Time for a Reunion? Andrew Chafin still fits the Cubs |
Dustin Riese
· · 7 hours ago
Every now and then, you can look back on deals a team makes and come to the conclusion that it's one of the guys that got away. While this player may not be at the level of Kyle Schwarber as the one that got away, he was still a fan favorite during his time in Chicago and performed about as well as you could've asked him to do.
We are talking about Andrew Chafin, AKA the Sheriff, whose time in Chicago was not only filled with joy, but also plenty of success. The once-set-up man for the David Ross led Cubs, Chafin has bounced around the league for the past several seasons, but one thing remains the same: he has been one of the more consistent arms on the market. Whether it be the long curly hair, his 80s style mustache, or just the quirky personality he brought to the table, Chafin was about as joyful a person as anyone could ask for. From all accounts, he was a great teammate and a great clubhouse leader, which is why losing him back in the day hurt more than some of the other moves. Acquired from the Diamondbacks in 2020, Chafin only appeared in four games with the Cubs that season after dealing with a finger issue. Granted, they were four solid games overall, but it was his performance in 2021 that put him on the map and made him one of the more sought-after arms that season when the deadline came around. In 71 combined games between the Cubs and Oakland, Chafin combined to go 2-4 with five saves and a 1.83 ERA in 64 innings. That included a 2.06 ERA in his 43 games with the Cubs that season, as Chafin was part of the Cubs' three-headed monster in the back of their pen that season. You could make the case that, up until last season, when the Cubs added Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar, Chafin was the last true lefty they had out of the pen, as the organization hasn't done a good job replacing him. Since his time with the Cubs, Chafin has not only bounced around, playing for six teams, but has remained just as effective as he was on the Northside. While his overall numbers have been declining, Chafin has posted a sub-3.6 ERA in all but one season since leaving Chicago, which falls in line with his career 3.35 ERA. This past season was a prime example of how he is like a fine bottle of wine that gets better with age, as Chafin posted a 2.41 ERA in 42 combined games with the Nationals and Angels. That plays well regardless of the team or role you are given, and it is something that the Cubs and a lot of teams looking for a lefty reliever could consider in the coming months of the offseason. In an era where baseball is all about velocity and more velocity, Chafin has never been that guy, nor will he ever. In his prime, he averaged 94 MPH and could reach 96. Now you get 92, 92, and an occasional 93-94 MPH. The velocity is one thing, but his ability to locate pitches, change a hitter's eye level, and mix up his speeds is what has ultimately made him so successful over the years. By far, his best pitch is still the 83 MPH sweeping slider, which has become a real weapon against lefties. He uses more of his curveball to righties, but he is getting to the point in his career where he is more of a lefty specialist, even if you can't manage the game like that anymore with the three batter minimum. When it comes to a deal for Chafin, the results have shown time and again that he is worth what he is asking, which tends to be around six or seven million per year. While the Cubs wouldn't have an issue paying that, the question becomes, will they when you expect them to address other needs? One thing they could do is offer him a multi-year deal in the 15 million range and tie a potential option year to the back end. That is a deal that is a win-win for both parties, as Chafin is locked in for multiple years at a competitive price but could also be let go should his first year go south.
