JANUARY 22, 4:40pm: Duensing’s salary is split into two equal installments, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). Incentives based upon appearances can boost the annual rate by as much as $1.75MM, maxing out if and when Duensing takes the ball for the 65th time.
11:05am: Duensing has passed his physical, as the team has now formally announced his two-year contract. Chicago’s 40-man roster now sits at 39 players.
JANUARY 17: The Cubs have agreed to a two-year deal to bring back lefty Brian Duensing, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). If finalized, it’ll guarantee the southpaw $7MM, per the report. Duensing is a client of the Legacy Agency.
Duensing, who’ll turn 35 years of age before the start of the 2018 season, was targeted by the Cubs last winter. He justified the team’s faith, turning in a quality season on a $2MM salary. Evidently, Duensing also enjoyed his time at Wrigley; per Heyman (via Twitter), Duensing had the chance to earn “significantly more” with other organizations this winter but chose instead to return.
Despite his encroaching age, the results certainly justify the contract. Duensing is fresh off of a 62 1/3-inning campaign in which he carried a 2.74 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9. He also allowed just one earned run on one hit in his five postseason appearances.
In many ways, Duensing’s 2017 work represented a continuation of his typical efforts, as he sat in his usual range of fastball velocity (92 to 93 mph) and continued to bring a starter’s arsenal to bear in the bullpen. He continued a trend in pitch usage, utilizing his offspeed mix (slider/curve/change) more than half the time for the first time in his career, but generally continued down a path he had already embarked upon.
Duensing has generally been tough to square up as a reliever, holding opposing hitters to a .254/.322/.372 slash when he enters from the pen. He was reliable against both lefties and righties in 2017, but he has done that at times previously. Duensing’s 10.3% swinging-strike rate last year was the second highest mark in his career, though that fell mostly in line with prior output. And he carried a solid 48.6% groundball rate in 2017 that doesn’t stand out from his career average, either.
In large part, then, credit is due to the Cubs for recognizing Duensing as an under-appreciated hurler, rather than tweaking his approach. The team will hope that the success can continue even as he continues to age. While the expectation will presumably remain that Duensing will work in a relief role, perhaps it doesn’t hurt that he has a background as (and, as noted, continues to use the pitch mix of) a starter.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
So, the A’s better sign Tony Watson, they have money to spend and after him there aren’t many satisfying options in free agency. The problem is the Astros would also like to sign a lefty and Houston is the place that attracts free agents the most. Who is the best left handed reliever after Watson? Abad? Liriano? Siegrist?
How is Glen Perkins doing? I he is healthy he would fit in that list… and would conceivably come at a lower price
Perkins said that if The Twins don’t offer him a contract to come back (even if it was just a minors deal), he would likely retire.
Thanks, didn’t know that. Why didn’t the Twins sign him already than? On a minor league deal it is worth a(nother) shot.
Pretty sure he’s still a FA.
He doesn’t seem to have anything left, his velocity was way down last year when he returned. Maybe they will eventually bring him in on a minors deal but the Twins have a lot of intriguing pitchers in the upper minors so I don’t see the fit.
Not a bad deal for both, regarding what left-handed relief pitchers are left on the market.
Nooice. Now sign Alex Cobb and win the off season.
Because winning the offseason has worked out so well in the past. Ask the Marlins, Nats, Blue Jays, etc.
Probably best to ask the Padres 🙂
But I wouldn’t really call that ‘winning’ the off season, even though they are good moves. For me, the most team-friendly deal so far is the Kendrick-deal with the Nationals, who also re-signed kintzler.
Don’t forget Contreras… dude was an absolute beast last year.
Shhhhhhh, don’t speak bad of the Padres. @WestcoastRyan is sitting back waiting for his mommy to bring him hot pockets while he decides who he’s going to harass first!
I don’t even like hot pockets you stupid little cvnt
Dotnet post of the day.
And the Astros last year.
