5 recent non-tenders who are perfect fits for the Cubs

5 non-tenders who are perfect fits for the Cubs: #3 - Alex Reyes

Much the same as Brailyn Marquez was once heralded as a future force to be reckoned with, Alex Reyes was once viewed as the next in a long line of homegrown Cardinals pitchers ready to mow down opposing hitters. Now, his time in St. Louis is at an end after injuries derailed his once-promising career.

Season-ending shoulder surgery in May marked the end of the line for Reyes who, as recently as 2019, was a top 20 prospect in the game, according to Baseball America. Having just turned 28 in August, there's zero doubt that teams will give him a long look this winter, in hopes of getting him back on track at a relative bargain in 2023.

The checkered injury history is troubling, to be sure, but Reyes is the epitome of a high-risk, high-reward option - and one a team looking to make some noise next year like the Cubs should be doing their homework on. Here's what MLBTR had to say in its write-up on his non-tender:

"With that being said, his raw stuff still appears to be there, and despite all the injury problems his velocity has remained steadily in the upper-90s. Depending on his health, Reyes could make a very attractive reclamation project for any number of teams."

With experience both as a starter and a reliever, Reyes could fit nicely into a Cubs staff always looking to harness 'stuff' and help reclamation projects turn the corner. Get this guy into the organization's pitching infrastructure and let's see what happens.