Player Review: Hunter Bigge (Who the Cubs Should Not Have Traded)

By: Ethan Diamond

Hunter Bigge didn’t really play much for the Cubs. In fact, he only threw 3.1 innings with the Cubs for a 2.70 ERA before being traded to the Rays as part of the Isaac Paredes-Christopher Morel deal. He really shouldn’t be getting a player review, but I’m going to take this opportunity to voice my frustrations with trading him.

Bigge dominated in AAA Iowa before he was called up in July. For months, I had advocated for him to get called up as our bullpen had struggled to find anyone who could consistently close a game. Bigge had all the stuff to become one of the best relievers in baseball, including a dominating fastball that could reach triple digits with nearly 20 inches of induced vertical break. Yet, he never got a fair shot with the Cubs. He was dealt after just four games, and I was and still am not happy with that decision. When you are looking for bullpen help, and you have a guy with probably the best stuff in the entire organization, why would you deal him? Especially a guy with multiple years of control. Bigge could’ve become a dominant reliever, potentially the Cubs future closer while being cost controlled for six seasons. Instead, he gets moved after just four games with the big league team.

Because he only appeared in four games with the Cubs, I’m not going to give Bigge a grade for the season, I’m just frustrated that he was moved. He could’ve been the guy to solve our closer issues long-term. Luckily we have Porter Hodge because if we didn’t have him, trading Bigge would look even worse on the front office.

Image Credit: Chicago Tribune