I understand the post but winning the offseason is what you have to do. Cubs got Lester and it was the second year the return paid dividends when they won it all. Doesn’t always work out but when it does how sweet it is.Go Cubs!
Who said it was a guarantee to anything. ?
Nope it hasn’t but sure helps. Even when they sign SP they won’t be the team that wins the off season.
But who cares. Address the needs that
Astros won the off season last year.
I’m not sure if Cobb, Duensing and Morrow qualify as winning the offseason
You forgot about Chatwood.
and Cishek
Under the radar moves.
What! The Cubs have made better moves than any other team, and they are going to sign Darvish to a 4 year $90 million deal too. They now have Darvish, Chatwood to make the rotation the best, they have Morrow, Cishek, Duensing, so they have 3 relievers who are better than most teams closers, they have MVP candidates Bryant, Rizzo, Contreras, Schwarber, and Joe Maddon. What have the other “contenders” done? The Dogers done nothing good, the Nationals are losing Bryce Harper to the Cubs. H@! H@! Ha!
I stopped reading when you included Schwarber in your “MVP candidate” remark
Wow.
Man now I’m getting pumped for spring training and Sloan park 3/24. Hope we get arrieta darvish or Cobb.
I’d be ecstatic to get Darvish for 4 years @$90M–but until so, pass what you’re smoking on over here.
Did you just say the Cubs have a better rotation than the Astros and Nats? And did I just see Schwarber and Contreras mentioned as MVP candidates? You’ve got some mighty high opinions on your players.
Duensing isn’t even a top 30 regular relief pitcher.
So far they probably have done the best with free agent signings because of the number of the guys they’ve gotten and their potential upside. Chatwood is solid but not worth the 13 mill annually, Smyly was a smart pick up with the club option but he’s still risky, Morrow is good but overpaid as well, and Cishek is secretly one of the best signings of the year. They’ve done good but all it takes is a team to get one of the stars of free agency and another solid addition or 2 to sway to them taking the offseason.
You made it that far??!!
Lol
3 relievers better than most teams closers? what are you smoking because i want some
Duensing and Cishek better than some closers? Maybe like two. Come on. And Schwarber MVP candidate? You have to be joking.
As soon as shcwarber.
hits his weight he will be an mvp..candidate
Good thing he lost weight… all jokes aside, he’ll be a good candidate to breakout and realize some potential. Hopefully it comes to fruition.
Didn’t quite work out for matt adams. Dont see it being that big of a difference for schwarber either.
I stopped after the Oracle said ‘they now have Darvish’…
you can’t compare duensing to the entire RP pool–compare him to what he does–he’s a loogy.
The cubs will probably get 100 wins this year. They have a few players that should bounce back from down years.. schwarber won’t be a MVP type player but I definitely see him hitting around .270 with 35-40hrs. And Russell I should bounce back to what he did the year before last. And one player no one expects to bounce back besides me is heyward.. heyward has the chance to opt out after the year so I got this weird feeling he’s going to have a special year like he did in his last in Stl. If that does happen, the cubs may have the best lineup over the past 20 years, maybe longer.. and then I pray he opts out and cubs then are set up perfectly for Harbryzzo.
Why can’t Schwarber be an mvp candidate? He his 30 home runs on a shorten season. If he plays 150 games. He could easily hit 45 and knock in 115+
I hope Harper goes to the American League! Any where but the Cubs!!
That’s why nobody takes you serious on anything !
The Cubs didn’t use him as a LOOGY, and presumably won’t in 2018.
because you know it all
Duensing Morrow and Cishek were 3 of the very best and reliable relievers last year. Bar none. I can’t help but wonder if Alex Cobb isn’t the better signing of the trio of Darvish(mileage), Arrieta(consistency;BB;early exits), and himself. He injured himself right in his prime. ST out and last year was good but not great. It was his first year back from TJ though, and historically the 2nd year is when the “stuff” comes back. If he takes his last step up in his development from his prime year injury, simultaneously taking his next TJ step up?? He, Cobb, also being the youngest of the trio, may be primed for the best next 4-5 years of this group??!
