Cubs urged to rescue exiled pitcher who might just be a sleeper

The Chicago Cubs have certainly turned things around over the last couple of weeks, having won 11 of their last 15 games to re-establish themselves as serious playoff contenders in the National League.

That being said, the Cubs have gone just 18-26 since their 27-12 start, and they have a plethora of issues up and down the roster that will almost surely prevent the team from making the postseason unless the holes are addressed.

While the starting rotation is certainly the most glaring need for Chicago, the Cubs could also use some help in their bullpen, which ranks 19th in win probability.

There may not be many good arms available right now, but Jed Hoyer has shown a willingness to experiment, as evidenced by his decision to trade for struggling New York Mets pitcher David Peterson last week. So could Hoyer try and go bargain hunting again?

Jake Misener of Cubbies Crib has offered an intriguing possibility, naming recently released Athletics reliever Scott Barlow as a candidate for Chicago.

Chicago Cubs urged to sign Scott Barlow

On the surface, Barlow’s 2026 numbers look horrendous. He owns a 6.48 ERA and 6.43 FIP while posting a brutal 1.53 K/BB ratio.

But while it’s entirely possible that the 33-year-old may just be cooked, it’s important to remember that he has been pitching in a bandbox in Sacramento and would strongly benefit from performing in a legitimate major-league ballpark.

Case in point, Barlow has logged a minuscule 1.02 ERA away from home this season, allowing just six hits over 17.2 innings of work. He is even walking far less hitters on the road, having issued only six free passes in his 17 appearances.

Since entering the big leagues with the Kansas City Royals in 2018, Barlow owns a lifetime 3.79 ERA while racking up 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The strikeout number have dipped the last couple of years, but perhaps Barlow can be rejuvenated in a playoff race with the Cubs.

Barlow would be cheap and would be a very low-risk, potentially high-reward option for Chicago. There really is no reason why Hoyer shouldn’t take a small gamble on the veteran, especially considering it could prove to be a fantastic move.

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