The Chicago Cubs' bullpen ranks in the middle of the pack in MLB, but the relievers with the highest usage have performed really well for the Cubs.
Six of Chicago's nine relievers who have pitched in at least 20 games have an ERA at or below three. The three exceptions are relievers Porter Hodge, who started the season strong before dealing with injury, Ryan Pressly, who's had rough outings pushing his ERA over three, and Julian Merryweather.
The other six guys have been lights out, and it's mostly been made up of revitalized veterans. However, closer Daniel Palencia stands out. The young reliever holds a 1.43 ERA across 37.2 innings pitched and has 14 saves on the season. He's been amazing for the Cubs, but Chicago will be looking for more help for the young closer to fortify the back end of the bullpen at the 2025 MLB trade deadline.
The Athletic's Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma recently named three relievers the Cubs should target at the deadline to set their bullpen up for success for the rest of the season.
Mooney and Sharma named Atlanta Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias first. The Braves' closer is having a down season, pitching to a 5.09 ERA across 40.2 innings. However, he's a veteran reliever with a strong clubhouse presence and a history of success.
"Iglesias, 35, is only one year removed from perhaps the best season of his 11-year major-league career, when he posted a 1.95 ERA and 34 saves for Atlanta," Mooney and Sharma wrote. "He has also been trending well over the last two months (outside a poor performance in the second of back-to-back appearances against the New York Yankees). He has a 2.30 ERA over his last 15 2/3 innings with really impressive peripherals."
Iglesias also has postseason experience and could bring more veteran presence to the back end of the Cubs' bullpen. The Braves' closer is in the last year of a four-year contract and would be a free agent at the end of the season.
Another option for the Cubs is Tampa Bay Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks. Fairbanks is creating a strong 2025 campaign with a 2.84 ERA across 38 innings pitched. The Rays' reliever does have a club option for 2026, and the Rays have signaled they may not want to shop Fairbanks, but if he becomes available, the Cubs should be interested.
"With the Tampa Bay Rays essentially playing out their buy-or-sell decisions on a game-to-game basis, Pete Fairbanks could also become available," Mooney and Sharma wrote. "Despite a lower strikeout rate, the results are there, and his solid groundball rate would pair well with Chicago’s infield."
The Cubs' defense is one of the best in the MLB, and a high ground ball rate matches perfectly with Chicago's infield. The last option Mooney and Sharma gave was Minnesota Twins' closer Jhoan Duran.
"Twins closer Jhoan Duran has a triple-digit heater that he pairs with a splitter/sinker that sits 98 mph, an overwhelming combination that explains his minuscule 1.90 ERA," Mooney and Sharma wrote . "The Cubs are also enamored with setup man Griffin Jax, whose elevated ERA (4.00) belies his skills as he boasts a strikeout rate of 36.5 percent while walking just 6.8 percent of the batters he’s faced."
The Cubs witnessed Duran's talent earlier this season when he closed out two games against Chicago. Meanwhile, Jax is a pitcher who has starter experience and could be used in either capacity. Duran and Jax are under team control through 2027, so they will be expensive. However, the Cubs have the prospects to offer if they want to.
Chicago is expected to be very busy at the deadline, as the Milwaukee Brewers have made the National League Central extremely tight. Both teams are tied atop the division and have the best records in the National League. With the trade deadline on Thursday, things could get exciting quickly.
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