Better yet can Cubs afford both Arrietta and Darvish? That would be insane
For what reason? They only need 1 SP and 1RP preferably a closer. Maybe Greg Holand for a 2 year deal. With an opt out that comes in play with a number of saves.
No. But I wouldn’t mind one of them AND Cobb. That they could afford
Win the offseason ? Yea! Ok! You need to start worrying about winning ballgames during the season! Cuz that rotation
and bullpen is gonna suck worse than Scwharbers defense !
You’re nuts. Obviously we got a hater here!
i like this. he performed well in chicago and if he continues to put up numbers like those, this could be a really good signing.
Agreed. Even if he’s not as good as he was in 2017, this is a good deal.
And he’s like their 7th best reliever still
no…
Ok 4th or 5th
Morrow, Strop, Edwards not in any particular order. And then you jumble up Cishek, Wilson, and Duensing. After last year probably Duensing but this was like one of his few good years, Wilson did great the first half but sucked in Chicago, and Cishek had a nice bounce back year and has had some very good years and can close.
I have trust issues with Strop for sure along with morrow and Edwards. Duensing might be, in my opinion, one of the better ones in the pen.
Strop gives up a big homer every 7-9 outings. Other than that, he’s nails. Edwards is the one who is at a crossroads. Hope he s goes the right direction
Good move to bring back Duensing. He was a very solid piece in our bullpen last year so hopefully he continues the trend for the next 2 years as well
Perfect. Duensing was quietly the best reliever on the team in 2017. 2/$7m should be an absolute steal.
Sure, if you want to ignore Wade Davis.
Who’s ignoring Davis? The guy was a great LHP set up man. Not a closer.
Closers still count as relievers.
Who’s ignoring Davis?
Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the guy I responded to that said Duensing was the best reliever on the team in 2017…?
or, he just thinks BD was better. or he meant other than Davis and phrased it wrong..
Was he really better than Edwards and Strop?
Much more reliable.
He ended up being very reliable when everyone else lost it.
Typical Cubbie fan exuberance over marginal guys on the roster. The more average a player is, the more Cubs fans worship him.
Agree on that one—$7MM a year for the last guy in your pen is a little steep. Good–yes. Solid—yes. But, $7MM used to be reserved for your set up man at worst—usually the closer.
If Duensing is expected to carry a heavy load, things went very poorly for the Cubs.
Typical White Sox fan, super salty because they will always be Chicago’s least favorite team.
Even $7MM over two years is a lot…I read the first report incorrectly.
$7M over 2 years is NOT a lot considering what relievers have been signing for this offseason.
It is $7MM over two years.
Agreed
Typical non-fan attitude over the celebration of anyone that isn’t a perennial all-star.
Montgomery and montero was the battery when the last out was recorded to end 108 year curse. Yes we love all our players
Last guy in pen is Grimm
you mean like Carlos Rodon? actually it’s hard to name too many players on the Sox roster–Abreu is decidedly not marginal..i suppose Harrellsuk worships those stellar outfielders Delmonico and Engel..
yep, all those marginal guys have sucked the last 3 yearsm
He was rock solid. alsi, the article says it guarantees him 7 million. that means per the cobtact, nor per year.
2 YEARS-7 million. you divide the years by the final money number and it gives you his average annual salary. In this case it’s 3.5million each year of his 2 year deal. Read better next time
Fine. Best reliever on the team that wasn’t the established closer / named Wade Davis. Better?
Ridiculous. He’s a situational reliever. Strop and Edwards are clearly better—know your club.
actually, no…
He faced more RHB than LHB, by about 50 percent and had number as good or better than against LHB, except for ealjs.
I know my club.
Chad green Yankees
Get back in your Cell. Or whatever the hell they’re calling that stadium nowadays.
