Report: Cubs rumored to be in on two relievers including Andrew Chafin |
It's amazing what happens when the Winter Meetings are about to begin. Not only do you start to see several free agents come off the board, but trade rumors rapidly pick up as the Cubs continue to be the center of the trade world. Most recently, they have been linked to Garrett Crochet, and Cody Bellinger has had his name dropped with several teams.
If trade rumors aren't your cup of tea, can I interest you in the other rumor mill that constantly takes place, which is the free agent rumor? Once again, the Cubs are firmly entrenched in the free-agent rumor world. While most fans would rather see actual signings than rumors, this is a standard pattern during the offseason, and you should start to see some of these rumors come full circle once the Winter Meetings get underway. To no one's surprise, Jed Hoyer publicly announced that his team would seek reliever help this offseason. Several reports last week stated that the Cubs were one of the more active teams looking for reliever help. Whether you believe that or not is up to you, but if Bruce Levine's report is accurate, it should at least give you some confidence that the Cubs are pursuing additional relief help. Not only has Levine been all over the Crochet and Bellinger talks today, but he has now shed some light on the Cubs' relief targets as they have shifted their focus to some older yet very successful arms. One is coming off a down season, while the other is a fan favorite that no one wanted to leave. That seems like a good place to start, as Andrew Chafin has been one of the most recent names linked to the Cubs. An excellent reliever most of his career, Chafin was traded to the Cubs in 2020, but due to a hand injury, he only pitched in four games that season. It was in 2021 that Chafin emerged as a serious bullpen option for the Cubs, as he was part of the Cubs' big three that season. Across 71 games with the A's and Cubs that season, Chafin was about as good as you can imagine, going 2-4 and posting a 1.83 ERA. That included a 2.06 ERA in his 43 games with the Cubs that season, as Chafin was one of the most sought-after relievers come the deadline. Following his trade to the A's, Chafin has spent time with the Tigers, Mets, Diamondbacks, Brewers, and Rangers and has continued to pitch like a trusted reliever. Although his 3.51 ERA may not show that this season, Chafin was much better with the Tigers than with the Rangers, going 3-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 41 games. Armed with a 92 MPH heater and a lethal 83 MPH slider, Chafin has proven to be capable of being a late-inning arm or a middle reliever, as he has filled every role in the books. Not only is he a fan favorite, but the organization loved him, so the opportunity to bring him back has to make you smile. Considering the Cubs lack lefty relievers, bringing back the Sheriff may not be a bad idea, as it fills a massive need for this team.
The second name mentioned in Levine's report this morning is also a 37-year-old, and it's a surprising name: Kirby Yates. Like Chafin, Yates can fill various roles in the bullpen, and many years ago, he was once seen as a potential trade deadline fit for the Cubs.
Any time you bring in a pitcher this late in his career, you have to wonder how long their production will last before they fall off a cliff. If last season was any indication, then Yates not only has plenty left in the tank, but he could be someone you could trust in the late innings. When you talk about some of the game's most dominating closers, Yates isn't someone that comes to mind.
However, after securing 33 saves with the Rangers last season and posting a ridiculous 1.17 ERA, more teams should be showing interest in Yates. His walk rate of 11.8% was far too high, but even at his age, Yates posted an incredible 35.9% strikeout rate while holding hitters to a .111 average.
Both of those would be considered elite numbers, and with a fastball that can still touch 97 MPH, he is a guy you would love to have. From a contract side, Yates will cost more than Chafin would, but with an expected one-year deal worth around $10 million, it's a deal the Cubs could swing, and it would solve a late-inning role.
