3 relievers the Chicago Cubs could target without breaking the bank

2. A.J. Minter

A particularly massive criticism that can be levied at the Cubs' 2024 bullpen is that they lacked a lefty for much of the season. Luke Little appeared to be making strides as a big-league-caliber reliever, but a left lat strain cut his campaign short. Leiter Jr., who functioned as their lefty out-getter thanks to his reverse splits, was also traded at the deadline for Jack Neilly and Ben Cowles. Whether Little bounces back or not, there has to be a concerted effort from the team to address their lack of answers from the left side.

Caleb Ferguson would be one fine option coming off a middling year, but A.J. Minter stands out for the upside. The Braves reliever has had plenty of success over the years in Atlanta, pitching to a career 3.28 ERA and 2.89 FIP. By results, 2024 was more of the same, with a 2.62 ERA in a more limited 34 1/3 innings and a lesser but still solid 26.1% strikeout rate. Though he's better utilized as a setup man, he does also have some experience as a closer if needed and has boasted a fastball around 96 mph for most of his tenure.

What will ultimately keep Minter's price lower comes down to injuries. A left hip impingement sidelined him for most of the year and eventually required surgery to repair. Whether it's related to the injury or not, his average fastball velocity also dipped to 94.8 mph, the lowest mark of his entire career. There's always going to be a concern over whether he'll be able to recapture his form even from as recent as 2023 or 2022. For a Cubs team that doesn't seem willing to approach the top of the relief market, shouldering that risk might be worth it for a guy with a history of sustained success on a contending team.