If you knew your club, you wouldn’t make such assinine comments. Strop and Edwards have been the best relievers on the team, other than the closers. Montgomery is better to.
Edwards was NOT a better reliever last year. The only chance Edwards had to succeed was to throw a 1-2-3 inning. If he allowed anyone on base or inherited any runners, he was trash.
The problem with Edwards was how the Cubs were using him. He is far from trash though, and you’re an idiot for saying that.
Gotta love Chicago sports fans. 2 titles in 100 years still argue over who is better.
We do. Stick to your crappy team dude.
Definitely a steal. Great signing by the Cubbies, unfortunately.
He was quietly the best left handed reliever that nobody really paid too much attention to. His high leverage spots increased as the season went on, but he tired late. 4.80 ERA in September after under 1.00 in July/August. $7MM a year is a lot for the 5th or 6th guy out of your bullpen. (Morrow, Cishek, Montgomery, Edwards, Strop….)
It’s 3.5M/year for 2 years.
Thanks Matt—I did read it incorrectly.
0.00 era nlds
2.25 nlcs
Cubs trying to buy another championship. What happened to parity!? Stop this insanity, Selig!
How is it “buying” when Schwarber, Almora, Bryant, Russell, Baez, Happ, Rizzo, Contreras, Hendricks, and Quintana were all acquired through trades or the draft???
Recharge the batteries on your humor detector.
Notice the trend with Cubbie fans yet?
Don’t get too cocky, those White Sox are no better, trying buying their own championship with guys like Yoan Moncada, Jose Abreu and Miguel Gonzalez. I’m sick to death of this, and Selig should really step in and stop it. BRING PARITY BACK TO BASEBALL.
What do the White Sox or being “cocky” have to do with anything I said? You guys get excited over marginal players. You don’t like hearing the truth from other fans? Stop drinking the koolaid and be more rational.
Hilarious that you just said “notice a trend with Cubbie fans yet” in regards to needing to recharge their humor detector, but as soon as the same guy responds to you in a similar fashion, you take him seriously.
We heard the same thing in 2016.
Haters will hate
Ignore him, he posts the same thing on every signing….
“Giants buying another championship. What happened to parity?”
Red Sox trying to buy another championship. Disgusting!
You do know Selig is gone right? Also, you are an idiot for saying the Cubs are “buying” a championship. Go away, troll.
Typical greedy, arrogant Cubbies fans. Chicago northsiders are the First Order.
The Force is not with you.
Go back to the ghetto jungle.
Jealousy and trolling on a board that’s not even your team gets you nowhere in life. Grow up and get a real job.
Ok this has got old quick
Stop this insanity Adam6710! The Cubs won a championship getting Arrieta and Strop from Baltimore in a trade, Hendricks and Carl Edwards Jr. from Texas in trades, Chapman from the Yankees in a trade, Rizzo from San Diego in a trade, drafting Bryant, Almora, and Schwarber, probably some other moves I forgot. Theo knows how to trade and draft too.
TRADES ARE BUYING CHAMPIONSHIPS! Didn’t you know that? Stanton to the Yanks, Robertson to the Yanks, Miller to the Indians for all their prospects, heck, even bringing up homegrown prospects like Severino and Judge is buying a championship according to most fans!
Did he just say trades are buying Championships. Naaaa
No you didn’t.
Tell me this is a kid who is like 14 years old. Please. No one is that stupid are they?
And if you look closely you can see the joke flying over everybody’s head
Jokes usually begin with “knock knock” or “what do you get when”.
Two bus walk into a bar
Nuns
I liked the busses better.
Two busses walk into a bar. Bus one puts down a few dollars for a drink. Bus two takes the money and pockets it. Bus one yells: “That’s not fare!”
I’ll be here all week. *dodges tomato*
Hasn’t anyone noticed the Selig part in the so-called jokes? Cmon!
