Best remaining relievers the Chicago Cubs can still acquire

Good morning and welcome to MLB Trade Deadline line day. As a quick recap, the Cubs were able to secure Jeimer Candelario and Jose Cuas, and today figures to be an eventful one, given that the front office has decided to make moves to help propel the team toward a playoff push. They got their bat, and now they must add to the bullpen at the major league level.

I fully expect David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates to be moved today, but I do not expect the Cubs to pay the price it will take to acquire his services. Where I keep circling back is the like of lefties Aaron Bummer from the Chicago White Sox and Brooks Raley if the Mets decide to move him. I discussed my thoughts on Bummer yesterday, and I would at least approach the situation optimistically if the Cubs got him. However, who I'm seeing more and more as a potential fit is the New York Yankees and veteran Wandy Peralta.

A report from Joel Sherman of the New York Post late last evening shows that the Yankees are listening to offers on guys on expiring deals and mainly note Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Josh Donaldson, and Peralta as guys that could be had. The article points out that the Yankees are at a point financially where they are about 1.0MM over the highest luxury tax tier and want to avoid penalties by getting under as much as possible. Moving a guy like Peralta means they get a decent prospect for a rental, something the Cubs have several of.

On the season, the southpaw Peralta has posted a 2.29 ERA and four saves in 39.1 frames. That kind of production, especially from a lefty, is what the Cubs desperately need, and they could be in line to take on Peralta's salary, which narrowly puts the Yankees under the highest tier.

The Cubs also want to stay under the first tier of the luxury tax this season. After picking up Candelario, however, they have a little north of 5.0M to spend. They currently sit at $228.3M. So, picking up Peralta, even sending back someone like Patrick Wisdom, who the Cubs need to remove from the 26-man roster to make room for Candelario, could be exciting. Given that he still has three options, the Yankees could do whatever they want with him until Donaldson is off the books this winter. That's all speculation, of course, as the Yankees may not be interested in Wisdom and prefer something else; either way, the Cubs need to be on the line today and beef up their bullpen.

The Latest News & Rumors: