The Cubs have been expected to make moves to bolster their bullpen this offseason even after acquiring right-hander Eli Morgan from the Guardians last month, and two names have emerged that Chicago has reported interest in. Jon Morosi of MLB Network writes that the Cubs are among the teams with interest in left-hander A.J. Minter, while ESPN’s Jesse Rogers notes that the club has spoken to right-hander Kyle Finnegan.
Minter, 31, is one of the winter’s more interesting free agent relievers. The southpaw broke out with the Braves during the 2020 season and has been one of the better lefty relief arms in baseball since then with a 2.85 ERA and a matching 2.84 FIP in 243 innings over the past half-decade. In that time, he’s struck out 30.1% of his opponents while walking 7.8%. Among lefty relievers with at least 200 innings of work since the start of the 2020 season, Minter’s 3.05 SIERA ranks third in the majors behind only Josh Hader and Taylor Rogers.
That track record would seemingly be enough to line him up for one of the more lucrative relief contracts of the offseason, but Minter’s free agency is complicated by a difficult platform season. In 2024, Minter managed a solid 2.62 ERA but saw his strikeout rate dip to just 26.1% while his FIP ballooned up to 4.45 due primarily to an increase in home runs allowed. More problematic for Minter than those steps backward in peripherals, however, was the season-ending hip surgery Minter underwent back in August. Recent reporting has indicated that it’s not yet clear whether Minter will be ready to pitch at the outset of the 2025 season, a reality that could cast a shadow over his free agency if interested teams believe he’s ticketed for a substantial early-season absence.
As for Finnegan, the 33-year-old has spent all five seasons of his big league career with the Nationals but was non-tendered by the club last month. After impressing in his 2020 rookie campaign with a 2.92 ERA in 25 innings, Finnegan stood as the club’s primary closer throughout their recent rebuild. He racked up 88 saves over the next four seasons, pitching to a 3.62 ERA that was 13% better than league average in 265 2/3 innings of work during that time despite a somewhat lackluster 4.28 FIP.
Despite his gaudy save totals, which includes a 38-for-43 record (88.4% conversion rate) in save situations this past season, Finnegan’s numbers cast him as more of a middle reliever than a true closer. He’s struck out just 23.3% of opponents over the last four years while walking 9.3%, and while his 47.5% career groundball rate is certainly above average it’s not exactly exceptional as Finnegan ranks just 22nd among relievers with at least 200 innings of work since the start of the 2020 season by the metric. In that same timeframe, Finnegan’s 3.86 SIERA is well below average for a reliever and ranks just 55th among 70 qualifying relievers.
With that being said, Finnegan’s somewhat middling numbers throughout his career could make him relatively affordable on the open market, and the Cubs’ hesitance in recent years to commit to pricey guarantees for relievers could lead them to be intrigued by the upside offered by a hurler who averaged 97.4 mph on his fastball last year and offers late-inning experience that could benefit a mostly young bullpen that currently features Porter Hodge as its top high leverage option after the righty posted a dominant rookie campaign in 2024. Minter, by contrast, figures to a land a healthier guarantee so long as his market isn’t depressed by the health question marks surrounding him. MLBTR predicted the lefty to land a two-year, $16MM guarantee as part of our annual Top 50 MLB Free Agents list, where he ranked 34th.
Probably won’t get either if I had to guess as a Cubs fan
I would like either of these guys to be added along with maybe Tanner Scott. But as you said, Hoyer will probably cheap out and go dumpster diving.
Id take Scott over Minter due to health concerns but either one would be nice. Cubs definitely need a LH setup arm.
Finnegan or another veteran reliever would be nice as long as the contract is something they could eat if the vet struggles and we have a young arm like Nealy or Palencia deserving a shot.
I hope Minter gets resigned in Atlanta.
I know he had great #s last season, but in ‘high leverage’ he costs the Braves 4-6 wins just by himself from my estimation. Gave up the lead late or simply had walkoffs against him. You knew something bad was coming when he came in and the games were close.
