Oh what a relief (it would be)

[Tim]

Kaplan claims that the Cubs are talking to Miami about getting a reliever.

Tanner Scott was the big name last year, but he's unable to throw strikes this season (and wasn't really able to throw them in 2021 or 2022).

Bender would be my pick of the rest of the guys, but Nardi and Faucher would also be good targets to go after.

[Tim]

I see it's also up at Bleacher Nation: https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2024/05/05/the-cubs-and-marlins-could-be-working-on-a-deal-for-a-reliever/

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I assume that such a deal would be for Scott.  His early season control problems, non-trivial salary(5.7M), and imminent free agency would help keep the cost down, on top of being a solid fit as a lefty with velo to fit in the back of the pen.

 

The other, more speculative target to me would be Puk.  He was a bit homer happy last year so you risk a period similar to what Adbert's dealing with, but you'd also have 2 arb years after this year to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  The other complicating factor is that he's currently on the DL with "shoulder fatigue", which seems like a level of risk they wouldn't take for this move unless Jed felt he was getting a big bargain.

[Bertz]

Really curious who it would be.  Tanner Scott was the hot name over the winter, but he has been a bit of a mess this season.  He appears to be coming out of it, but it'd be sort of like trading for Adbert Alzolay immediately after he manages to string together 3-4 solid outings.

If the Cubs' bullpen wasn't a dumpster fire currently you obviously take Scott on as a project right now.  As is do we think Jed targets someone with less track record and less upside but who is pitching well right this second?

 

[Derwood]

Half of the Marlins relievers are on the IL

[mul21]

14 hours ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

I assume that such a deal would be for Scott.  His early season control problems, non-trivial salary(5.7M), and imminent free agency would help keep the cost down, on top of being a solid fit as a lefty with velo to fit in the back of the pen.

 

The other, more speculative target to me would be Puk.  He was a bit homer happy last year so you risk a period similar to what Adbert's dealing with, but you'd also have 2 arb years after this year to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  The other complicating factor is that he's currently on the DL with "shoulder fatigue", which seems like a level of risk they wouldn't take for this move unless Jed felt he was getting a big bargain.

I have zero interest in relievers who can't throw strikes.  We have plenty of those already and the pitch lab hasn't figured out how to fix that problem yet.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

16 minutes ago, mul21 said:

I have zero interest in relievers who can't throw strikes.  We have plenty of those already and the pitch lab hasn't figured out how to fix that problem yet.

Half of the top 10 in reliever fWAR last year had a BB% of at least 12%, there's a bit of a cost of doing business if you want to have dominant swing and miss stuff.  Ironically, one of those 10 that didn't reach that mark(didn't come close really) was Scott.  I'm not over the moon about him as a candidate in particular, but I'd caution to not over-index on walk rate, and definitely don't do so for a handful of April outings that he's already showing signs of moving past.

[KCCub]

29 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

I'm not over the moon about him as a candidate in particular, but I'd caution to not over-index on walk rate, and definitely don't do so for a handful of April outings that he's already showing signs of moving past.

Exactly this. The back foot breaking ball (Almonte twice yesterday), the splitter in the dirt, etc, look fantastic when guys are swinging at them. They pile up the BB column when guys are able to lay off them. As long as the RP can consistently throw his fastball for a strike when needed, I can accept walks on good chase pitches. 

[Bertz]

As is standard with Mooney it uses a lot of words to say very little, but the vibe I get from this is that Marlins reliever trade probably isn't very close, but that Jed is likely to go big game hunting on the relief market this summer.  Someone like Ryan Pressly?

[We Got The Whole 9]

7 minutes ago, Bertz said:

As is standard with Mooney it uses a lot of words to say very little, but the vibe I get from this is that Marlins reliever trade probably isn't very close, but that Jed is likely to go big game hunting on the relief market this summer.  Someone like Ryan Pressly?

I think Pressly would interest him a great deal. He has been incredibly consistent for almost a decade and he still controls the zone excellently, plus all of the postseason experience. I wish we had signed Robertson; similar in that long, consistent track record, short-term with a just AAV. Pressly does have an option at 15m for 2025 if he makes 50 appearances this season. Not sure if Hoyer would want to take that chance and make that commitment. But I like him a lot for our roster.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Pressly already has 15 appearances, absent a multi-month IL stint he's gonna vest that option.  However, Pressly's contract situation may work in Jed's favor on the whole.

• His AAV and nearly-guaranteed 2025 salary should scare off less aggressive suitors
• Pressly has full no-trade and the Cubs competitive window should help vs. a pop-up/smaller market contender
• If recent deadline prices are any indication, Houston would have to eat significant money to get even a modest prospect return, which would fit into Jed's wheelhouse of spending and prospect depth

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

1 hour ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Pressly already has 15 appearances, absent a multi-month IL stint he's gonna vest that option.  However, Pressly's contract situation may work in Jed's favor on the whole.

• His AAV and nearly-guaranteed 2025 salary should scare off less aggressive suitors
• Pressly has full no-trade and the Cubs competitive window should help vs. a pop-up/smaller market contender
• If recent deadline prices are any indication, Houston would have to eat significant money to get even a modest prospect return, which would fit into Jed's wheelhouse of spending and prospect depth

 

Good points. Hoping Jed pulls him, along with a LHRP like Puk. That could be a real boon to the pen.

[CubinNY]

I like the idea of the Cubs looking for pen help, but I'm hoping that they don't have to give anything up to get it. If they do, I think they have the pen help already in the system and on the team. Ben Brown may be a high leverage guy. Hayden may be a good option for middle relief or high leverage situations. Horton may be able to give you some innings in high leverage situations starting in July. 

I don't think it's time to panic just yet and they certainly need to clean up the pen, but it's not necessarily as bad as it looks as long as the SP is healthy.