The Chicago Cubs have had a tough season with poor bullpen play. They rank 19th in the MLB with a 4.25 ERA and have suffered the second-most losses in the league, blowing 17 save opportunities. If they had won half of those games, their standings would be much different as they currently have the third-worst record in the National League and are being considered as a selling team.
Despite their struggles with the bullpen, the Cubs made a surprising decision to release Carl Edwards Jr. on June 16. Edwards had been playing well for their Triple-A affiliate, posting a 1.85 ERA in 20 outings. The fact that he was once part of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series-winning team made his release even more unexpected by the struggling team.
Now, Edwards has signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres, marking his second stint with the team. During his first stint in 2019, he allowed six earned runs in just 1.2 innings across two games. Edwards will be looking to make a stronger impression this time around and earn a promotion to the big leagues once again.
In 2016, Edwards played an important role in helping lead the Cubs to victory during their championship run, posting a 3.75 ERA across 36 outings with an impressive total of 52 strikeouts in just 36 innings pitched.
Despite his past success with the Cubs and his talent on the field, Edwards was not given another chance by his former team when he struggled with injuries earlier this season.
In conclusion, despite their struggles throughout this season, Carl Edwards Jr remains an important player that can help any team improve its bullpen performance if given another chance to prove himself on the field again.