5 options the Chicago Cubs have for the closer role in the bullpen

3. Corey Knebel

The only outside option on this list is former all-star closer Corey Knebel. Last year, Knebel signed a 1-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies and he tossed 44.2 innings to the tune of a 3.43 ERA. More importantly, Knebel collected 12 saves in 16 opportunities for the World Series runner-up. Knebel has been a successful closer in the past, and he is currently on the free agent market.

That is the worrying part because virtually every team always needs extra arms and if a guy like Knebel is still out there unsigned, it means something is amiss. Especially because he is only 31 years old and coming off a good year. There must be a reason why teams have steered clear of him, and perhaps the answer is he is asking for too much money. The Phillies gave him $10 million last year, and that is just an unrealistic price to pay a guy like him who could end up not coming through. But if his asking price comes down significantly perhaps the Cubs should explore his services.