Former Cubs' bullpen gem met with Angels' fate that was all too predictable

The Chicago Cubs were forced to reconstruct their bullpen during the offseason, considering most of the success stories they had, like Drew Pomeranz, were set to become free agents. While the Cubs prioritized the return of Caleb Thielbar, and had some interest in a reunion with Brad Keller, there were obvious reasons why Pomeranz wasn't likely to be brought back.

That's not meant as a slight toward the veteran lefty, he had success last year. It's the type of deal that Jed Hoyer often finds success with, targeting a veteran that was blocked in a different organization. That was the case for Pomeranz last year, and the Cubs struck gold.

The 31-year-old posted a 2.17 ERA out fo the Cubs' bullpen last year while striking out over 28% of the hitters he faced. There was reason to believe that success wasn't sustainable, however, given that Pomeranz's FIP was 3.48. That's still a respectable number, but given his age, he was a clear regression candidate this season.

Cubs likely knew a Drew Pomeranz regression was approaching

It was a lesson learned by the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels signed Pomeranz to a one-year deal worth $4 million, and the experiment never quite went right. Pomeranz had an ERA of 5.01 in 25 appearances with the Halos, and his strikeout rate fell to 14.8%. Making things worse, he was also working over 11% of the hitters he faced.

It's why it doesn't come as a surprise that the Angels have moved on from Pomeranz. He was designated for assignment on Monday in a series of roster moves for LA. The Cubs certainly have issues when it comes to identifying the right relief pitchers to target during the offseason, but in the case of moving on, the team rarely gets a decision wrong.

While we're on that subject, Keller has a 4.15 ERA with the Phillies this season. Even Thielbar has struggled, posting a 3.50 ERA with the Cubs this season, but a 5.10 FIP that is a better indicator of how he's looked out of the bullpen.

If nothing else, it's another remind that from year to year, relievers can be volatile. With the help of Daniel Palencia, Jacob Webb, and Ryan Rolison, the Cubs' bullpen hasn't been a weak spot this season. Though, it's clear that the front office will likely add another high-leverage relief pitcher to the mix before the deadline if they are in a position to do so.

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