The Cubs were already loaded up on relief arms that fall into the he-might-be-a-guy-he-might-not-so-let’s-just-get-volume bucket long before they traded for Casey Sadler or signed Tyler Olson and Jason Adam to minor league deals this past week.
And now they’re adding yet another.
The #Cubs today acquired RHP Travis Lakins from the Red Sox for a player to be named or cash consideration. pic.twitter.com/vZRj2rxPK9
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 21, 2020
Lakins, 25, was the Red Sox’s 6th rounder back in 2015, steadily rising through their system as a starter until 2018 at AA, when he converted to the bullpen. From there, he had mixed results at AAA – as pretty much everyone did this past year – but he wound up getting really good results (with decent peripherals) in 23.1 big league innings. At the end of the season, he ranked as the Red Sox’s 23rd best prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
The Red Sox DFA’d Lakins late last week to make room for Matt Hall, and since the Cubs had to trade for him, it means they valued him slightly more than just a guy they’d sit back and try to grab off of waivers.
As a guy who can be optioned back and forth from AAA, Lakins is a perfectly fine depth reliever to get into the mix, and then try to unlock another level (as is currently true with about 6 to 10 Cubs pitchers at this level).
You’ll be unsurprised to learn that Lakins, like so many of the other fringy additions this offseason, features well above-average spin on both his curveball and fastball. I really don’t hate this approach, I have to admit. The Cubs will have to be VERY good at identifying which of these guys actually has it this year – and who best take to the Cubs’ Pitch Lab tweaks – but the organization will have a crapload of options.
Although the 40-man roster is now full, you have to keep in mind that the Cubs have several guys on there that they can try to outright, get through waivers, and send to Iowa to open the season. Part of the reason you accumulate so many of these types of arms is knowing that you will eventually try to sneak a few through waivers. You just don’t worry about it until it’s necessary.