Aging lefty with sub-90 mph velocity? Check. Recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction? Check. Former prospect who found greater success after leaving? Check. Brooks Raley is the Platonic ideal of a Jed Hoyer pitching acquisition, which is why the Cubs are among the teams checking in on him. That comes from Ken Rosenthal, who reported that the 36-year-old “has discussed multiyear arrangements” as he works his way back from surgery last May.
A sixth-round pick by the Cubs back in 2009, Raley made his MLB debut in 2012 and started five games during the club’s worst season in nearly five decades.