Stop taking this guy seriously
Yeah their buying a championship. Lol
Did you really write that. Had to read it twice. You sign FA to fill your needs.
Before it’s done the Cubs will get their SP too. Theo checking all options including trade. But he’s not going mortgage the team for one. If they pay one they will.
Buying a team? We are not the Yankees. Lol
I believe the Cubs are a team that could potentially roll out a 6-man rotation. As of right now that sits as:
Lester
Hendricks
Quintana
Chatwood
Montgomery
1-3 are solid, 4-5 could be anything from below average to good. It’s a hard call right now with the unknowns of Chatwood’s splits being legit or not, and Montgomery’s effectiveness over the long haul in the rotation. My personal preference would be Alex Cobb, but if he’s at the same price as Darvish, I feel as though instead of potentially finding a “steal” in Cobb like you have originally thought you could have at the start of the offseason, you may end up overpaying or overvaluing his potential. If prices are the same, I’ll take Darvish over Cobb. Another arm to look at would be Lance Lynn. If he can be had for the same price you paid Chatwood, he has huge upside and has proven to pitch well in that division. I’m shying away from Arrieta. I feel as though the peripheral numbers are showing an injury riddled contract coming.
What?
Monty is not going to start, regardless.
Lynn has troubling trends, as well.
How do you look at someone as a steal, but over value their potential, while getting them for Chatwood money?
I got confused there.
Tyler’s number splits are likely to hold, they’ve been doing so for a while
No thanks on Lance Lynn, not even sort of interested. I like Theo’s approach, wait out the market, the Cubs don’t “NEED” another starter. If they can get Yu or Jake at 4/90 or Cobb at 4/80, great. If not, I’m fine with Monty as the 5th. Once the playoffs roll around, you never use your 5th, rarely even your 4th.
Yes, the Cubs could roll with what they have now. The only problem with that is you might now make the playoffs with Montgomery starting and Morrow closing. That bullpen is going to get burned out and crushed by the All-Star break. You need another reliable starter who can give you quality innings. You need a reliable reliever who can close out games consistently. Address those two needs and the Cubs should win the division. Ignore them and you’re an 83 win team, at best.
How sad for you that your team is so irrevelant, all you have is to follow the other team in town.
The White Sox have the #1 ranked farm system in the MLB right now. So we’ll see how “irrelevant” they are in a few years. 😉
DJ, que up “Vehicle” by Ides of March cuz it’s about to go down on the South side.
Chisoxcity yes they do have the best farm right now but let’s not count the chickens before they cross the road. Rankings don’t play baseball.
Pay no mind to Sux fans. They’ll always be the red headed stepchild in Chicago. What does this post have to do with the Sux anyway? Duensing didn’t sign with the Western Indiana AAAA club on the south side. As far as their farm system…. we’ve seen this movie before. Again, you need more than a subscription to Baseball prospectus to be a sustainable contender. Many, MANY teams have tried what the Astros and Cubs have done, VERY few achieved it. The Sux still have old, tired ineffective methods. Theo was smart, PROVEN. He know it was more than just acquiring “prospects” and making shrewd trades. It has to be an entire overhaul to build a sustainable winner. Player development at ALL levels, great scouting, great coaches/managers. The Sux have the same clowns running things when they were “ALL IN” and still ended up with a worst record than teams that were clearly and openly rebuilding. Reinsdorf is cheap. He can’t spend because the Sux are horrible with attendance, horrible with ratings, no TV deal coming. Same old same ol. These poor saps have to troll Cubs posts, what else do they have to talk about?
Notice I said “we’ll see…”. I’m a rational thinker, unlike 95% of Cubs fans. Some of the dumbest comments I’ve seen or heard about baseball came from Cubs fans, and I’m not a hater, just speaking the truth.
Yeah all that garbage and the Cubs have one WS appearance in 100+ years. Your team has been good for the moment. But get something straight: You are not better than White Sox fans.
