5 left-handed relievers the Cubs should consider in quest to bolster the bullpen

4. Caleb Ferguson

Caleb Ferguson is heading into his age-28 season after stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Houston Astros. His age and career 3.68 ERA are attractive, as are his strikeout percentage of 27 and ground ball percentage of 46.4 last year.

These numbers could play well at Wrigley with the Cubs' solid infield defense. One concern is Ferguson's average fastball velocity dropping from 95.8mph to 93.8 from 2023-2024. But if he leans more on his sinker and pitches to contact, he shouldn't have much trouble getting outs for the Cubs.

Ferguson took a bit of a step back in New York last season, where his ERA ballooned to 5.13 in 42 appearances. He seemed to find better footing in Houston and he generally found success with the strikeout over the course of the year.

5. Hoby Milner

Hoby Milner is a left-handed relief pitcher who has been a consistent presence in the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen over the past few seasons. In 2023, Milner completed a career year, posting a stellar 1.82 ERA across 73 games and 64 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed only 13 earned runs, struck out 59 batters, and maintained an impressive 0.96 WHIP, reflecting his ability to limit baserunners effectively.

Milner relies on an effective sinker and a slider that induce a high percentage of ground balls. This helped him achieve a ground ball rate of nearly 60 percent, a crucial attribute for his role as a situational reliever. His ability to neutralize left-handed hitters made him a key asset for his former manager Craig Counsell. Chicago may look to reunite the pair for the right price since Counsell is very familiar Milner's abilities and he seemed to unlock his full potential during his time in Milwaukee.

Despite not being a high-velocity pitcher, Milner's command and movement make him an effective specialist that the Cubs need.