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Levine: Wade Davis Would Be A Perfect Stopgap For The Cubs At Closer

By Bruce Levine--

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (CBS) -- If you were the Cubs, would you move a young power hitter under a team-friendly contract for one one year of a lights-out closer?

That's the decision that executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are facing as they weigh the thought of dealing outfielder 24-year-old Jorge Soler for Royals closer Wade Davis.

With one year left before free agency, Davis will be moved. He's set to make $10 million 2017 and is coming off two straight All-Star seasons, including a 2016 campaign in which he had 27 saves, a 1.87 ERA and 9.8 strikeouts/nine innings rate.

Soler a duplication at best for the Cubs, as he has no regular role or at-bats available as the 2017 season approaches. He hit .238 with 12 homers, 31 RBIs and a .769 OPS in 86 games last year, when he dealt with injuries.

The Royals must move payroll around and retool on the fly, and their top players are fast approaching free-agent status. The Kansas City marketplace won't be able to support numerous players making $10 million or more annually, so moving Davis makes good sense.

Soler is under contract control for four more seasons, and he could easily fit into a designate hitter role for an American League team that needs offensive pop at an affordable price -- as the Royals do. Although Soler has true value in the entire marketplace, getting an elite closer like Davis back with another World Series run in mind makes tremendous sense for the Cubs.

There just aren't enough at-bats available for Soler on the 2017 Cubs. He would only fit into the regular lineup mix if injuries to other outfielders were a lingering issue. Jason Heyward and Kyle Schwarber will be everyday players in the outfield, Jon Jay and Albert Almora are set to platoon in center field and the emergence of Javier Baez at second base means the Cubs will likely give Ben Zobrist more playing time in the outfield. Even before factoring in Soler, the Cubs are looking to get regular at-bats for three players (Schwarber, Zobrist and Baez) in two slots (left field and second base).

Davis would be the perfect on-year stopgap for a bullpen mix that includes veterans Hector Rondo, Pedro Strop and Justin Grimm. Adding Davis -- who posted incredible ERA of 1.00 and 0.94 in 2014 and 2015, respectively -- would also allow emerging 25-year-old reliever C.J. Edwards to grow into the closing role. That becomes especially true if the Cubs don't believe Rondon is their man at the end of the game for the future.

The Cubs have shown no interest in setting a new market for paying a closer. Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen are expected to set the new bar at around five years and close to $20 million annually. In Edwards, the Cubs feel they can develop their own closer for the future at a far lower cost.

The 31-year-old Davis pitched for Cubs manager Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay from 2009-'12. He was converted into a reliever in 2012 with the Rays, then started 24 games for the Royals in 2013 before taking over their closer's role for the past three seasons. His most impressive stat? In 182 2/3 innings across the past three seasons, he's only allowed three homers -- including none in 2014 and 2016.

He was converted into the closer's role last year,and did a fantastic job replacing the injured Greg Holland.His most impressive stat? Davis has allowed just three home runs in the last three seasons.That includes zero home runs allowed in 2014 and 2016.

The Royals have upward of six teams inquiring about Davis' services, a source said.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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