Following another underwhelming conclusion to a major league season, the Chicago Cubs bullpen should strive to elevate their performance and make significant strides in the 2025 season. The team should focus on bolstering their bullpen with reliable and consistent pitchers, refining their strategies, and enhancing their overall effectiveness in order to achieve a more successful outcome. This will require dedicated effort and a commitment to improvement from the entire bullpen unit.
The Cubs Should Prioritize the Bullpen This Offseason
The Cubs didn’t get much use out of pitchers Almonte, Alzolay, Brewer, Brown, Killian, Little, Lopez, Merryweather, and Wicks this season. When they did see action, the results were mixed. Despite finishing with at least a .500 record, the team’s lack of execution and the time spent on the injured list by these pitchers contributed to a season of lost potential. As the Cubs strive to reach their potential, the future looks uncertain for these pitchers and a couple of others.
Two for the Road
The Cubs’ 40-man roster features some pitchers who should be let go. Among them are Julian Merryweather and Colton Brewer. Brewer, 31, didn’t contribute much after being called up from Triple-A Iowa on April 17. He was on the injured list from May 17 to August 31.
The 2023 recruit from Japan has been moving from team to team since being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth round in 2011. When considering ways to improve the team this offseason, letting go of Brewer seems like a straightforward decision.
Merryweather, who will turn 33 in October, had a good season with the Cubs in 2024. In 69 games, he had a 5-1 record with a 3.38 ERA, 17 holds, and 98 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched. However, he has spent most of his major league career, including 2024, on injured reserve. Except for last season, he hasn’t pitched more than 26.2 innings (in 2022) in a season since joining the league in 2020. Additionally, he currently has a $1.17 million price tag.
Two On the Bubble
The Cubs have two other pitchers in their thirties in their bullpen who have shown mixed results this season. Yency Almonte, 30, was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Michael Busch. He had a 1-0 record with a 3.45 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 17 games and 15 2/3 innings pitched.
Jorge Lopez, who is earning less than half of Almonte’s salary, has arguably shown better production. The Cubs signed Lopez after he was released by the New York Mets in June. Since then, he’s performed well, going 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA and 31 strikeouts through 26.2 innings in 24 appearances. Lopez, who will turn 32 in February of 2025, might be at risk of being cut from the team as the Cubs enter training camp.
What to Do About Drew Smyly
Drew Smyly‘s situation is the most challenging to negotiate. Since returning from a hip injury in May, the 35-year-old Smyly has been a reliable pitcher for manager Craig Counsell and his staff. In 49 games, Smyly has a 4-8 record with a 3.88 ERA, 10 holds, and 55 strikeouts in 58 innings. His win-loss record suggests he has been mainly used as a long reliever.
Smyly has been one of the few left-handed pitchers available to Counsell for most of 2024 despite mixed results this season. Smyly, who will turn 36 in June, has one year remaining on his $9.5 million yearly contract. His contract also includes a 2025 mutual option with a $2.5 million buyout clause. Both parties would need to agree to the option if the Cubs wanted to pursue that direction.
Adbert Alzolay’s Lofty Salary
The players vying for a roster spot next season are looking to make an impact behind the veterans. One such player is Adbert Alzolay, 29, who successfully converted 22 out of 25 save opportunities for the Cubs in 2023. Some doubt the Cubs’ justification for paying him $2.1 million due to his injury struggles and early-season pitching issues.
A Group of Young Cubs Arms Vying for Roster Positions
The Cubs’ payroll currently includes 13 pitchers, all of whom are making $750,000 per year or less and are on one-year contracts. Among them, Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Keegan Thompson, Hayden Wesneski, Porter Hodge, Tyson Miller, and Ben Brown are likely to return next season. Hodge and Miller were the most effective this year.
Miller had a 4-1 record, a 2.22 ERA, 13 holds, 41 strikeouts, and a 0.82 WHIP in 48.2 innings pitched over 47 appearances. Hodge, 23, went 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA, nine holds, 50 strikeouts, and a 0.93 WHIP in 41 innings over 37 appearances. Additionally, he successfully converted seven of 10 save opportunities for Chicago.
Main Photo: © David Richard-Imagn Images
