Cubs looking at J.J. Putz for bullpen vacancy
December 8, 2009 12:54 PM | No Comments

By Paul Sullivan

INDIANAPOLIS -- While the Milton Bradley talks have been the Cubs' focus of the winter meetings, they are also looking to shore up the bullpen with a veteran right-handed reliever.

The problem is the Cubs aren't looking to add a big salary, and they like the threesome of Carlos Marmol, John Grabow and Angel Guzman at the back end of the bullpen. That means the chances are they will bring in someone who had a down year or health problems, hoping he gets better.

Cubs sources said one of the free agents whose drawn their interest is J.J. Putz, the former Seattle closer who flopped last year with the Mets and eventually had elbow surgery.

The Mets declined an $8.6 million option on Putz, who went 1-4 with a 5.22 ERA in 29 1/3 innings. His best season was in 2007 with Seattle, when he converted 40 of 42 save opportunities and posted a 1.38 ERA.

Putz has drawn interest from a half dozen teams, despite the elbow problems and poor season in '09. He's likely to sign for a relatively modest salary with incentive bonuses, which is what the Cubs would do if they were able to sign him.

Putz would serve in basically the same role as Aaron Heilman, a sixth or seventh inning bridge from the starter to the set-up man. It's slim pickings for free agent relievers, and the Cubs aren't interested in bringing back LaTroy Hawkins or Bob Howry, two other veterans who fit that bill.

Thus far, the Cubs bullpen is very young except for Grabow, and rookie Esmailin Caridad figures to get a chance to win a spot in spring training.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

No to Hawkins and Howry...yes to Putz.

Seconded - oddly enough.

I just have a feeling that Putz will have a pretty decent bounceback year. But NOT as a closer or a primary setup guy - I would accept him in a 7th inning type situation.

He also makes sense for the Sox if Jenks is gone.

Putz on a 1 year incentive laden deal would be fine with me.

The Cubs in the past have been the masters of this type of deal - some success some not.

Chad Fox, Scott Williamson and some others were all signed to this type of deal - couple of names I'm missing and I'm not sure about Howry - I think

Ryan Dempster (good)
Wade Miller (bad)

Howry was a premier setup man before he came here, he didn't really have any injury history.

And here I was thinking this was about Jesse Jackson.