Chicago Cubs add veteran reliever Jeremy Jeffress

The Chicago Cubs front office continues their shopping spree at the Dollar Store, adding veteran reliever Jeremy Jeffress on Tuesday.

We, the fans, likely won’t have to wait long to see if Theo Epstein’s interesting strategy of adding players to the Chicago Cubs roster pays off. On Tuesday, the team signed free-agent veteran reliever Jeremy Jeffress, who was downright brilliant in 2018 but regressed substantially last year. In 2018, he made 73 appearances and posted a 1.92 ERA with an absurd 10.4 K/9, and he was the perfect setup man for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jeffress, 32, collected 15 saves of his own in 2018, but as noted, posted a 5.02 ERA in 48 appearances last year and was released by the team on September 1. He landed on the injured list near the end of his tenure with the Brewers, and many wonder if it lingered on for much longer. What made him excel in 2018 was his ability to command all of his pitches. Jeffress posted a career-best .991 WHIP but reverted to career-norms the following year.

The Cubs have gone dumpster diving this offseason, adding many bullpen arms, most of them on minor-league deals, and it looks like open competition for the two or three available spots come Spring Training. Jeffress does have the capability of being an excellent addition to the bullpen, one that needed a veteran player with the likely departures of Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek, and Brandon Kintzler. Only Strop remains unsigned of those three, but he’s recently been linked to the Marlins and Rangers.

It’s no secret that the Cubs are tight on money, and it’s all we’ve discussed this offseason. With the lack of notable additions this offseason, it’s blatantly apparent that the front office is trying to piece together a competitive team for 2020 with the hopes of getting to next offseason when they have much more financial flexibility.

As for the upcoming season, Tom Ricketts has done this to himself, whatever the result may be. The lack of moves this offseason has expectations at an all-time low since the 2014 season. The Cubs have sat idle and watched everyone in the division, minus the Pirates, improve their roster, and nobody should be the least bit surprised if this team finishes in fourth place in 2020.