2. The Cubs’ aging bullpen will come back to bite them.
Does anyone else find it odd that in the middle of a rebuild, retooling, or whatever you want to call it, the Chicago Cubs went out and made several veteran additions to their bullpen?
If the Cubbies are going to make a surprise run at the postseason in 2022, they’re going to need the bullpen to hold up over the long haul. Over the offseason, Chicago added Jesse Chavez, Chris Martin, and David Robertson to their relief corps. All three are over 36 years old.
The Cubs also added Daniel Norris and Mychal Givens. Throw in Rowan Wick and Scott Effros and Chicago has a hodge-podge of relievers in their bullpen, most of whom are on the wrong side of 30.
If the bullpen is able to hold up over the course of a 162-game season, the club could find themselves in contention for a spot in the playoffs. But that feels like a pretty big if. Will the experience in the bullpen be a strength for the Cubs in 2022? Chicago’s front office is hoping the answer is yes.