Cubs interested in Angels’ Joe Smith
The Chicago Cubs are after another bullpen arm, this time in the form of Los Angeles Angels righty Joe Smith.
Unless you live under a rock, you know that the Chicago Cubs acquired lefty flamethrower, Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees in exchange for shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres, versatile pitcher Adam Warren, and minor league outfielders Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford.
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However, another bullpen arm could also be heading to the Windy City. According to Ken Rosenthal, citing sources, the Cubs have opened talks with the Los Angeles Angels in the pursuit of bullpen specialist Joe Smith.
Source: #Cubs discussing a trade for #Angels’ Joe Smith. Considering number of other possibilities as well.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 1, 2016
Smith, 32, is making $5.25 million in the final year of a three year deal he signed with the Angels. The righty reliever is having somewhat of a down year, with a strikeout rate slightly below his career average. Smith’s ERA is another story — it has ballooned to just under 3.7; his career ERA, in contrast, is just a touch over 2.9.
Before 2015, Smith was more than an effective reliever, yet he has steadily declined over the past two seasons. It’s tough to see the angle for the Cubs here. Smith doesn’t offer anything they don’t already have, and with Chapman occupying the ninth inning, I see this as nothing more than the possible addition of a reliever to take some innings off of the Cubs aging bullpen. This is not a lock though, as the Cubs are still reviewing other options.
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