Keegan Thompson could be the X-factor for Cubs in 2024 |
This offseason hasn't gone how most Cubs fans hoped it would, and you are starting to see the frustrations mount. Whether by design or just not having a clear direction that they want to go, Jed Hoyer and the Cubs have been eerily quiet this offseason, and that has gone against what they had previously said when the 2023 season came to an end.
At some point, this team will have to do something, or they will go into the 2024 season with virtually the same roster they had last season but missing their most important player in, Cody Bellinger. As much as fans want to be as patient as possible and trust the process that Hoyer has set, it's becoming harder and harder to do as there is a sense of panic on why the Cubs have yet to make any significant signing. Some argue that Craig Counsell was a significant signing, and to those who say that, you are right. He was the biggest managerial free agent on the market, and after looking like he was destined to land in the Big Apple with the Mets, the Cubs swooped in, signed him, and fired David Ross. Counsell is now the highest paid Manager in MLB history, and the Cubs are banking on him guiding this team to more wins than Ross did the past few seasons. For Counsell to succeed, the Cubs are hoping for and need to give him the resources he didn't have in Milwaukee. While the resources are there, moves have yet to be made, which is a concern. Sure, the Cubs missed on some of the big-ticket free agents, but there are still several big names left on the market, and the Cubs need to do what they need to do to land one if not multiple, big-ticket players. Regardless of what happens, the Cubs trust Counsell's ability to make the most out of the roster given to him, which he did a lot of in Milwaukee. Comparing the Cubs and Brewers rosters from last season, you could make the case the Cubs roster was better, but yet the Brewers were the ones with nine more wins and in the postseason. The biggest reason for that was a bullpen that had always been a top-five bullpen when Counsell was there, as his ability to manage a pitching staff had always been one of his strengths. Going back to his time in Milwaukee, Counsell has always played the matchup game exceptionally well in the pen, but he has always had a dominating multi-inning guy who has been able to shut opponents down. Josh Hader was that guy for a while before he became the closer. Jeremy Jeffress was that guy, and most recently, Devin Williams was that guy until he took over for Hader as the closer. Looking at the Cubs roster, Counsell doesn't have one of those dominating multi-inning guys, but he does have someone with the possibility to become that, as Keegan Thompson could be the single most X-factor in the Cubs pen. The 28-year-old righty starter turned reliever emerged as the Cubs' most lethal weapon in 2021-22 before having a horrendous season in 2023. Thompson appeared in 19 games with the Cubs last season, posting a 2-2 record and a 4.71 ERA. He walked 19 and struck out 26 as his command and hard contact was a massive issue for him, which is the main reason why he was sent back to Iowa last season. Hoping to turn things around in AAA, Thompson continued to struggle as he posted an 8.10 ERA across 20 games, but did improve over his final two outings. To say last season was a lost season for him would be an understatement, and the Cubs need him to get back to his 2022 form for the bullpen to have that multi-inning weapon that Counsell loves. Thompson was a starter before arriving in the MLB, making 34 starts and appearing in 60 total games. During that time, Thompson showed plenty of potential, posting a 10-10 record with a solid 3.38 ERA. Those consistent performances alone landed him in the majors in 2021, where he was primarily a reliever. During his rookie season, Thompson appeared in 34 games (6 starts), totaling 53 1/3 innings of work. He went 3-3 that season with a 3.38 ERA while walking 31 and striking out 55. Thompson recorded one hold and one save that season, but in the 2022 season, he turned himself into one of the game's best. Thompson appeared in 29 games during the 2022 season (17 starts) and was dominant at times, but also struggled. He threw 115 innings that season and walked 43 with 108 punchouts. Over those 29 games, Thompson posted double-digit wins with 10 while losing five games. He did that by posting a 3.76 ERA, but when you consider his 2.21 ERA in his 12 relief appearances as opposed to an ERA nearing five as a starter, you can see where the success is. Thompson struggled a bit toward the end of 2022, but many people felt it had to do with his career high in innings. Then came his struggles in 2023, with many fans wondering if he will ever be the same. His velocity went from 95-96 MPH to 92-94 while also seeing his command plummet. Working with Counsell this season may be the key to getting him back on Track, as he could be the single most important piece to the bullpen if he can get back to his old form.