Nope, a “moment” would be 2005 then right back to obscurity. 3 straight LCS appearances including a WS win with a window that’s still wide open for at least the next 4-5 years… is a bit more than a “moment”. Also, the Cubs have only had one WS appearance in the last 100 years? Did you mean the Sux? It’s pathetic enough to be a troll starved for attention but it’s even worse to be ignorant and misinformed…. unless it’s 2046? Nope, now run along to the AAA board and let the adults speak. Also, pick on someone your own size, OF COURSE north side fans dominate western Indiana south side fans. Ya gotta learn how to walk before you can start running, perhaps go troll Kane County Cougar fans, might be a lil more your speed.
Actually they had several WS appearances between 08 and 45 not sure how many off the top of my head but the Ruth called shot was in one of them. Uh, the Sox haven’t exactly set the world on fire with WS appearances either…..
They say you need around 8 starters to succeed during the regular season. Having Monty in the rotation isn’t a good look. They need to sign a guy like Cobb, who would be a great fit for them.
Good for him for going to where he wants, but I question the long term wisdom of turning down “significantly more” money as a year to year LHP. that could wash out at any time.
I think staying with the Cubs is the best career move for him based on both reputation and financial security. He had a career year with the Cubs at the age of 35 under a manager that recognizes his ability and uses him properly. Given that he’s not a volatile arm with control issues, it’s a safe bet that he’ll have a similar season in 2018. Even if his ERA inflate up to just shy of 4.00, that’s still solid for a guy on the wrong side of 30 that hasn’t been a stud his entire career. He’s guaranteed $7m over two seasons for a team that he likes, that gives him a great chance at a ring, and gives him the best chance of lasting longer than the two years on his contract.
tl;dr
He’s playing to his strengths and hoping for a similar contract in 2020 rather than taking an extra million dollars now and risking a minor league deal / early retirement in 2020 if he declines and teams don’t like his price tag.
Nice breakdown on Duensing Jeff!
Lynn is a lousy fielder. If they could bunt against him , they should.
I like the signing, especially at this AAV. They are still approx 30 mil under the luxury tax, so whether it’s before ST or at the deadline, they can still add if need be. What I like most about it is that it adds another proven lefty to the pen. It’s pretty clear that the Cubs will face either the Nats or the Dodgers…. again in the LCS. The more LH’ers out of the pen to matchup with Bellinger, Seagar, Harper, Murphy, etc… late in games is key. Even IF Monty is the 5th, or 6th, starter and they don’t sign another SP, they will still have him out of the pen as well in the PO, as we all know a team never uses a 5th starter in the PO, rarely even a 4th. I also expect Wilson to get back to his career norms. The pen looks very good. Solid signing.
what a great singing
He does have a great voice.
Happy with that. Let’s get that SP and call it a Winter
I think they still need a veteran backup catcher.
Yes, a vet for sure. Victor isn’t ready.
Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if Edwards is the closer by the AS break, maybe sooner. His stuff is nasty, just needs to take that next step in his evolution.
If Edwards is the closer by the AS break, you guys are gonna be in more trouble than I think you’re gonna be!
So…Bullpen thus far:
Morrow
Cishek
Duensing
Edwards
Strop
Montgomery
Wilson
possibly competing for an 8th spot:
Grimm
Maples
Alvarez?
Mazzoni?
Maybe Tseng would be a factor as well? I anticipate he might take a swing role throughout the season, maybe being added to the bullpen if Montgomery is forced into a starting role due to injuries?
Then there’s Eddie Butler, though I don’t think his extremely high walk rate would help our bullpen. Alec Mills is a guy who could factor in as well.
Rob z?
Rob Z would be too many lefties.. but I wonder if this move alone means Monty will start and cubs are no longer in the market for a starter?! Unless darvish signs for 4 yes or less I wouldn’t really want him and you know they want Harper next year, so I’d try to make due with Monty as the #4 or 5 guy and if needed they can trade for a pitcher that’s controllable at the deadline. And then they’d save 25 mill a year and can put toward harbryzzo
I wonder if this means cubs will now not sign a starter and start Montgomery? Signing duensing makes a less need of another lefty.
