Washington Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan has emerged as a potential target for the Chicago Cubs as the trade deadline draws closer.
Kyle Finnegan Firmly on Cubs’ Radar Ahead of Trade Deadline originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
As the trade deadline draws closer, the Chicago Cubs are looking to add to any area of the roster that needs improvement – and even some that may not – as they prepare for a postseason push.
Pressure is mounting for the North Siders, as the team has not made the playoffs since the 2020 season or won a postseason series since 2017. Add in the fact that star outfielder Kyle Tucker could hit free agency at the end of the season, and there's a possibility the Cubs' window for contention will be shorter than anticipated.
Should the Cubs make a deep run in the postseason, reliable late-inning options out of the bullpen will be pivotal for success in close games. The Athletic's Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma report that the club has kept a close eye on Washington Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan, a player who was named to the National League's 2024 All-Star Game roster.
"With 107 career saves, Finnegan has a sense of composure and a knack for inducing groundballs. It’s reasonable to expect that his stuff would play up in the seventh inning against a more manageable part of an opposing lineup," Mooney and Sharma wrote. "His numbers would almost automatically improve by leaving a last-place team and pitching in front of an elite defense."
Finnegan would likely serve in another capacity – potentially as a set-up man – if he joins the Cubs' bullpen, though. Daniel Palencia has excelled as the team's closer since taking on the role this season, pitching to a 1.49 ERA and 0.91 WHIP (with 40 strikeouts to 11 walks) in 36.1 innings pitched, logging 13 saves and allowing hitters to bat just .175 against him.
"To be clear, the Cubs are fully confident in Daniel Palencia’s ability to handle the ninth inning. In this trading cycle, it’s questionable whether the Cubs could even find an All-Star closer who represents a clear upgrade over Palencia," Mooney and Sharma wrote. "Rather, the idea would be expanding options for Counsell as the Cubs prioritize matchups, rest and recovery for their pitchers.
Finnegan has spent the entirety of his major-league tenure with the Nationals, making his debut with the franchise in 2017. He is a career 23-30 pitcher with a 3.68 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 318 strikeouts and 107 saves in 327.1 innings pitched across 329 relief appearances.
Related: Cubs Linked to Rockies’ All-Star Amid Hot Corner Concerns
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
