CHICAGO (670 The Score) – In what’s been a slow-moving offseason for the Cubs, adding to their bullpen remains a focus.
The bullpen was a big part of the Cubs’ success and their struggles in 2023, when they went 83-79 and missed the playoffs by one game. Cubs relievers posted a 3.85 ERA in 2023, which ranked 13th in MLB. For a time, the Cubs bullpen performed among the best in baseball before attrition and overuse led to struggles as the team went 7-15 to close the season.
Since Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer were hired as the Cubs’ lead baseball executives in 2011, the team has been opposed to giving long-term deals to relievers. In his appearance on Inside the Clubhouse on 670 The Score on Saturday, Hoyer explained why.
“The elite, elite closer, the leverage they pitch in can make a difference,” Hoyer said. "But the bullpen performances are the most volatile on the baseball field. We traded for (Aroldis) Chapman (in 2016) because we had inventory to do so and knew in the short-term he could make a difference. Same thing with Wade Davis and moving (Jorge Soler), whom we did not have a place for. The pen is a higher volatility and aggression area. So you want to put your dollars to use in the areas you are most certain about.”
While the Cubs are reluctant to dole out big money to relievers, it doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in acquiring a star in the role. The Cubs have interest in 25-year-old Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase on the trade market, sources said. Clase has led MLB in saves in each of the past two seasons, compiling 86 saves in that stretch. Clase has a 2.00 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 4.92 strikeout-to-walk ratio for his career. He’s been one of the elite bullpen arms for years, though his ERA increased to 3.22 in 2023 and his velocity was down a tick, which could be something to consider moving forward.
Even so, Clase is on an affordable contract that makes him appealing to any suitor. He’s set to make $2.9 million in 2024 and is under team control through 2028. The last two years of his deal are $10-million team options.
Another big-name closer available is Josh Hader, who’s a free agent. He has a connection with new Cubs manager Craig Counsell, having pitched for him in Milwaukee from 2017-’22. With a 2.50 ERA and having struck out 15.0 batters per nine innings in his seven-year MLB career, Hader is as sure of a bet at the back end of a bullpen as anyone in baseball. He had a 1.28 ERA and 33 saves for the Padres in 2023.
Many around the industry believe Hader is looking for a five-year contract in the range of $100 million. If a five-year deal isn’t there for the 29-year-old Hader, that may allow the Cubs to get involved in the negotiations.
“Certainly, the bullpen is an area of priority for us,” Hoyer said.
"It's a hard area when you see bullpen guys who have had multi-year contracts that have struggled and teams that have built the bullpens with sharp-targeted transactions. There are a lot of ways to skin the bullpen cat, but we do need to focus on it. It was an Achilles heel for us last year for sure.”
Hoyer and the Cubs didn’t add a player of significance to their 40-man roster in November or December. Their first big move came last week, when they signed Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga to a four-year, $53-million deal.
“The way I see it is I want to make good deals,” Hoyer said. “I don't want to make deals for the sake of making them. There wasn't anything that presented itself that made sense for us (early in the offseason). Even now, we made a couple of deals this week, but we will make a few more this winter. I don't know if they will happen this week or in February.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.