Could the Cubs look to bring back a former reliever in 2025?
Earlier on Wednesday, the Cubs formally introduced pitcher Ryan Pressly to the media.
Pressly was acquired in a trade with the Houston Astros a few days ago that sent pitching prospect Juan Bello to Houston.
As the Cubs’ offseason began, one of the key areas to improve upon was the bullpen. The bullpen ranked 11th in MLB with a 3.81 ERA, 18th with a 1.29 WHIP and 14th with 38 saves.
With 2 weeks before pitchers and catchers report, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins have been busy bolstering the bullpen by adding pitchers Caleb Thielbar, Cody Poteet, Eli Morgan, Rob Zastryzny and Pressly to the 40-man roster.
[WATCH: Ryan Pressly’s introductory press conference]
While Pressly figures to be in the mix at the backend of the Cubs’ bullpen, Marquee Sports Network contributor Bruce Levine eluded on Cubs 360 there may be a familiar face that the Cubs could add into that group.
“Keep your eye on David Robertson as a guy the Cubs have been talking to,” Levine said on Cubs 360. “He’s 39 going on 40-years old. He struck out 99 guys last year in just a little over 65 innings. Dominant guy, he’s always had 4 pitches, not afraid, so that would be a key addition and another veteran for that bullpen.”
In an article on Audacy.com, Levine went into more detail on the Robertson connection and also discussed the possibility of the Cubs hanging around in the Alex Bregman sweepstakes.
Last season with Texas, the free-agent righty had a 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 2 saves in 72 innings across 68 games. He has 177 career saves in his 16-year big-league career, which is more than even Pressly has (112).
Robertson signed with the Cubs back in 2022 where he piled up impressive numbers as the team’s closer. He had a 2.23 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 14 saves in 40.1 innings across 36 games. Robertson was dealt during the trade deadline to the Phillies in 2022 for young pitcher Ben Brown.