Chicago Cubs set to sign Joel Peralta

While the Cubs lead the NL Central, the front office continues to give the team every opportunity to make another deep playoff run. The signing of Joel Peralta provides another clue into their thought process.

Off the back of the Chicago Cubs‘ trade to bring Chris Coghlan back to Wrigley, the Cubs were busy yesterday making another move that adds depth to their organization:

The major glaring weakness on the big league squad is struggling left-hander Clayton Richard, who has had difficulty getting out left-handed hitters (.440/.500/.480) and has struggled with his control, averaging 4.50 BB/9. However, the move to sign Peralta gives them an experienced right-handed bullpen arm at AAA Iowa.

Peralta was DFA’d by the Seattle Mariners on June 2 in favor of Cody Martin who was recalled to take his place in the pen. The 40-year-old Peralta had definitely struggled before the Mariners decided to part ways with the veteran:

Despite this, there are metrics that point to Peralta possibly turning his fortunes around. He hasn’t lost any velocity, has nearly the highest swinging strike percentage of his career (11.2 percent, while averaging 10.7 percent for his career), and has his highest K/9 rate (10.8) since pitching for Cubs manager Joe Maddon as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012 (11.3).

Maddon has a comfort level with Peralta, who provides organizational bullpen depth where the Cubs did have some question marks. Carl Edwards Jr., Felix Pena and perhaps Ryan Williams are right-handed options at Iowa who could be called upon for bullpen help. On May 17 the Cubs added veteran reliever Joe Nathan, who could provide help later in the season.

Nathan is recovering from Tommy John surgery and currently rehabbing at the Cubs’ Arizona complex, hoping to return to big league form – so the move for Peralta makes sense when considering the long playoff run the team is expected to make. While Edwards, Pena and Williams are future options, the Chicago Cubs front office is looking for experienced bullpen help.

If Peralta is able to regain form, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see him replace Richard on the 25-man roster. Trevor Cahill and Adam Warren provide two right-handed arms that can provide several innings of relief, freeing up Travis Wood to concentrate on lefties if they decided to move in that direction.

Next: Cubs trade for Chris Coghlan

If Peralta is able to improve the Cubs’ bullpen this move will be herald. If not, it will be forgotten as quickly as Rafael Soriano‘s stint as a Cub last season.