{"id":24458,"date":"2025-01-07T22:20:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T22:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=24458"},"modified":"2025-01-07T22:20:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T22:20:00","slug":"cubs-free-agent-target-carlos-estevez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=24458","title":{"rendered":"Cubs free agent target: Carlos Est\u00e9vez"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here\u2019s another guy I wasn\u2019t going to write about connected to the Cubs, but then he appeared in this Jim Bowden article in The Athletic Monday, about who he considers the top 15 remaining free agents. Here\u2019s what Bowden wrote:<\/p>\n

\n

Like [Kirby] Yates, Est\u00e9vez probably has to wait until Scott signs before he can find his next team. I think the Cubs, who need to build up their bullpen, are the best fit for him. They could use the strike-throwing power righty in high-leverage spots late in games. Teams such as the Blue Jays, Rangers, Red Sox and Giants also make sense for Est\u00e9vez, who logged 26 saves between the Phillies and Angels last year.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Carlos Est\u00e9vez had several undistinguished seasons for the Rockies from 2016-22 (4.59 ERA, 1.407 WHIP, 2.1 bWAR in 321 games) \u2014 but then, what pitcher doesn\u2019t have \u201cundistinguished seasons\u201d in Colorado?<\/p>\n

He signed as a free agent with the Angels in 2023 and was installed as their closer. He had 31 saves with only two blown saves and posted a 3.90 ERA. That was worth an All-Star appearance.<\/p>\n

Last year after he posted 20 saves (also with two blown saves) he was traded to the Phillies at the deadline for a pair of minor leaguers. He inherited closing duties from Jeff Hoffman and Jos\u00e9 Alvarado, and posted six saves, again with two blown saves.<\/p>\n

I think Est\u00e9vez could be a good fit for the Cubs. Here\u2019s his pitch selection from 2024. As you can see, he\u2019s got a good four-seam fastball and also mixes in a changeup and slider.<\/p>\n

\"Cubs <\/picture> <\/span> Baseball Savant<\/cite><\/figure>\n

Here he is striking out Christopher Morel at Wrigley Field as an Angel last July [VIDEO].<\/p>\n

That was on a 96+ mile per hour fastball, rising in the zone.<\/p>\n

Est\u00e9vez, obviously, has closing experience. Personally, I\u2019d have him set up Porter Hodge, and then if Hodge can\u2019t handle the job, Est\u00e9vez could step in.<\/p>\n

Est\u00e9vez turned 32 about 10 days ago and made $6.75 million in 2023, the last of a two-year deal that paid him the same in 2022. Overall last year he had a 2.45 ERA and 0.909 WHIP in 54 games covering 55 innings. That was worth 2.1 bWAR. He also had a very good walk rate in 2024, just 12 of 212 batters faced (5.7 percent).<\/p>\n

Since many of you want me to put some numbers out there: One year, $7 million, with a vesting option for 2026 for $9 million. Who says no?<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Poll<\/h3>\n

Carlos Est\u00e9vez…<\/h4>\n
\n
    \n
  • \n
    \n
    72%<\/h6>\n
    \n
    … the Cubs should sign him to a deal like the one proposed in the article<\/h6>\n

    (189 votes)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n
    \n
    16%<\/h6>\n
    \n
    … the Cubs should sign him, but to a different deal in dollars or years or both<\/h6>\n

    (44 votes)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n
    \n
    10%<\/h6>\n
    \n
    … the Cubs should not sign him<\/h6>\n

    (28 votes)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    261 votes total Vote Now<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    This reliever might be a useful guy for the Cubs bullpen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":24459,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nCubs free agent target: Carlos Est\u00e9vez - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=24458\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cubs free agent target: Carlos Est\u00e9vez - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This reliever might be a useful guy for the Cubs bullpen.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=24458\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-01-07T22:20:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/a2-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MrThanh\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MrThanh\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=24458\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=24458\",\"name\":\"Cubs free agent target: Carlos Est\u00e9vez - 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