Cubs add Jeremy Jeffress

The Chicago Cubs have added free agent reliever Jeremy Jeffress on a one year $850,000 deal according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The deal will also allow Jeffress to earn up to $200,000 in incentives based on games pitched.

Jeffress, 32,was a disappointment for the Brewers in 2019 results wise as he posted a 5.02 ERA in 48 appearances while dealing with injury including a hip problem right before his release in early September. There are some indicators to suggest a bounce back in 2020. His 3.96 FIP is far better than his ERA and 63.8 left on base percentage is well below his career average.

It's fair to wonder what went from for Jeffress in 2019, he suffered from a significant 1.4 MPH drop on his sinker velocity which allowed hitters to hit .291 against the pitch compared to a .215 mark from the year before. His split-fingered fastball was also disastrous for him as hitters hit .400 off the pitch in a much smaller sample size than the year before where hitters hit .188 off the pitch.

Overall for his career he has posted a 3.16 ERA in 392 career games including one start. He has pitched 401 total innings striking out 370 while walking 163. He has pitched for four big league teams, but has had the most success for the Brewers posting a 2.66 ERA in 301 appearances split across seven seasons.

It is extremely unlikely that Jeffress will return to his 2018 form where he was all All-Star posting an incredible 1.29 ERA in 76.2 innings for the Brewers bullpen. But he has shown the ability to be a solid big league reliever and if he can get his velocity back up and some of the bad luck disappears then he can definitely be an asset to the Cubs bullpen in 2020..

Cubs trade Tony Kemp to the A's

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle the Oakland A's have acquired 2B/OF Tony Kemp for a currently unknown return.

The Cubs acquired Kemp at the 2019 trade deadline and he struggled with the Cubs hitting just .183/.258/.305 in 44 games and 93 plate appearances. He struck out 18 times to seven walks and he had just six extra base hits while going 0-1 on stolen base attempts. Although he graded fairly well in the outfield, he just didn't do enough with the bat.

It was likely going to be difficult for Kemp to find playing time for the Cubs in 2020. David Bote is currently projected to start at second base along with Nico Hoerner and Robel Garcia lurking as options as well. The Cubs also have a significant amount of outfield depth and he isn't a good enough hitter to justify displacing anyone on the roster.

Kemp had a few nice moments for the Cubs, including a big go ahead pinch hit home run against the Cardinals when they still had a chance, but ultimately his short tenure with the Cubs will go down as a disappointment.

Update:

The Cubs will receive 23-year old Alfonso Rivas who was the A's fourth round draft choice in 2018. He spent the majority of the year for the A's High-A affiliate in Stockton where he hit .283/.383/.408 in 114 games and 509 plate appearances. He also received a stint in AAA where went 13-32 with a home run in eight games.

He does not hit for a lot of power with just a .121 ISO for his professional career, but he has a good hit tool and with a 6' 0" 188lb frame he could potentially add more power.

In an interview for A's Farm A's special assistant Grady Fuson said: "Like I’ve always said, power is the last thing to come. And so, we’ll just wait and see on that. But very polished, knows the strike zone, swings at strikes, takes balls, good defender. He’s a good-looking player,"