I see that as a possibility but it’s more likely just insurance of that scenario does in fact play out. I’m sure they’ll still be pursuing Darvish, Arrieta, and Cobb…. but will only offer them deals they deem they’re worthy of meaning not offering some over the top ridiculous deal (since they kind of already did that with Chatwood imo). if they sign one of those 3 SPs duensing and Wilson might be competing for the 2nd lefty spot in the pen. whoever loses either gets put on waivers and to triple a…. or released. not like either are a pricey loss if released….. or they sign one of those 3 SPs and keep Monty, Duensing, and Wilson in the pen. it’s not crazy to carry 3 lefties….. especially if Wilson lives up to the hype as a closer- like or at least setup man- like quality reliever. also wouldn’t be surprised if they say f*** those 3 free agent sps and sign another under the radar/ reclamation SP and rock a 6 man rotation of Lester, Hendricks, Quintana, Chatwood, Montgomery, and this hypothetical reclamation free agent sp. then duensing and Wilson are your lhps in the pen.
so in other words this move just gives them a ton of options should they not land the flashy name free agent sps.
Thanks for resigning at a discount Brian. Hopefully you can put up similar numbers to 17. How much of a discount did we get?
What good does a discount do the Cubs? They’re not interested in spending money on FAs.
They aren’t? They’ve signed more than any other team this offseason, no?
no.
Not a discount ! He played for $2 million last year ! So he actually got a raise of $1.5 million a year. So 2years/$7 million!
Actually they had several WS appearances between 08 and 45 not sure how many off the top of my head but the Ruth called shot was in one of them. Uh, the Sox haven’t exactly set the world on fire with WS appearances either…..
Really wish we could sign back Jake now. Don’t know why folks prefer Darvish. Jake may be older but has less mileage on his arm, has not had TJ surgery and sports better numbers than Darvish. He was also a huge part of our success and a vital piece of the championship character we have shown the last few years. I expect his numbers to look more like the second half than the first half of last season for a few more years anyway. If we get him back now I believe this team makes another run at 100 wins.
I don’t want any dodger on my team. I don’t like morrow because of it but he’s proven to get the job done. I would love to see alex Cobb on the cubs
Pardon my ignorance, but isn’t that stat line actually NOT that great for a RP? (“holding opposing hitters to a .254/.322/.372 slash”).
I like Duensing but I was surprised his line wasn’t a little better. Unless, y’know, I’m not, y’know, all that bright.
League average line for 2017 was .255/.324/.426 so it looks like completely league average BA & OBP and above average SLG suppression (by 50+ points)
He’s nothing special. Duensing has like two really good outings a year that hide is otherwise mediocre stats. The Cubs would be wise to use him sparingly.
You really think he had 2 good games & 66 mediocre ones in 2017? I’d like to see some actual numbers justifying your point.
FYI, only one WhiteSox reliever had a higher WAR than Duensing in 2017.
He’s nothing special and is getting paid accordingly. He didn’t get 25 mil a year.
He’s a better option than taking a chance on a minor league deal with Travis Wood
Yes, that’s what the White Sox fan thinks.
Lol. Hey Cubs fans, I’m a White Sox fan… get over it. You don’t agree with me, fine. Atleast make an attempt to keep things in context. My comments about Duensing have nothing to do with the White Sox, attendance stats at Wriggley (who cares?) or what I ate for breakfast.
You didn’t address the context of your original comment. Pot kettle black and all that.
How is it possible for a reliever to accumulate all of his positive stats in only 2 of his 65 appearances?
Is 3.5M for two seasons really excessive coming off of a 1.4 WAR season?
Story updated today because not a damn thing of note happening in the MLB offseason. WHAT. A. BORE!