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MLB Rumors: Alek Manoah’s disaster, Cubs add to bullpen, Aaron Judge update

By Mark Powell

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 5: Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks through the dugout after getting pulled from the game in the first inning against the Houston Astros in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 5, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 5: Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks through the dugout after getting pulled from the game in the first inning against the Houston Astros in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 5, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – JULY 23: Shane Greene #61 of the New York Yankees pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 23, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – JULY 23: Shane Greene #61 of the New York Yankees pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 23, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

MLB Rumors: Cubs add to the bullpen

The Chicago Cubs need some bullpen help, that much is obvious. While a trade at the deadline could happen, especially due to recent comments by the Ricketts family, most fans did not expect Chicago to make a move via free agency.

Chicago signed Shane Greene, who has 67 saves over the course of his big-league career. Greene, however, hasn’t seen much success since the 2020 season, when he made 28 appearance to the tune of a 2.60 ERA.

The Cubs are far from the first team to take a chance on Greene since then. He’s signed with the Dodgers and Yankees, among others. However, Chicago doesn’t have much to lose by signing Greene, as he comes on a low-risk contract. MLB Trade Rumors explains why bullpen help is in such demands for the Cubs.

"“Swift decline notwithstanding, Greene represents a no-risk flier for a Cubs team that regularly rolls the dice on veteran rebound candidates in the bullpen. It hasn’t always worked in their favor, of course, but the Cubs have netted strong returns on minimal investments for names like Andrew Chafin, David Robertson, Ryan Tepera, Mychal Givens and Mark Leiter Jr. (among others) in sticking to this approach in recent years. They’ll hope to add Greene’s name to that list of successes in the coming months.”"

Clearly, Chicago doesn’t view their ‘pen as a finished product. Should Greene work out, then maybe it’ll avoid the need of making a deadline trade, thus giving up an asset in the process.

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