Five Right-Handed Relievers the Chicago Cubs Should Consider Signing

Now that it has become known that Ben Sheets, whom the Cubs had showed interest in taking a risk on as he returns from surgery, is looking for a two year contract at $10-$12 million per year, the Cubs will most likely turn their attention to filling out the back end of their bullpen.

The most pressing need seems to be a reliable right handed arm to go with lefty John Grabow to pitch in the setup role. While the job could still go to Angel Guzman, who had a solid season last year, there are a number of intriguing options still available in free agency. Below are five relievers that I feel the Cubs would be best off targeting.

Kiko Calero
35 Years Old
2009 Salary: $500,000
2009 Stats: 67 Appearances, 60 IP, 2-2, 1.95 ERA, 69 Ks

Calero is coming off the finest season of his career and aside from the 2007 season, he has had an ERA under four in each season of his career. He would give the Cubs a veteran presence in what is an otherwise very young bullpen and should come at a fairly reasonable price. The Cubs have been rumored to be interested in him off and on most of the off-season, and I would not be surprised to see him in Chicago. The Giants have also showed interest.

Octavio Dotel
36 Years Old
2009 Salary: $6.00 million
2009 Stats: 62 Appearances, 62.1 IP, 3-3, 3.32 ERA, 75 Ks

It can be assumed that Dotel will wind up signing for far less than the three year, $16 million contract that he received prior to the 2007 season from the Royals to be their closer, so the six million figure is a bit deceiving. Dotel has posted fantastic strikeout numbers throughout his career with an average of 11.0 K/9, and he would be a welcome addition to the back end of the Cubs pen. While the Pirates seem to have the inside track on signing him, the Cubs would be wise to inquire about the hard throwing righty.

Jose Valverde
30 Years Old
2009 Salary: $8 million
2009 Stats: 52 Appearances, 25 Saves, 54 IP, 4-2, 2.33 ERA, 56 Ks

Valverde is clearly the highest profile reliever still on the market, and with good reason. He is still only 30, and is in the prime of what has already been a very successful career. He is looking for teams to match the eight million he made last season, and I think he will find someone in need of a closer willing to pay that. Valverde would almost certainly only sign as a closer, so the Cubs would need to revoke their naming of Carlos Marmol to that position. With Marmol largely unproven, this may be the best possible move for the Cubs, it is simply a matter of whether or not they still have the available funds.

Mike MacDougal
33 Years Old
2009 Salary: $2.65 million
2009 Stats: 52 Appearances, 20 Saves, 54.1 IP, 1-1, 4.31 ERA, 34 Ks

MacDougal is an intriguing option because of his power arm and late inning experience. He posted the third 20 save season of his career last year. However, he may want to close, something he would not do in Chicago. Also, last season he walked 38 batters while striking out just 34, so control is clearly an issue. There are a numbers of teams interested in Macdougal, with the Phillies apparently most interested. While I doubt he will end up in Chicago he is intriguing nonetheless.

David Weathers
40 Years Old
2009 Salary: $3.5 million
2009 Stats: 68 Appearances, 1 Save, 62 IP, 4-6, 3.92 ERA, 46 Ks

While he is certainly not the most appealing option on the market, Weathers is a seasoned veteran who saved 33 games for the Reds just two seasons ago. He is a workhorse, and while he does not post great strikeout numbers, there is a reason he is entering his 20th season in the majors. He should come for less than the $3.5 million he made last season, and if some of the above mentioned options fall through, he would certainly be worth a look.

My best guess is that the Cubs will sign Calero within the next weeks or so, and that will be the last of their off season moves until Spring Training. I think they would be wise to seriously consider signing Valverde and bumping Marmol back into the setup role where I feel he belongs.

In the end, it will come down to how much money the Cubs have left to spend, although it seems to be less than the eight million Valverde is looking for.