Brandon Morrow: 6-0, 2.06 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 50/9 K/BB, 43.2 IP
2 years, $21 million, $12 million vesting option for 2020
Having lost Wade Davis to free agency and non-tendered Hector Rondon, Brandon Morrow is a big add for the Cubs. The bullpen looks weak as it is, with Pedro Strop (2.83 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 60.1 IP), Carl Edwards Jr. (2.98 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 66.1 IP), and Justin Wilson (3.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 58 IP) headlining what's left. Morrow adds another late inning option, as the 33 year old righty transitioned very well to relief work last season, putting up a 2.06 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP over 45 appearances, striking out 50 and walking nine in 43.2 innings. The difference was added power to his breaking ball and a three MPH bump in his average velocity from 95 to 98, leading to a career-high 29.4% strikeout rate to go along with a career-low 5.3% walk rate. It's important not to think of him as a replacement for Davis, as his peak last year was closer to Davis' average performance, but as an added weapon that can be used in the late innings. He was injured very often as a starter, and while that risk is somewhat lower now that he is a reliever, he's no guarantee to stay healthy throughout the year. For his career, he is 51-43 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP over 299 games (113 starts) since being drafted fifth overall out of Cal-Berkeley in 2006.
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