The Chicago Cubs are one of the top teams in the NL, and one Major League Baseball insider links them to trading for a star closer.
Chicago will be buyers at the deadline as the Cubs look to strengthen their roster. One area of need could be the bullpen, and MLB insider David Schoenfield believes the Cubs should look to trade for Los Angeles Angels closer Kenley Jansen.
“The Angels are hitting a ton of home runs and that has made them an early surprise as they attempt to end the majors’ longest playoff drought,” Schoenfield wrote. “Assuming the wheels eventually come off — the way they have for the past nine consecutive losing seasons — Jansen and Anderson are the logical trade candidates since both will be free agents.
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“At 37, Jansen is a long way from his dominant days with the Dodgers, but he still gets the job done, relying almost exclusively on his cutter. Is he the guy you want closing out Game 7 of a playoff series? Maybe not, but there are teams that still have some uncertainty in the ninth inning, including the Red Sox, Rangers, and Cubs,” Schoenfield added.
Jansen signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Angels in the offseason to be their closer. The veteran reliever is a four-time All-Star, as well as a two-time NL Reliever of the Year, a two-time NL Saves leader, and a World Series champion.
Jansen has pitched seven scoreless innings to begin the season and is 5-for-5 on saves.
Jansen would solidify the backend of the Cubs’ bullpen and give Chicago a star closer for the playoff push and into the postseason.
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