Chicago Cubs coach indicates deal is coming soon for shutdown closer

The Chicago Cubs front office and coaching staff have been making it known that the team is not done building their 2025 team.

The frustration from fans is evident as time drags on and high-end impact pieces remain available on the free agency market.

There are several areas where the Cubs would like to improve this offseason. They’ve been vocal about targeting another quality starting pitcher. They’ve also been actively targeting infield depth, as well as catching depth.

The Chicago Cubs Need A Closer

One big target for improvement, however, should be in the bullpen, where the Cubs lack a true, proven shutdown closer.

Last season, 23-year-old Porter Hodge did well in that role over the last part of the season, saving 9 in 39 games and posting an impressive 1.88 ERA. But way too many winnable games were lost in 2024, late in the game, because the bullpen just couldn’t shut the door. A team that hopes to make a playoff run needs to have an established presence in the closer role and Hodge, coming off a good rookie campaign, isn’t that man right now.

Chicago has already added Cleveland Guardians’ Eli Morgan via trade and Caleb Thielbar and Colin Rea via free agency, as well as some other depth pieces. One would assume that the middle of the bullpen is pretty much set. The only thing missing, now, is the closer.

Hottovy Confirms Closer Target

In an appearance on the Mully and Haugh Show on 670 The Score Wednesday morning, Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy pretty much confirmed that the team will be picking up that closer.

“I love that we’re at January 15th, and it’s like, ‘Who’s the closer?” Hottovy asked. “I think if we sat here today and said our team is a finished product, we’d be doing us and everybody else a disservice. We’re still very active in trying to raise our floor, especially in the bullpen.”

So, that just leaves the open question of who the Cubs will pursue.

Who Will The Cubs Bring Aboard?

Free agents Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Kyle Finnegan, and Kenley Jansen are still available. Fans and media have theorized about all of these possible closers for the team, but there’s been no real buzz about the Cubs exploring deals with any of them. Of the available closers, Scott is probably the best and most reliable, but he’ll also carry the highest price tag and will be looking for a multi-year deal.

There’s also the possibility of a closer coming via trade.

Not too long ago, a writer proposed a deal with the San Diego Padres that would bring in Padres closer Robert Suarez for a package that includes a prospect and a majors-ready young arm, such as Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, or Ben Brown.

Suarez would be a one-year rental since he becomes a free agent at the end of the 2025 season, but he would be a quick fix for a big problem that the team may not want to solve via big-ticket free agent acquisition. Chicago, this year especially, has kicked the tires on trades for talent rather than pursue additions on the open market, even though they do have the payroll space right now to dip into free agency more freely.

Whatever the case, it seems clear that the Cubs WILL add the shutdown closer they need ahead of the 2025 season. It’s just a matter of who they decide to target and when they pull the trigger. Pitchers and catchers report to Arizona in less than a month.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-coach-closer-scott-yates?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chicago-cubs-coach-closer-scott-yates