3 solutions for the Cubs to avoid a disaster in the bullpen

Entering play on Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs have a record of 8-5 and are sitting at the top of the National League Central. It's been an encouraging start but one that doesn't come without concern. The concern lies with the bullpen.

The Cubs' bullpen ERA of 4.95 currently ranks eighth worst in baseball . For a team that has aspirations of winning the NL Central for the first time since 2020, that is not a recipe for success. If the bullpen productivity does not increase, changes will have to be made.

With that being said, here are three solutions to help avoid another bullpen meltdown in 2025.

1. Sign David Robertson

This feels like the easiest fix ever. Robertson is still a highly effective reliever, given his 3.00 ERA across 68 appearances in 2024. Along with that, Robertson has had success in a Cubs uniform in his career.

He spent the first half of the 2022 season with the Cubs and pitched to a solid 2.23 ERA across 36 appearances before being traded to the Phillies for the remainder of the season. He has since spent time with the Mets, Marlins, and Rangers.

With the recent struggles of Ryan Pressly, adding Robertson to the bullpen and making him the closer while Pressly moves to middle leverage and sorts some things out could be an option for the Cubs.

2. Swap Ben Brown and Colin Rea

Ben Brown has struggled a bit to begin the season, as his ERA sits at 7.71 through three appearances and two starts. On the other hand, Colin Rea has not appeared in a game since the Cubs' blowout win over the A's on March 31.

Rea has not allowed a run in either of his two outings and it may be time for Chicago to move him into the rotation and transition Brown back into the long reliever role that he spent a bit of time in last season.

3. Swap Pressly and Porter Hodge

Another swap in roles could result in a bit of help and sturdiness from the bullpen. Hodge served as the closer in the second half of the season for Chicago last season and did an excellent job.

He has been solid so far in 2025 and allowed just his first and only run of the season so far in Sunday's loss to the Padres. Even though Pressly has not yet blown a save chance, Hodge has tremendously out-performed him and it may be time to give Hodge the closer role again.

Much like the scenario with signing Robertson, Pressly would move more into middle leverage situations to hope to fix his mechanics and get back to being the elite closer that the Cubs hoped he would be when acquiring him.

While these three solutions wouldn't guarantee anything, it certainly wouldn't be a bad idea to at least try them while the season is still in its early stages rather than waiting until September, when they are in the heat of a divisional race.