On the same day the Chicago Cubs officially announced they signed Jon Lester, the team is reportedly shoring up the bullpen.
According to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat, the Cubs agreed to a one-year deal with veteran reliever Jason Motte:
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported on the financial details of the deal:
Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan reported that the nature of the potential contract might signify Motte getting a chance to close in Chicago:
Closer has been a sore spot for the Cubs over the past few years. It’s seemingly become an annual tradition for the franchise to switch closers midseason.
While the 32-year-old has only spent one full season as a closer (2012), he was very good in the role. He saved 42 games, which tied for the lead in the National League, and posted a 2.75 earned run average that season for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Motte missed all of 2013 with an elbow injury and subsequent Tommy John surgery. Upon his return last year, he was a little shaky on the mound, giving up 13 earned runs in 25 innings pitched.
While adding Motte won’t move the needle much in Chicago, it’s a low-risk, high-reward deal for the team.
If Motte remains healthy in 2015 and returns to something similar to his 2012 self, the Cubs will have a very good, reliable closer. If it doesn’t work out, they didn’t make a sizable investment and won’t get burned too much.
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