Jed Hoyer and other MLB insiders have dropped numerous indications that the Chicago Cubs are still adding players to their roster this offseason.
It remains to be seen what those additions look like in the end, but it appears like the Cubs are still looking to improve after one of the worst starts imaginable.
Pro athletes will always be at the forefront of debate and analysis.
Those names will remain on the wish list as long as Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Josh Hader are still available.
Before bringing in the star power they’ve been searching for this winter, Chicago can still strengthen their roster in other ways.
In an interview with Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation, Bruce Levine of 670 the Score discussed potential future plans for the Cubs.
“Levine listed three righty relievers to ‘keep an eye on’ for the Cubs: Robert Stephenson (whom we’ve heard about before and who would be an awesome, expensive signing), Ryne Stanek, and Adam Ottavino,” Taylor stated in his piece.
Stephenson is a strong contender on the market, as he said, following a strong second half of 2023 with the Tampa Bay Rays.
However, Ryne Stanek is the intriguing one that Levine brought up.
The former reliever for the Houston Astros was a mainstay in their bullpen, which for the previous few years had been ranked #1 in Major League Baseball.
During his three seasons with the Astros, he pitched 173 2/3 innings and had 186 appearances, good for an ERA of 2.90 and an ERA+ of 142, the finest span of his career.
Stanek would significantly improve Chicago’s bullpen.
After being overworked, the group essentially disintegrated last season, which was a major factor in their failure to make the playoffs.
Considering that he has only played in three seasons, the right-hander has had an unexpectedly quiet market. Stanek is a seasoned reliever with valuable postseason experience, however it’s possible that his 4.09 ERA from the previous season is turning off some teams.
Brad Wakai received his journalism degree from Penn State University. He worked at the student radio station as an undergrad, covering a variety of Penn State sports programmes, including football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, and other games.
