Chicago Cubs nearly convinced this veteran reliever to spurn his hometown team

There is a growing expectation that the Chicago Cubs will address their need in the bullpen before the start of Spring Training in February and among the free-agent reliever that the Cubs were in talks with was veteran left-hander Brent Suter.

Suter agreed to a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds last week but prior to the deal, the Cubs were making an effort to reunite him with manager Craig Counsell.

Suter recently spoke with FanSided's MLB insider Robert Murray and talked about the pitch from the Cubs.

"“Reuniting with Counsell was very intriguing and the Cubs definitely had a lot of interest,” Suter told FanSided. “Counsell is simply one of the best managers I have ever seen in my life and I love that guy.”"

- FanSided

Unfortunately, as Suter went on to discuss with Murray, the Cubs could not overcome the reliever's interest in pitching for his hometown team.

It goes without saying that the Cubs must address their need in the bullpen before the start of the season. The Cubs remain interested in trading for Cleveland Guardians' closer Emmanuel Clase but the path to a deal remains complicated.

There is the potential for the Cubs to reunite Counsell with another reliever that he used to manage in Josh Hader but the latest reports. were that the Houston Astros were making a push to make a signing.

Robert Stephenson may be a name to keep an eye on for the Cubs. The Cubs were linked to Stephenson earlier this off-season and his market appears to be gaining steam.

Much like their acquisition of Yency Almonte last week, the Cubs are in need of relief pitchers who can bridge the gap from when the starting pitcher leaves the game to when Adbert Alzolay enters the game in the ninth inning. That weakness burned the Cubs last September and will again if not fully addressed.

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