chicago White Sox, where he pitched to the tune of a 3.93 ERA over 128 2/3 innings. Last season, Minaya found another level and put up even better numbers, recording a 2.48 ERA over 40 innings of work.

Surprisingly, Minaya has found more success at the major league level rather than the minor leagues. Last season, with Triple-A St. Paul, however, he did post a 3.41 ERA over 29 frames. In the Dominican Winter League this winter for the Gigantes del Cibao he has put up a 2.25 ERA over 12 innings, staying in good form and showing teams he still has plenty left in the tank entering his age-31 season.

We’ve already seen the Cubs pick up Wade Miley and Marcus Stroman. Rumors tying the Cubs to Correa show that the team is looking to get aggressive sooner rather than later. In other words, they’re not going to pursue the Correas and Stromans of the world and not address the bullpen, as well. To do that, though, you need to hit on some more budget-friendly names – and Minaya is just that.

Chicago Cubs: 3 low-cost free agent relievers to consider: #2 – Hunter Wood

Hunter Wood makes this list because of his very interesting upside. First off, let’s discuss his cost-effective nature. He elected free agency after last season ended after pitching just five innings at the big league level in 2021 before requiring elbow surgery at the end of June. There is a chance he won’t be quite ready for spring training but the thought is if he has to miss any time, it won’t be much.

Coming off a surgery is always rough. Given that fact, his contract more than likely will not be expensive at all and, if he can bounce back quickly, there’s a lot of upside here. The risk is pretty low given how affordable he’s likely to be on even a prove-it deal and his numbers show there’s promise there when healthy.

Over 91 2/3 innings at the major league level, Wood has recorded a respectable 3.34 ERA and 4.04 FIP. He currently has an 8.4 career K/9 which isn’t bad but his biggest red flags sit in his WHIP. In his career, he’s allowed just under nine hits per nine – but has largely avoided major trouble. Regardless, if he can cut down on the baserunners, there might be more here.