The Chicago Cubs were trying to beef up their roster at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, bringing in guys like Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, and Tyrone Taylor to shore up their rotation and outfield. But the real head-scratcher, the move that’s got everyone talking, was grabbing reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels. And believe me, what was supposed to be a boost has turned into a total disaster for their bullpen.
The Trade That Went Sideways For The Windy City
Zeferjahn, a flame-throwing righty, was brought in from the Angels, where he’d posted a decent 3.66 ERA across 45 outings before the trade deadline. On paper, it sounded like a solid move, right? The whole idea was for Zeferjahn to immediately slot into a high-leverage role, to be that guy who stabilizes a bullpen when the game is on the line. But man, did that thinking ever blow up in their face. Joel Reuter from Bleacher Report didn’t pull any punches, flat out stating, “The Cubs made their bullpen worse.” Can you believe it? They tried to fix it, and it went backward. Instead of shoring up their relief corps, this addition has only created more questions, and the answers so far are not looking good for the Cubbies.
Zeferjahn’s Nightmare On The Mound, And A Ticking Time Bomb Bullpen
So, what’s been happening since Zeferjahn arrived in Chicago? In just 11 outings for the Cubs, the guy has been absolutely torched. We’re talking a soul-crushing 7.20 ERA and a terrible -0.3 bWAR. Just let that sink in for a second: a *negative* bWAR for a reliever you brought in to be a high-leverage arm. He’s given up eight earned runs, allowed 13 hits, walked four batters, and surrendered two homers in only 10.0 innings pitched. Yeah, he struck out 10 guys, but that’s barely a footnote when his WHIP is a staggering 1.700. You simply cannot rely on a pitcher with numbers like that, especially when the game is on the line. Joel Reuter wasn’t holding back, boldly calling the entire Cubs bullpen a “ticking time bomb.” And it’s not just Zeferjahn; Daniel Palencia hasn’t been good, and “plenty of their other relievers are struggling” too. They might have a slightly better FIP at 5.20, which suggests he’s been a *tad* unlucky, but with that monstrous WHIP and the runs piling up, it’s impossible to ignore the real damage. This bullpen has gone from a potential strength to a massive, glaring liability.
This bullpen situation is absolutely critical, and it’s got “serious issue for October” written all over it. The Cubs might have, and I stress *might have*, somewhat resolved their rotation issues with the Gausman, Holmes, and Taylor additions. But that bullpen? It’s arguably the biggest question mark hanging over the team right now. They desperately need Justin Steele and Edward Cabrera to make quick returns and deliver some seriously quality outings out of the ‘pen to even stand a chance. Otherwise, what started as a hopeful trade for Ryan Zeferjahn has not only failed to improve anything, it’s undeniably made things worse for the Cubbies. What a brutal twist for fans who just want to see their team contend.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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