The Cubs agreed to terms on a one-year, $2 million deal with free agent left-hander Brian Duensing to add depth to a bullpen that lost most of its left-handed strength since its World Series run.
It’s their second free agent signing of the week, after outfielder Jon Jay signed a one-year, $8 million deal.
Duensing, 33, opened 2016 in the minors with the Royals, elected free agency in May and after subsequently signing with the Orioles went on the Baltimore disabled list after experiencing elbow soreness while adjusting his bullpen chair (yes, that’s actually what he told the team).
He later had surgery to remove chips from the elbow, returning to pitch in September and the playoffs – compiling a 4.05 ERA in 14 short-relief appearances during the regular season.
A veteran of eight big-league seasons, all but one with the Twins, Duensing has a 4.13 career ERA in 368 games, including 61 starts (none after 2010). In his career, left-handed batters hit just .236 (.614 OPS) against him, compared to .292 (.814).
The Cubs had three left-handers in their bullpen for the World Series. Two (Aroldis Chapman, Travis Wood) are free agents and Mike Montgomery is expected to get a chance to earn the fifth-starter job next spring.
The timing could be particularly fortunate for Duensing. The Cubs are anticipating new bullpens and, presumably, state-of-the-art, injury-averse chairs.
Of course, it’s not like the Cubs don’t have experience with relievers and chair injuries. Lefty Mike Remlinger purportedly suffered a disabling finger injury in 2005 when he caught his hand between a pair of chairs in the clubhouse.