Up until this point in 2019, the Cubs have had one area in need of an upgrade more than any other on the team: the bullpen.
Wednesday, the team addressed that need in a big way, reportedly agreeing to a deal with free agent closer Craig Kimbrel. The deal, according to several reports, is for three years and $43 million and pending a physical.
Once official, the Cubs will have a bonafide ninth inning arm in Kimbrel, who is one of the best closers in MLB history. The right-hander has 333 career saves (No. 14 all-time) and a 1.91 ERA (No. 5 all-time) in 532 2/3 innings across nine MLB seasons.
Without Brandon Morrow (offseason elbow surgery) and Pedro Strop — who missed a chunk of May with a hamstring strain — the Cubs have been forced to use a closer by committee approach. The result has been 11 blown saves (tied for third in MLB) in 24 chances.
Cubs president Theo Epstein was frank about the team’s desire to acquire bullpen reinforcements this season.
“I think we have a number of relievers throwing well, but [we’re] always trying to get better out there, too,” Epstein said before Wednesday’s game. “We’ve been open about the fact that at some point, we’ll probably get some help from outside the organization.”
Acquiring bullpen help midseason is nothing new for the Cubs during their current championship window. Since 2016, the front office has traded for Aroldis Chapman, Mike Montgomery, Justin Wilson and Jesse Chavez, to name a few relievers, to bolster the bullpen in the summer.
MLB
Kimbrel presents a much different case, though. Acquiring Chapman meant surrendering a king’s ransom to the Yankees. The Cubs got Kimbrel without trading any prospects, surrendering draft pick compensation or breaking the bank. The $43 million salary is a far cry from the nine-figure contract Kimbrel reportedly was seeking.
Without mentioning the right-hander’s name, even Epstein pointed out the uniqueness of Kimbrel’s situation.
“Trades are certainly a possibility, and there’s usually not quality free agents rolling around this time of year,” he said. “The guy that’s out there, we’ll certainly do our due diligence and see if that makes sense.”
“The guy” clearly makes sense for the Cubs for any number of reasons. With Kimbrel slotted into the ninth inning, the Cubs bullpen — which has been the team’s biggest weakness this season — might now be a strength.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon now will have a bullpen that looks something like this:
Craig Kimbrel
Pedro Strop
Steve Cishek
Brad Brach
Brandon Kintzler
Mike Montgomery
Carl Edwards Jr.
Tyler Chatwood
With all due respect to the present relief corps, that group looks a lot more intimidating with Kimbrel included. With him on board, Maddon can use Strop, Cishek, Brach and Kintzler leading up to the ninth inning rather than during it. If Brandon Morrow returns this season, Maddon and the Cubs will have yet another late-inning arm available.
Before Rosenthal’s report dropped, Maddon discussed how just having Strop back lengthens the Cubs’ bullpen.
“When you’re able to lengthen the bullpen, with the really quality guys at the end, you can shorten a game,” Maddon said before Wednesday’s game. “Last night’s a perfect example. That was a good team we played last night, really good offensive ball club.
“[Steve Cishek] and [Pedro Strop] came in at the end of the game and made it the way it’s supposed to look. That’s what we want to get [from] them more consistently. That’s the kind of stuff that can get you on a roll, when you don’t give up leads and you can shut things down.
“Having enough [relievers] that you can move the work around to the point where you’re not getting anybody tired, all of that stuff matters.”
Kimbrel last pitched on Oct. 27, 2018, in Game 4 of the 2018 World Series. It goes without saying that he's had a long layoff from facing MLB hitters, which brings forth the question of when exactly he will be ready to contribute for the Cubs.
ESPN's Jeff Passan not only said that Kimbrel's physical is on Thursday, but that June 20 is a realistic date for him to join the Cubs' bullpen. Many speculated that once he signed a deal, Kimbrel would need anywhere from two weeks to a month before being ready to join an active roster.
Passan's report means that Kimbrel would have exactly two weeks following his physical to gear up for big league action. If the June 20 date is accurate, Kimbrel likely will go on a "rehab" assignment in the near future. And while the Cubs signed him to be their closer, he could pitch a few games in non-save situations initially to get his feel back on an MLB mound.
All of this is speculation, however. No matter when he is ready to pitch, the Cubs are more than likely happy to have Kimbrel's steady presence in the fold, one who will slam the door on opponents in the ninth inning with authority.
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