Every contender uses the offseason to fine-tune its bullpen, and the Chicago Cubs have been especially active on that front. Their latest reported addition, right-hander Hunter Harvey, joins Hoby Milner, Caleb Thielbar, Jacob Webb, and Phil Maton as new bullpen options brought into the organization since the postseason ended.
Still, some of the biggest improvements could come internally. Porter Hodge, who emerged as a breakout reliever for the Cubs last season, endured a difficult follow-up year. He struggled early, landed on the injured list, and ultimately was left off the team’s playoff roster. Despite that, the Cubs remain confident that a healthy offseason could allow the 24-year-old to reclaim an important role.
Manager Craig Counsell has emphasized how critical Hodge’s development will be moving forward and appears to be banking on a rebound. “A Porter Hodge season, bouncing back, that’s going to be important,” Counsell told MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian.
Counsell isn’t alone in that belief. General manager Carter Hawkins drew a comparison between Hodge and Daniel Palencia, who broke out as a key reliever for the Cubs this season. “He’s kind of the guy people aren’t talking about a ton, but he was doing what Daniel Palencia was doing two years ago,” Hawkins said. “The stuff is in there.”
Last year, Hodge posted a stellar 1.88 ERA across 43 big-league innings and eventually took over closing duties late in the season. This year was a stark contrast, as he recorded a 6.27 ERA in 33 innings and was sent down to Triple-A twice, spending roughly six weeks there in the second half.
While the Cubs have built considerable bullpen depth this offseason, Hodge provides a level of upside few of the external additions can match. If Chicago is to make a deep playoff run, his ability to rediscover his late-inning form could prove to be a significant factor.