Cubs Rumors: Mike Minor isn't the bullpen addition this team needs

Jed Hoyer sure made it sound like we can count on at least one more addition to the Cubs bullpen in the coming days and weeks. For months, the need for more left-handed arms in the mix has been painfully evident - and while we've heard names like Zack Britton, Brad Hand and Will Smith for some time, we now have a new (and disappointing) addition to the list in Mike Minor.

"“There are still free agents out there, so I wouldn’t be shocked if we brought someone. Our group is always working. We’re generally done. But if someone came into camp, I wouldn’t be shocked, just because there are some players out there, in particular some relievers.”"

Jed Hoyer, Cubs president

Minor, who turned 35 in December, has been a disaster over the last three years, dating back to the start of the shortened 2020 season. During that span, the left-hander has amassed 313 1/3 innings, pitching to a 5.46 ERA, 4.95 FIP and 1.363 WHIP. There's no way you can look at those numbers and honestly believe he's going to, all of the sudden, re-emerge as a late-inning weapon.

Cubs would be wasting our time and their money on Mike Minor

In his entire career, Minor has just one season as a reliever under his belt - and that came back in 2017 with Kansas City. That might not seem like very long ago, but six years is no short stretch, especially in the career of a big league pitcher who's battled his fair share of injuries.

Those injuries took a toll in 2022 and reportedly, how last year played out for Minor had him contemplating retirement at one point. Again, this just isn't checking a lot of boxes for me personally. The only box it could check even from the Cubs' standpoint is the fact he'd probably be available for next-to-nothing, allowing the team to stay under the CBT threshold.

Chicago desperately needs improved depth from the left side at the major league level, but throwing money at someone like Minor isn't the answer here. I'm all for the success Jed Hoyer and the front office have had over the years in jump-starting veteran arms in the pen, but I have trouble believing even the on-the-rise pitching development that's now in place could make this work.