Despite featuring the likes of arms including Pedro Strop, Brandon Morrow, Justin Wilson and Carl Edwards, the Chicago Cubs refused to stand pat at the trade deadline. Theo Epstein went out and added Jesse Chavez and Brandon Kintzler – in addition to Cole Hamels.
And, even then, the Cubs weren’t done. Chicago picked up 37-year-old left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, recently released by the Arizona Diamondbacks. With a career 4.62 ERA – including a 4.63 mark with a 5.55 FIP this season – the move, at first glance, may not make much sense.
But, for the Cubs, who badly lack left-handed depth in the bullpen, it made a lot of sense.