3 relievers the Chicago Cubs could target without breaking the bank

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.