Cubs Sign Brian Duensing

The Cubs are busy accumulating lefthanded relief:

There’s been no press release from the team yet, but this is being reported by others beyond Heyman.

Brian Duensing spent seven years with the Twins, with decent success, before leaving to sign with the Royals before last season. They let him go before the season started, re-signed him, then let him go in May, upon which he signed with the Orioles. He pitched in only 14 games for Baltimore in 2016, and also appeared in the 2016 wild-card game for them.

Duensing will turn 34 in February, so this signing is likely for depth as the Cubs head toward spring training, not knowing if they’ll re-sign Travis Wood (unlikely, in my view, as Wood has offers to be a starter). Duensing has held lefthanded batters to a .614 OPS in his career, so perhaps he has a future as a LOOGY.

The Cubs’ 40-man roster stands at 39 with this signing.