The Chicago Cubs may be looking beyond the usual market for bullpen help, and one name that has surfaced is Tseng Jyun-Yue of the Fubon Guardians.
A rumor from earlier this week, first reported by the Merit Times, pointed to an unnamed NL Central club showing interest in Tseng. Then, according to CPBL Stats on social media, CPBL columnist Vincent Liao said on a podcast that the Cubs are the team involved. The same report also suggested the deal would likely be a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
That fits the moment the Cubs are in. Their pitching staff was hit hard by injuries this season, forcing the team to add two starters at the trade deadline.
The bullpen had its own problems, too, and it didn’t just get hurt - it underperformed. Jed Hoyer addressed that directly and took the blame for the relief corps’ struggles, saying the front office had made some moves that didn’t work out.
The next step, as he framed it, is finding relievers who are more proven and dependable.
Tseng is not a finished product, but he’s clearly on the radar for a reason. He’s 24 and has never pitched in the majors, yet he’s already built a strong track record overseas.
He played in the Little League World Series before breaking through in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, and he has been pitching professionally since he was 19. In 240.1 career innings, he has posted a 2.36 ERA.
He has spent his entire career as a reliever and has mostly served as a high-end closer. This season for the Fubon Guardians, Tseng picked up 25 saves in 48 games. He gave up just nine earned runs, walked 13 batters and struck out 65, which was a career high.
A full scouting report on Tseng is not easy to come by, but he appears to lean on a mid-to-high 90s fastball and a strong cutter. Whether the Cubs see him as an immediate bullpen option or someone to stash in the minors first, the interest itself says plenty about where they’re casting their net. When your pitching has been stretched the way Chicago’s has, you keep looking for answers wherever they might be.
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