Cubs among six teams at Zack Britton showcase this week

Still needing a proven left-handed option in the bullpen (really, any option capable of retiring left-handed hitters), the Cubs were one of six teams in attendance at Zack Britton's bullpen session on Wednesday.

Britton, 35, hasn't been an elite relief presence since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Injuries have taken a heavy toll on the two-time All-Star, who threw just two-thirds of an inning in 2022 and just 19 total frames since the end of that aforementioned 2020 campaign. That could mean a discounted contract for interested suitors, which aligns perfectly with the Cubs' reported interest.

Zack Britton would be a logical gamble for a team like the Cubs

It wasn't that long ago Britton was one of the game's most prominent left-hander relievers. From 2014 to 2020, the lefty made 396 appearances, working to a 2.93 FIP, 1.051 WHIP and 230 ERA+. The last two years have made it clear, though, that betting on him returning to form is a high-stakes gamble and one that probably won't pay off - at least in the sense he's unlikely to be an All-Star at this point.

But if he can be had on a one-year deal at low cost, he's an ideal addition for a team like the Cubs. Not only do they have an impressive track record in recent years with similar veteran relief pitchers, but a revamped internal pitching development infrastructure could lure Britton to the North Side and, hopefully, help him be a valuable asset to the team in 2023.

And if that's the case, but the team struggles, Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins have demonstrated what they're capable of when trading these guys to contenders: just look what they got in return for a few months of 37-year-old David Robertson last summer. Chicago doesn't have to be all-in on Britton, though, with a handful of other lefty arms still looking for homes as spring training gets started this week.