3 relievers the Chicago Cubs could target without breaking the bank

Although he admitted his failings in setting the Chicago Cubs bullpen up for success in 2024, don't expect Jed Hoyer to change his approach anytime soon. The team President once again indicated that the team will be looking for effective relievers on a lower budget, targeting guys they believe their infrastructure can put in the right spots to thrive. It also means leaning on talented young arms like Porter Hodge to continue breaking out and thriving throughout the season.

That's not likely to sit well with any Cubs fans after a year where their late-inning failings early in the season helped sink their season before it even reached the halfway mark. 2023, similarly, saw them lean too heavily on Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, and Mark Leiter Jr. and flame out at the very end. Even if it's an inconsistent strategy at best and they could use another shutdown arm, it can still work out in the end - as long as they target the right guys.

The good news is that this offseason will be full of interesting names for teams looking to restock their bullpen on the relatively cheap. There's a lot of room for the Cubs to play around in a similar realm to last year's ill-fated $9 million Hector Neris signing, without having to approach the contracts arms like Tanner Scott are likely going to draw. Let's look at three names that the team should have circled this winter to improve their chances in 2025.

1. Jorge López

The most obvious move the Cubs can make with their bullpen is to simply bring back one of the guys that spearheaded their turnaround. Jorge López was a revelation down the stretch in Chicago, pitching to a 2.03 ERA and 3.20 FIP in 26 2/3 innings with the team. For the year between the Cubs and Mets, he also boasted a respectable 3.59 xERA. As a back-end setup guy with the ability to step in and close on occasion, he was exactly the remedy the team needed, adding a bit of power with a fastball that topped out this year at around 98 mph.

Importantly, López felt very comfortable pitching with the Cubs. His time in New York ended in ugly fashion after a misunderstanding following a game where he was ejected and threw his glove into the stands. The situation turned out to be a blessing for both parties as the righty's ERA fell 1.73 points in Chicago while his strikeout rate and groundball rate surged from 17.1% and 44.2% to 29.2% and 59.1%. They know how to put López in positions to succeed. Relievers are volatile, but the relationship gives hope that they can make it work again if he remains healthy.

Since his conversion into a reliever with Baltimore in 2022, López has shown an extremely high upside that the Cubs desperately need. His performance in his brief stint in Cubbie blue and comfort with the team is more than enough reason to hand him another one-to-two-year contract to continue pitching on the North Side.

3. José Leclerc

Many of the best bullpens in baseball, like Cleveland, Atlanta, and San Diego, also post some of the best strikeout rates. It's always possible to thrive without swing-and-miss stuff, but the Cubs must continue to add swing-and-miss type pitchers to ensure they can take randomness and fielding mistakes out of the equation when a game is on the line. One of the more intriguing options that will offer that skillset at a lower price will be Rangers righty José Leclerc.

Leclerc has enjoyed a run in Texas that has been a bit rocky, though never really disastrous in any season. He boasts an ERA of 3.27 for his career and a 3.44 FIP with no individual campaigns sporting an ERA north of 4.50. On paper, 2024 seemed like one of his worst seasons with a 4.37 ERA, but expected stats tell a different story. Ranking among the top four percent of pitchers in whiff rate and hard-hit percentage, his xERA came out to a much more favorable 3.57 with a 3.17 FIP that stands as his third-best season.

There are concerns to be had with his walk rate, of course. Leclerc has never been great at limiting free passes and 2024 was no exception as he ranked in the 14th percentile with an 11.1% walk rate. That's never a great sign for a pitcher, but it hasn't yet stopped the hard-throwing righty from finding consistent success. 2023 was likely his shining moment, too, when he stepped up in a major way for the Rangers by becoming the first player in MLB postseason history to close his club's first seven games. He pitched a total of 13.2 innings with a 3.29 ERA for Texas when the lights shone brightest, playing a vital role in their first World Series win.

For the Cubs, Leclerc's highs could be worth the risk of experiencing his lows. Though not without flaws and a history of Tommy John surgery in 2021, he's still found relatively consistent success in relief, something this team needs to compete in 2025. It ultimately doesn't matter who they bring in this offseason though. In the end, they just have to be right in their evaluation.