The Chicago Cubs have recently fallen out of postseason contention. They were in the mix for much of the season but have since fallen on hard times.
Late in August, they still had a shot to reach the postseason and took a chance on reliever Shawn Armstrong, who the rival St. Louis Cardinals had placed on waivers.
While Armstrong has pitched well, he could be on his way out at the end of the season. Zachary Rotman of FanSided predicted that he would be one of a few players that wouldn't be back in 2025.
"He's pitched well enough to be on the team in 2025, but he's also set to hit free agency this offseason, is 34 years old, and for much of the year struggled mightily with the Tampa Bay Rays," Rotman wrote. "He's a fine reliever to consider bringing back, but with major bullpen upgrades needed, the Cubs need to prioritize elsewhere at least to start the offseason."
Armstrong has pitched 6 2/3 innings with the Cubs this year over seven appearances, allowing just two earned runs. He could be somebody the Cubs decide to bring back.
But as Rotman mentions, the Cubs bullpen was a major achilles heel this season, and in order to bounce back into contention, the team will likely aim a little bit higher.
There will be plenty of strong relief options available in free agency that the Cubs could pursue. They also have the financial resources to make major upgrades to their relief corps.
This makes it highly unlikely that Armstrong will be back next year. But it will be interesting to see how the Cubs approach the offseason as far as upgrading their bullpen.
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