The Cubs, after surging back to .500 ahead of the trade deadline thanks to a recent eight-game win streak, have left their previously-expected role as sellers behind them and instead pivoted toward buying by landing third baseman Jeimer Candelario in a deal with the Nationals yesterday. With just a couple of hours left before the trade deadline, Chicago appears to have at least one more item on their shopping list: relief pitching, particularly from the left side.
Both Bruce Levine of WSCR-AM and Jesse Rogers of ESPN have linked the club to the lefty relief market in recent days, with Levine noting the club’s interest in Mets left-hander Brooks Raley while Rogers lists Rockies southpaw Brent Suter and Aaron Bummer of the White Sox as potential options for the Cubs. Jon Heyman of the New York Post, meanwhile, suggested a reunion with the Cubs as one possible destination for Diamondbacks lefty Andrew Chafin, who he suggests “could be dealt” before this evening’s deadline.
While the club appears to have a preference for a southpaw, they’ve also apparently explored adding right-handed relief options, as Levine reports the club has “kicked the tires” on Pirates closer David Bednar while Rogers suggests the club could have interest in Tigers right-handers Alex Lange and Jason Foley. While the club already added a right-handed relief option yesterday by acquiring Jose Cuas from the Royals, each of Bednar, Lange, and Foley would figure to be a more impactful option than Cuas, who sports a 4.54 ERA in 45 appearances this season.
That the bullpen would be a focus for Chicago is hardly a surprise, as the club’s 3.93 in the bullpen this season ranks middle-of-the-pack, with offseason acquisitions Brad Boxberger and Michael Fulmer having largely struggled in Chicago while expected late-inning options Keegan Thompson and Brandon Hughes have struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness.
Water wet
Actually, water is not wet. It’s a liquid that *makes* things wet.
Wet definition
noun
1.
liquid that makes something damp.
“I could feel the wet of his tears”
Get a refund to what ever school you went to.
Should have signed Chafin in the offseason…
They should have signed Matt Moore
I’d take either of them, Hoyer sat idle on a lefty bullpen arm this past offseason.
Some quite poor decisions were made by the FO this past offseason. Belli was a good signing that I liked; has worked out well. Hoping Taillon turns it around, I liked that signing at the time as well. Everything else was bad and they ignored good BP options.
It’s the whole not fully commit to compete mentality Hoyer had. Now that the team is competitive he’s paying the price for not bolstering the bullpen.
I’m chafin’ for another trade.
now THAT’S passion.
Brooks Raley is signed till after 2024 Cubs can have him for Wicks
Yeah, right.
You spelled his name wrong.
It’s Brad Wieck.
He’s more likely talking about Jordan Wicks
Rowan wicks. Sure pick him up at the bus station he’s yours
Rowan Wick buddy.
Raley has a $6.5M option with a $1.5M buyout for next year I believe. The Mets should keep him for next year to set up for Diaz.
Suters are Chafin to Raley overpay for LH relief pitching, and the Cubs are likely to find the experience a Bummer.
I doubt Jed overpays.
Jed’s worst case scenario is unfolding-holding onto Bellinger and the rapidly falling”ace” Stroman. That little win streak against the bottom feeders last week was fools gold. They are not a contender.
Cubbies can have Peralta and Rizzo back if they want
Stroman has looked atrocious but Tailon has been pitching lights out. If they could both pitch well at the same time this rotation would be pretty darn good. Hoyer hasn’t traded anyone significant. They have an entire farm full of border line top 100 guys. Go try to win.
Yes, I am glad Jed is not Ron Schueler.
So who is the “real team” that will win the NLC?
The Reds who still have a grand total of 1 good healthy starting pitcher? Or the Brewers who are bottom five in all of baseball in offense?
They have the 3rd best record in the NL over the last 2 months. No, not a WS team but they are a WC contender.
The Cubs could use a good righty relief pitcher as well.
Yankees should trade Wandy Peralta since he’s a UFA but knowing NYY they’ll probably ask for Crow-Armstrong and then loose Paralta in free agency ♂️
Lange and Foley were mentioned but would cost them a lot more than I expect thrybwant to pay. Maybe Shreve though.
Southpaw RP Aaron Bummer for 2B Nick Madrigal fits a need for each team. Both have identical 3+ years of team control. Bummer has 2 team options, in 2025 and 2026. Madrigal has arbitration control through 2026.
Well the cubs should of been sellers they could of got a pretty go haul for belly and some go stuff for stroman
The whole Must have a Lefty thing means zero anymore. With the rule that you have to face 3 batters makes it a dead issue. So you bring in the Lefty, They PH and now you LH has to stay and face 3 RH batters. Advantage gone. Suter makes the best sense now, But who goes? Who do you replace in the bullpen for a LH? Yeah, That’s what I thought. The bullpen is getting it done now. I mean Asad has to go down for a few days but then what? You don’t want to be a P down for the rest of the Reds series.