Report: Cubs, Uehara agree on deal
The Chicago Cubs have transformed the back end of their bullpen in the span of two days.
After landing All-Star closer Wade Davis from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, the Cubs reportedly agreed to a deal with right-hander Koji Uehara on Thursday, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Terms have yet to be announced, though it's believed to be a one-year contract between $4 million and $6 million.
Despite his age - Uehara turns 42 in April - the veteran reliever remains one of the top bullpen arms in the majors. He posted a 2.19 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and 291 strikeouts over four seasons in Boston, while also anchoring the bullpen during its 2013 World Series win.
After serving as the Red Sox closer for parts of three seasons, Uehara transitioned into a setup role in 2016 following Boston's acquisition of Craig Kimbrel. Uehara's numbers took a bit of a dip, but he still managed to craft a 3.45 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 63 strikeouts over 47 innings. Though he missed seven weeks with a pectoral strain in July and August, he returned to throw 11 scoreless innings to finish the season.
Uehara will likely slide into a setup role again with the Cubs, alongside either Hector Rondon or Carl Edwards Jr.
The Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Red Sox all reportedly expressed interest in Uehara this winter.