3 non-tendered relief pitchers the Chicago Cubs must target in free agency

2. LHP Alex Young

Alex Young is a lefty reliever who has seen a lot of success in recent years when he was healthy. Over 96 innings pitched since 2022, Young has a 3.28 ERA and 86 strikeouts. Like Webb, a deal to sign Young would also not cost the Cubs a ton of cash since he was projected to make $1.4 million. But the New York Mets decided to let Young hit free agency likely due to his injury history.

Back problems and hamstring issues have plagued Young for the last couple of years, limiting his workload. But that's why he comes cheap and the Cubs could take a gamble on Young to help address the team's lack of left-handed relievers. Young gets hitters to produce a lot of ground balls, which could bode well for the Cubs' solid infield defense. The southpaw was able to induce elite swing-and-miss rates in 2023.

Young was claimed by the Mets in July, and he pitched in a lot of vital games for New York in the final weeks of the season, when they were locked in a tight playoff race with Atlanta and Arizona. For his price, it may be worth it for the Cubs to give Young a shot on a short-term deal.