Cubs hope Mason Miler trade afterthought becomes unexpected bullpen help

No, the Chicago Cubs don't have Mason Miller in their bullpen, and considering Jed Hoyer's ideologies, they likely won't anytime soon. Though, Hoyer's latest gamble is taking a chance on a player involved in the San Diego Padres' trade for Miller last summer.

On Monday, the Cubs claimed right-handed relief pitcher Eduardniel Núñez off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Despite Núñez occupying a spot on the Cubs' 40-man roster, he has already been assigned to the Arizona Complex League. Núñez is healthy, but as the team did with Aaron Bummer and Liam Hendriks, they want to put him through the pitch lab before assigning him to an affiliate.

The 27-year-old got his start in professional baseball with the Cubs in 2017 before ending up with the Padres at the start of last season. He was included as footnote in the Miller trade at the deadline last year, and he posted an ERA of 9.00 in six appearances with the Athletics to close out the season.

Eduarniel Núñez has the very thing the Cubs lack

Núñez has a fastball capable of reaching triple digits, but this year, his velocity has been down. That could be part of the reason why the Cubs have optioned him to complex league, hoping to figure out the kink in his mechanics. If it gets corrected, he almost certainly will be an option for the bullpen later this season.

As an organization, the Cubs don't appear to prioritize velocity. General manager Carter Hawkins was recently asked about that reality, and deflected to the idea that Hunter Harvey was on the IL. The easy retort is that signing someone like Harvey has been the exception for the Cubs in recent years. Outside fo the development of Daniel Palencia, the Cubs really haven't had a high-leverage relief pitcher capable of reaching triple digits.

Along those lines, it is encouraging to see the Cubs take a chance on someone like Núñez. Yes, he needs some fixing but as the San Diego Padres proved with former Cubs castoffs Jeremiah Estrada, there's a chance to strike gold if it works. That is the type of development the Cubs have missed out on in recent years when it comes to their pitching development.

Núñez isn't going to be the solve-all for that reality, but it's a step in the right direction.

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