A reunion with an aging former Cubs reliever could be in the cards this winter

With the front office focused on shoring up a bullpen whose struggles put the team behind the eight-ball early last year, the Chicago Cubs have wasted no time scouring the relief market, trading for Eli Morgan and signing right-hander Phil Bickford to a minor-league deal this week.

They're far from done and could use some more proven commodities in the pen. Few in the game come with the level of experience of 39-year-old David Robertson, who dominated with the Cubs in the first half of 2022 before getting dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies for pitching prospect Ben Brown.

Age really does seem like just a number for Robertson who made 68 appearances last year for the Texas Rangers, thriving to the tune of a 2.65 FIP and 1.111 WHIP. It's unlikely he'll get more than a one-year deal - and it'll come at a dramatically increased price tag compared to the $3.5 million Jed Hoyer snagged him for three years ago. He made $10 million last season and opted out of a $7.5 million option for 2025, securing another $1.5 million in the form of a buyout.

Last winter, the Cubs gave Hector Neris $9 million on a one-year deal and it blew up in their faces, eventually ending with the team cutting ties with the veteran mid-season. Even prior to that deal becoming official, though, red flags were everywhere. Chicago ignored them and ultimately paid the price.

With Robertson, no such flags seem to exist. He's been stellar over the last three years, piling up over 200 regular season innings with a 2.82 ERA and a 3.24 FIP, pitching for the Cubs, Marlins, Phillies, Mets and Rangers. His only struggles came in Miami in the second half of 2023, but he showed that was just a bump in the road with a return to form in the Lone Star State this season.

If he's looking for a multi-year deal, the Cubs aren't going to be a player - his age alone guarantees that. But if he lingers on the market and Chicago still seeks added experience in the bullpen, don't rule out a reunion with the 16-year big-league veteran.