Cubs could benefit from odd Orioles' roster management that ousted successful bullpen arm

It's no secret that the Chicago Cubs are desperate for pitching. Heck, things looked so bad for a moment that some fans were clamoring for a reunion with Craig Kimbrel -- in 2026!

Sans Justin Steele, Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, and Edward Cabrera, the team is barely surviving in the rotation right now. The bullpen has been more tolerable, though ostensible set-up man Phil Maton's rapid decline doesn't help matters on that front.

As such, it's only fair to expect Jed Hoyer to engage with every pitcher who becomes available, either by way of trade or free agency, in the coming weeks and months. Former Baltimore Orioles staff member Albert Suárez fits that description, having just been released despite a strong start to the 2026 season.

The 36-year-old has made seven long-relief appearances out of the bullpen this year, covering nearly 20 innings while pitching to a 2.75 ERA. He's obviously got his flaws, but he could provide key length to the Cubs on an eminently affordable contract.

Albert Suárez is a deeply flawed pitcher who can help the Cubs stay afloat

The best trait Suárez has going for him is his versatility. He made 24 starts and tossed 133 2/3 innings in 2024, and he's since stepped into, primarily, a relief role in Baltimore. His ability to provide length at any point in the game is a valuable one, and it could save the Cubs' best arms a lot of bullets while the team waits out better health for their established stars.

Still, there's a reason the Orioles cut him loose despite his sterling ERA. He's one of the league's worst pitchers when it comes to racking up strikeouts, which is the antithesis of what the Cubs have been trying to build in the bullpen this year. Likewise, his utter inability to keep the ball on the ground is a Cardinal sin in Wrigley Field, and wouldn't be a great fit while pitching in front of the team's elite infield defense.

In fact, his whole Baseball Savant page is as blue as the ocean; the only metric he's been above average in is hard-hit rate, but even that's betrayed by subpar exit velocity numbers. His fastball is his best and primary pitch, but it only averages 93.3 miles per hour; he's hardly got the arsenal to pitch in leverage spots.

That's a lot of red flags to juggle, but the Cubs aren't in position to be choosy. They recently signed Liam Hendriks and Aaron Bummer, two veteran relievers whose best days are also behind them.

Suárez isn't the savior this pitching staff so desperately needs, but he can chew innings with the best of 'em. For now, that's good enough to meet the Cubs' standards.

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