After watching closer Kevin Gregg give up four two-out runs in the ninth inning of a 4-1 loss versus the Padres, Cubs manager Lou Piniella decided to make a change.
"I think we're going to make some changes as far as what we're going to do in late innings," Piniella said. "We'll have some more tomorrow."
Angel Guzman and Carlos Marmol are the most likely replacements at the closer spot, but could the Cubs make a move for Billy Wagner? Wagner is coming off the disabled list Friday, and will likely play the role of a middle reliever unless the Mets can move him.The Mets already have two potential closers in JJ Putz and Francisco Rodriguez, so if the Cubs took on a small portion of his salary, the Mets might be interested.
Wagner has a one million dollar buyout at the end of the season, so it might be worth the Cubs' while to give him a shot. They had interest in B.J. Ryan, but he could not pull his velocity back up. Wagner, on the other hand, has a fastball registering around 93 mph and a slider that is as good as ever.
The Cubs are six games out of first and adding an All-Star closer could do wonders to Cubs in the late innings.