The Cubs announced Friday that they’ve signed right-hander Cody Allen to a minor league contract and assigned him to their alternate training site in South Bend. The team’s player pool is now up to 58.
It wasn’t that long ago that Allen, 31, was considered one of the game’s best closers. He’s struggled considerably over the past two seasons, but from 2013-17, Allen was a ninth-inning buzzsaw in Cleveland, pitching to a 2.59 ERA and 2.86 FIP with 122 saves, 11.9 K/9, 3.3 BB/9 and 0.86 HR/9.
In the two years since that dominant stretch, though, Allen’s average fastball has dipped by a bit more than three miles per hour. He stumbled to a 4.70 ERA in his final year prior to free agency but was still able to land a sizable one-year deal with the Halos. Unfortunately, he was clobbered for an ERA north of 6.00 and cut loose before the season had even reached the halfway mark. Allen carries a 5.10 ERA with 109 strikeouts against an unpalatable 53 walks in his past 90 MLB frames.
Two years ago, a bullpen featuring both Allen and Craig Kimbrel would’ve been the envy of 29 other teams in the league. Both pitchers have seen rapid downturns in performance now, however. The Cubs badly need one or both former stars to figure things out, as their patchwork bullpen has already proven to be a major weakness early in 2020. Chicago relievers have already yielded 20 runs on 18 hits and a ghastly 20 walks in just 18 2/3 innings. Seven of those hits have left the yard.
Is this just an ordinary attempt to take advantage of a hoped-for career revival, or is it a sign that the Cubs are close to giving up on Kimberly?
*Kimbrel
Kimberly lol
Kimberly is more fitting. He can’t throw a strike. What closer walks 3 hits a batter allows a run and doesn’t give up a hit. 90% of closers should be that. 95% chance of a lockdown save with little to no issues.
I think he left his good stuff near the Van Allen belt.
Betting it is the later. Kimbrel has not looked very good at all this year.
i don’t know how much of an upgrade that is
It’s a layover on the way to Miami.
Could be low risk/ high reward type of move. Why not? Nothing to lose except someone else’s roster spot. Hopefully Cubbies get a playoff spot.
Would like to see Alzolay get a shot at closing
I think Kyle Ryan should get a shot. Ryan,Wick and Weick closer by committy. Kimbrel look 10 years younger. Unfortunately that doesn’t bring back his dominant closer stuff from his Atlanta days.
Consider that the Cubs bullpen is a giant festering heap of rejects, has-beens, and prospects. More walks allowed then any other team, highest walk rate among the 30 teams, and Craig kimbrel looks like absolute garbage. This signing probably doesn’t help but it does not hurt because it can’t get any worse. Something something dumpsters something something diving something something Theo.
First place in division cubs bullpen
Allen Will thrive with the cubbies they definitely need help in their bullpen and a couple years ago he was one of the best relievers in the league! I look for him to thrive and the Cubs make a hard run in the playoffs. this is a great signing nothing but up for the Cubs!
Wish they would have pursued Holland. He’s not what he used to be, but seemed to finish last year pretty well.
Dillon Maples, if he can stop channeling his inner Nook Laloosh, should be the closer if he gets squared away.
Theo’s League.
how bout them sox this year. chitown?
He was really quiet during the Twins Series when Cease was giving out walks like candy and Jimenez was running into walls