The Cubs have a new closer, but will it last? That seems to be the question on everyone down at Wrigleyville's lips and for good reason.
The Cubs have seemingly had closer issues for years and all off season Cubbie fans were waiting to hear what the front office would do to address the problem. In fact, over the past 10 years, eight pitchers have led the team in saves. The band aid's that were attached to the position this off season were hardly settling for Chicago fans, and the fantasy community seemed to also not buy into their stop gap options. Porter Hodge was a name that a few insiders believed in, but he was a tentative arm at best, and the prevailing thought was the Chicago would bring in an arm to close games out. Maybe Kenley Jansen, maybe it would be a a big deal for Mason Miller, but not many believed they would find an in-house option.
The Cubs, and fantasy owners alike, are suddenly very excited about their new back-end arm, and I am buying in. Daniel Palencia is a name you want to grab immediately in all formats, and he might be their long-term solution for the 9th inning. Palencia took over the team lead by converting his fifth straight save opportunity this weekend.
Palencia has a closers makeup. This Saturday he had six pitches that were thrown for triple digits and while he can get a little wild at times that velocity is what a team wants in the 9th to shut down offenses. He joined the Cubs in 2021 in the Andrew Chafin trade with Oakland and was thought of as a weapon, if he could ever gain some control. His control has been there, and he has now only allowed runs in one of his 16 appearances on the season.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell has said he will mix and match in the 9th inning but if Palencia can keep finding the strike zone, they have no reason to remove him. Get on this closer now before your league mates realize what's happening in Wrigley.