You wanted some bullpen help, well here it is!
The Cubs have reportedly signed right-handed reliever Brad Brach. Ken Rosenthal was the first to break the signing.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the one-year deal is for $3 million.
Rosenthal followed up by saying the deal will be worth more than $3 million and the Cubs will have an option in 2020.
Brach will be 33-years-old in April. He was traded to the Braves in the middle of 2018, and was great for Atlanta. He pitched in 27 games for the Braves, recording a 1.52 ERA, but did have a high 1.31 WHIP. Overall in his career, the righty has 33 saves and a 3.08 ERA. From 2014-17, Brach's ERA didn't go over 3.18 with the Orioles and had his best numbers in 2016, when he posted a 2.05 ERA in 79 innings. I mean, it's help. You hope Brach has a steady season, despite projections for 2019, showing he'll have a 4.08 FIP. But hey, this can still be a solid signing even if it's not exciting. Brach threw harder after the trade in 2018, and the results showed, after recording a 4.85 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in 39 innings with Baltimore last season.
Overall, it's a fine deal. It's OK. The Cubs have been lucky to have Pedro Strop be the most consistent reliever in team history, but relievers can be so volatile from one year to the next.
Just hope there's enough mixing and matching to get a solid group in the bullpen and the Cubs could once again patch things up despite the worry that the bullpen is a big weak spot. Which, frankly, it is heading into spring training. Welcome aboard, Brad Brach!
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