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Despite his struggles this season, Alzolay has been one of the Cubs’ best relievers since 2020. He has posted a Sub-3 ERA out of the bullpen since 2020. Above all else, what the Cubs bullpen needed the most this season was the healthy return of Alzolay.
It is becoming less likely that Alzolay will return this season for the Cubs, which may heighten the team’s urgency to make an external move. Health will still play a factor for the Cubs’ bullpen, as they need Julian Merryweather to return and repeat his success from 2023, but the idea of depending on only three relievers—Merryweather, Mark Leiter Jr., and Hector Neris—is the same flaw that the team had last year.
The Cubs must be prepared to pull off any feat required to succeed from the bullpen this season, whether that means dealing for an experienced closer or shifting Ben Brown into the closer’s job.
The Cubs’ pitchers’ return to health was going to be the quickest route to stability for the bullpen this season, which was welcome news for Cubs fans who had been hoping for the organization to trade for Mason Miller.
Adbert Alzolay was among them; his time on the injured list was a real injury. Since last September, the demoted closer has been battling his second forearm strain. When Alzolay first strained his forearm in September of last year, there was concern that the condition might be a sign of Tommy John.
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