In a bid to address their struggling bullpen, the Chicago Cubs have signed right-hander Vinny Nittoli, according to a breaking report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
“The Chicago Cubs are signing right-handed reliever Vinny Nittoli to a major league deal,” Passan reported. “Nittoli was DFA’d by Oakland after posting a 2.25 ERA in eight innings. Cubs are hoping to hit on another DFA’d reliever as they did with Tyson Miller, who’s been great.”
The Cubs’ bullpen has been in disarray recently, squandering many strong performances from the starting rotation. While Tyson Miller has been a pleasant surprise, the bullpen as a whole remains unreliable. Currently, the Cubs rank No. 20 in Major League Baseball in saves (18) and No. 7 in save opportunities (35). Their bullpen also sits at No. 23 in bullpen ERA, with a 4.52 mark.
Chicago’s inability to close out games is a significant factor in their 37-44 record, which places them last in the National League Central. With a more dependable bullpen or a consistent closer, the Cubs might have capitalized on more of their 35 save opportunities. A strong bullpen can be the difference between playoff contention and a disappointing season, and the Cubs exemplify this struggle.
The addition of Nittoli is the Cubs’ latest effort to shore up their floundering bullpen. Despite his limited MLB experience — just 14 2/3 innings pitched across 13 appearances — Nittoli has shown potential. The 33-year-old has recorded ten strikeouts with a 3.07 ERA in his brief career.
The Cubs are hoping Nittoli can bring some stability to their bullpen. As they aim to turn their season around, any improvement in their ability to close out games could make a substantial difference. Cubs fans will be watching closely to see if this latest move can help salvage the season and provide a spark for a team in need of one.
