According to the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs may be looking into acquiring 32-year-old left-handed reliever Joe Beimel from the Washington Nationals. The Nationals are apparently scouting minor leaguers in the Cubs' system:

The Cubs may be interested in Nationals' lefty reliever Joe Beimel, who is 0-5 but with a 3.38 ERA in his first 41 appearances. According to one report, the Nationals have been scouting the Cubs' minor league teams, and Beimel is available.

Link(Chicago Tribune)

As you can see, it's purely speculation, but it's a realistic move. This is a guy I wanted the Cubs to sign this offseason. He's never been great against left-handed hitters, but effective enough to be another very useful left-handed arm in the bullpen.

This year, left-handed hitters are batting .232 with a .719 OPS against Beimel. Over his career, Beimel's allowed a .263 batting average and a .722 OPS against left-handed hitters.

He's had an ERA under four the last four seasons, including a 2.02 ERA last year as a key part of the National League West champion Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen. Beimel was so popular with Dodgers fans that they had a bobblehead giveaway of him last year, like you see in the above picture.

Along with being a second left-hander in the bullpen that the Cubs are looking for, Beimel would be an upgrade over the likes of Jeff Samardzija, Kevin Hart, and Aaron Heilman as well. It also gives them more flexibility to do as they wish with Sean Marshall. If B.J. Ryan were to get it back together, it really gives the Cubs a lot of options in the bullpen.

You may be wondering how the Cubs would fit all of these guys onto the roster, but pitching depth is something I won't complain about, especially with all of the injuries we've seen this year. B.J. Ryan is likely at least two to three weeks away, if he can contribute at all. And remember, the roster's expand in September, where anybody on the 40-man roster can be with the big club.

This certainly wouldn't be a big move by any means, but I think it would be a solid one for the Cubs. They certainly wouldn't have to give up anything more than an average prospect for basically a middle reliever that is a free agent after this season.


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