While the Chicago Cubs still haven’t added bullpen help through free agency the team has casted a wide net this offseason in hopes of pulling in another reliable reliever. Jed Hoyer does not want to repeat the same mistake of not stockpiling the bullpen with proven arms and it does appear as though the Cubs have been in the mix for more established relief pitchers this offseason than in years past.
We can now add another reliever to the growing list of pitchers the Cubs have shown interest in as left-hander A.J. Minter is on their radar. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported on Monday that the Cubs are among the teams vying for the free agent lefty.
Morosi also connects Minter to the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves. The 31-year-old has pitched his entire MLB career with the Braves, making his MLB debut in the 2017 season.
A.J. Minter is one of the most popular free agent LH relievers among teams at the @MLB Winter Meetings.
The Braves would like to bring him back, and the Cubs and Rangers are among the clubs with interest. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 9, 2024
The Cubs have also shown interest in free agent relievers Andrew Chafin, Kirby Yates and Kyle Finnegan.
Minter has been really good during his entire MLB career, really only struggling in 2019. The lefty has a 3.28 ERA in 348.2 innings. His best season came in 2022, when Minter posted a 2.06 ERA in 70 innings, striking out 94 batters in 75 appearances.
Minter’s 2024 season looks good on the surface, a 2.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and held hitters to a .197 batting average. However, his strikeout rate dipped below 30% for the first time in three seasons and more worrying Minter only appeared in 39 games, tossing a total of 34.1 innings. The reliever went on the injured list twice in 2024, first in May because of a hip injury and then again later in the summer, when Minter eventually had surgery to repair the hip issue.
Minter last pitched for the Braves on Aug. 11.
So yeah, not exactly the most attractive free agent reliever with that hip injury, but you’d think the Cubs would only be interested if they know Minter will be good to go in 2025 and have no health concerns.
Back in November, MLBTR ranked the top-50 free agents this offseason and one writer predicted that the Cubs would end up signing Minter, ranked No. 34 on the list.
Via MLBTR.
Minter had a strong run as one of the better left-handed relievers in the game. From 2021 to 2023, he tossed 187 innings with a 3.13 ERA, 31% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate. He recorded 15 saves and 78 holds for Atlanta in that time. Among lefty relievers with at least 150 innings pitched in that frame, Minter’s ERA was in the top five, behind Josh Hader, Tim Mayza, Wandy Peralta and Andrew Chafin. His strikeout rate was also fifth, behind Hader, Aroldis Chapman, Taylor Rogers and Tanner Scott.
A power arm, especially from the left side, would be a great addition for the Cubs bullpen. So, we’ll keep an eye on Minter’s market this offseason as the Cubs should be acquiring at least one more reliever heading into the 2025 season.
