5 Chicago Cubs players in their final month with the team

There are better fits for the Cubs bullpen than veteran Drew Smyly

Left-hander Drew Smyly narrowly missed making history in April 2023, when he flirted with perfection at Wrigley Field. This year, he's been Craig Counsell's go-to guy out of the bullpen, but has struggled here late in the year, allowing a half-dozen runs in five September appearances.

Like I said, he's outpaced his FIP all year long, but that seems to be equalizing here in the season's final weeks. A solid swingman, Smyly should have no problem finding work this offseason after (I hope) the Cubs decline their end of the mutual option on his contract.

Given the sheer number of starting pitchers in the mix even without external additions, it's clear that Smyly is expendable. Someone like Jordan Wicks or Ben Brown can slot in and take this role and, hopefully, Hoyer goes out and adds at least one (hopefully more than one) shutdown southpaws for the bullpen because it's been an area of need for far too long.