5 Cubs on Thin Ice After Missing Postseason 4th Year In A Row
By Zoe Grossman
2. Javier Assad
Assad debuted as a regular starter this season after mainly coming out of the bullpen in his first two years as a Cub. Despite posting a 2.27 ERA in his first 12 starts, the 27-year-old from Tijuana struggled for the rest of the year as he battled a forearm strain on his pitching arm.
Assad went 3-5 with a 4.84 ERA in his final 17 starts, which skyrocketed his ERA for the season to 3.73 - the worst mark of his career thus far, and the fourth-worst in the Cubs' rotation behind Kyle Hendricks.
Hendricks will likely be on the move in the offseason, leaving Assad at the weaker end of a rotation that includes Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and Jameson Taillon. If the Cubs manage to land a free agent starter like Corbin Burnes or Max Fried, Assad could be headed back to the bullpen.
3. Adbert Alzolay
The Cubs seemed to finally have a closer when Alzolay broke out in 2023, recording 22 saves with a 2.67 ERA.
But things went south pretty quickly when Alzolay blew five saves out of nine opportunities before going on the IL in May with a forearm strain. The 29-year-old would eventually need Tommy John surgery in August, ending his season after just 17.1 innings of work, a -0.6 WAR, and a 4.67 ERA.
The Cubs exercised multiple options at closer after Alzolay's injury - namely, Hector Neris, who recorded 17 saves out of 22 opportunities before his shock release in August. Neris' five blown saves and high walk rate were enough for the Cubs to let him go.
With the success of Tyson Miller (2.15 ERA, 14 holds) and Porter Hodge (1.88 ERA, nine saves) in the season's final months, the Cubs have a promising late relief team that could push Alzolay out of his role next year.