The Chicago Cubs bullpen has been lackluster this season. The unit sits at 19 in the league in ERA at 4.18 and has been the cause for late-game breakdowns. 

There could be a solution to help bolster the bullpen right now that would not cost prospects or involve a trade.

That solution is signing former MLB All-Star and 31-year-old Corey Knebel.

Knebel is a free agent and is coming off of a significant injury that saw him miss much of the 2022 MLB season. He spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies and compiled a 3.34 ERA over the course of 44.2 innings pitched before he was shelved.

Knebel signed last season on a one-year, $10 million deal with the Phillies, and seeing as he is coming off of a significant injury, the price for this season would seemingly be much lower.

He is a right-hander, something Chicago has plenty of, but Knebel’s pedigree, power fastball and veteran presence could help prop up a struggling Cubs bullpen.

It’s an acquisition at least worth exploring.