That’s too bad to see. He’s always looked dominant against the Cubs or whenever I’ve seen him pitch.
We all know the stat line doesn’t tell the whole story when it comes to relievers.
Braves overused him 2020-23. Started to see a decline last year. Back to back seasons of 70+ appearances will do that. Might be best to move on.
I’ll never understand the obsession with Finnegan. He had a 1.30 WHIP, and it’s not like analytics back him up either.
I swear some people see Saves and think that makes someone a good pitcher. Kevin Gregg, Joe Borowski and Antonio Alfonseca had a lot of saves too, but they were actually awful closers more often than not.
But Antonio Alfonseca has 12 fingers, so there was that.
11. He only the 6 on one hand.
Yeah, he’s my all-time favorite MLB polydactyl.
And his name is Oinotna Acesnofla backwards
@Ryan
its simple, he gets saves and throws gas lol…that’s why they want him.
Or maybe they see a change to make with him to bump him up a level. He’s spent the last 5 years in Washington. They’ll Cubs might have a different idea about pitch usage or a tweak to his delivery to get different results. Happens all the time when relievers change clubs.
I’m really not too excited about Finnegan or Minter. It seems to me that the Cubs bullpen will be relying heavily this season on guys like Porter Hodge, Luke Little, Tyson Miller, Assad, and also Brown and maybe Horton and one other TBD arm. If Little stays healthy, it could work out.
Yeah, But why not have a Plan A for once and have the kids be plan B? Hoyer is still a fool Bone. Sorry if it offends you, But he is.
Doesn’t offend me at all – we’re not related lol. But so many people forget that he can only spend up to the budget he’s given.
Was it a mistake not to resign KB or Rizzo or Javy?
Cubs ownership changed lanes when they traded Darvish and declared they wanted to build ‘something sustainable’. That sure seemed to me, to say that development and the draft were going to be priorities. I didn’t like trading Darvish, it was waving the surrender flag at the time.
They’ve been true to that plan, since then. Yet still usually spending right up near the cap. It’s now the time when the results need to become evident. I guess we should have a good idea of how it all worked out, beginning this year. But I do feel they’ve been true to their plan without their hands being tied up with many overpriced commitments that cannot be moved or benched.
It still doesn’t explain the dumb signings and zig zag route he took to get here. If you know what your budget is going to be every year why spend it that stupidly? The Luxury Tax is pretty much set every year way in advance. Yet he continuously does everything he can do to paint himself into a corner. For years these people have had the opinion to draft SS’s and that they can then move them around like the Queen in a chess game. So fine, I’m all for the ” Draft the best player available” mantra. But for years they ignored 3B, C and for thee most part Pitching. At least Pitching at the top of the draft. Then after drafting 9 SS’s he goes out and gives an almost 200 million, 7 Year contract to a FA SS. Does that sound like the moves of a man who, As you say, ” Has a real plan”? It sounds like the moves of an idiot to me. Then he absolutely refuses that it’s necessary to have a top flight closer. AT THE START OF THE SEASON. I think I’ve covered the NMC’s and Opt outs he stupidly gives out all the time. You say they have a plan. I say, We need somebody who really does have a plan. And who’s a legitimate GM.
The Phillies need to be in in both of these guys. Minter would be a perfect fit in philly.
Hoyer still showing his true colors by backing off top closers. If Minter is healthy then he would be a decent fit for not signing Scott. Even if he’s not and misses the start of 25 then if he gives the 2 year deal for reasonable money I’m OK with it. He ‘s dominant if he’s healthy. Finnegan, Yeah I’ll pass.
Not getting a proven closer has buried the cubs the past 2 years…… you would think idiot Jed n Tommy Nickels could see it and make sure they get one this year.
Absolutely. What’s the definition of insanity? Cubs are so frustrating