Cubs Relying on Jeremy Jeffress to Pitch Big Innings in 2020 is Yet Another Case of Oversight by the Front Office
The Chicago Cubs signed 32-year-old reliever Jeremy Jeffress to a one-year deal this offseason to help a bullpen that had major issues in 2019.
Jeffress had a rough year himself with the Milwaukee Brewers, finishing with a 5.02 ERA in 52 innings. And in classic Cubs fashion, he will be heavily relied upon in Chicago whenever the season gets underway. Another case of patchwork bullpen solutions.
Were Jeremy Jeffress' 2019 woes an anomaly or a sign of a veteran reliever's decline?
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) March 14, 2020
The Cubs are counting on it being the former, and Jeffress pitching some big innings this season.https://t.co/Gw3u7IFMRv
The Cubs saw Jeffress' 2018 season and are hoping that's the player they're getting. That year saw the veteran log 76.2 innings and finish with a dominant 1.29 ERA. He also had 89 strikeouts and made his first ever All-Star Game.
While Jeffress does have a solid career ERA at 3.16, his 1.35 WHIP is not exactly what you want in a relief pitcher.
? or ? on the addition of Jeremy Jeffress in the bullpen?
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) January 28, 2020
More on his reported deal and what the #Cubs are getting: https://t.co/oWfN2MqUwM pic.twitter.com/OsVYE5eNsP
The Cubs are also a bit desperate with Craig Kimbrel as the anchor of the bullpen. Steve Cishek, Brandon Kintzler and Pedro Strop have all signed elsewhere, leaving big holes. Relying on Jeffress may be out of necessity and it's possible the Cubs are just trying to talk themselves into him being the answer given his stellar 2018.
Whatever the case, Cubs fans have seen this story before.