Brach's Cubby Bears

Within the Cubs universe, the gnashing of teeth has been louder than he ongoing construction at Wrigley Field throughout the winter months.  The Wild Card loss was painful, the offense has evaporated, the Ricketts are stingy, where are the big free-agent signings or trades?... Harper, Machado, a bullpen arm... please just sign someone!  Of course, I can't really lay blame on the mob... err... crowd - the franchise has been behaving in a less than wholesome manner this off-season (cough, cough, f*ck Addison Russell) and the only thing more frozen than Lake Michigan is the free agent market.  Naturally, the tensions have built during the lull.

Well, Theo and Jed have finally broken the ice and given us Cubs faithful a treat:

Brad Brach (not heir to the Brach's candy fortune) has been inked to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2020.  The former Padre and Orioles reliever will earn at least $4.35MM in guaranteed money this season, a relatively modest sum, especially when compared to the recently departed Jesse Chavez's two-year, eight million dollar deal.  It seems that the (artificially) tight budgeted Cubs were content to wait out the surprisingly deep relief market and seek a bargain as Spring Training inched ever closer.

Brach was an top notch, late-inning reliever for the O's during the 2015-16 seasons, before regressing to above average.  Although, after a mid-year trade to the playoff-bound Braves in 2018, Brach again found his stride, posting a 1.52 ERA over 23.2 innings, with a 21.2% K rate, an 8.7% BB rate.  That's a pretty sweet stat line.  Perhaps moving to a contending team was just the jolt Brad needed?

It's appropriate that Brach should share his surname with a confectioner, as he's expected to provide a nice "sugar rush" to a bullpen that wore down and needed an energy boost last season.  Brandon Morrow's November elbow surgery only made it more apparent that the club needed to add some extra support.  In fact, they may not be done yet, as the team has been connected to Ryan Madson and George Kontos have been connected to the Cubs, as well.

Brach during his brief Braves tenure in 2018.  Image courtesy of Adam Hagy - USA TODAY Sports

Maybe it's my inner fat kid, but when I first read that the Cubs had signed Brach, my mind immediately gravitated towards the candy company, rather than the pitcher.  Of course, they are a Chicago born and based company, have been since 1904, and they do produce the best selling candy corn in the United States, making them nearly ubiquitous in my neck of the woods.  Furthermore, you might also know them for their Conversation Hearts, Jelly Eggs, and - my personal favorite - Mellowcreme Pumpkins. As you can see, they have a stranglehold on the holiday treat market.

Anyway, while not as popular as Haribo, Brach's does also have their own line of Gummy Bears.  With that in mind, I think now is the perfect opportunity for the Second City's favorite confectionery to partner with Chicago's favorite baseball team (yeah, I said it) for a new, baseball-themed morsel:

I'd buy that for a dollar!

Speaking of which, luckily, I didn't have to drop so much as a dime to add Brach to my Cubs All-Time Roster Collection, as I happened to have the above 2016 Topps Flagship single hiding in my trade box.  That's certainly not a given with the lack of love shown towards non-closing relief pitchers by the old bubblegum company.

Anyway, here's hoping that Brad Brach performs well enough in a Cubs uniform for such a Brach/Brach's partnership to even be a twinkle in an executive's eye.  Furthermore, fingers crossed that Theo and Co. don't stop here when it comes to roster tweaks.  Now that they're off their hands for the first time since the Daniel Descalso signing, the team could use another relief option and/or bat.  Plus, it'd be nice to launch Addison Russell into the sun and pursue another starting shortstop option... *cough, cough* Manny Machado, anyone?  I guess we North Side rooters will have to just sit here and munch on our Brach's while we wait and see.  Hopefully this little treat of a move will assuage some of the angst.

At any rate, welcome to Chicago and to my Cubs All-Time Roster Collection, Brad Brach!