With Rowan Wick outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Boxberger and Michael Fulmer should be the clear top options at the end of games for the Cubs.
Boxberger and Fulmer already had a path to regular save chances according to previous report, but now they have less competition at the end of games. The two veterans may alternate in the closer role in the early going, though one of them could emerge with the job on a more regular basis. Boxberger only had one save last season with Milwaukee but did turn in a strong 2.95 ERA across 64 innings.
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Cubs' Brad Boxberger: Could get regular save chances
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Boxberger and Michael Fulmer are viewed by the Cubs as the primary options at closer, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Boxberger was brought in on a one-year, $2.8 million contract in December, and Fulmer was signed to a one-year, $4 million deal in February. Those two could get the bulk of ninth-inning opportunities out of the gate, though Brandon Hughes, Rowan Wick and Adbert Alzolay also remain in the fold as high-leverage options on the North Side of Chicago. It could be a tricky situation for fantasy managers to navigate.
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Cubs' Brad Boxberger: Records second spring hold
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Boxberger pitched a scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout to record a hold in Monday's Cactus League game against the Mariners.
Boxberger has made three appearances this spring, and each one has been a scoreless inning with a strikeout. He's also recorded two holds. The veteran's spot in the bullpen is secure and he could emerge as the closer if he continues to impress. Holdovers Rowan Wick and Brandon Hughes are also in the mix to close, along with fellow newcomer Michael Fulmer. It might be a committee situation, at least to begin the regular season.
Boxberger signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Cubs on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The deal contains a $5 million mutual option or $800,000 buyout for 2024. The Brewers somewhat surprisingly declined Boxberger's $3 million option last month, but between the $750,000 buyout and his new deal the reliever comes out ahead. Boxberger held a 2.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 68:27 K:BB across 64 innings in 2022. It's possible he could be in the mix to close some games for a Cubs team which has a murky late-inning situation.
The Brewers declined Boxberger's $3 million team option for 2023 on Thursday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
The veteran right-hander recorded 29 holds with a 2.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 68:27 K:BB across 64 innings for the Brewers in 2022, so it's a bit of a surprise to see the modest club option turned down. Boxberger had a 3.15 ERA in 141 appearances over the past two years, so he shouldn't have any issues finding a new deal in free agency.
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Brewers' Brad Boxberger: Tosses scoreless frame
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Boxberger tossed a clean ninth inning in the Brewers' 5-1 victory over the Reds on Saturday.
With the Brewers up by four runs, manager Craig Counsell used Boxberger to close out Saturday's contest rather than going to closer Devin Williams in a non-save situation. Boxberger has been a bit shaky of late, but he retired all three batters he faced Saturday and secured the win for his club. Boxberger remains part of the Brewers' late-inning mix, but he is presumably behind all of Devin Williams, Taylor Rogers and Matt Bush in the pecking order for saves.
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Brewers' Brad Boxberger: Capitalizes on rest
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Boxberger threw a scoreless sixth inning in Tuesday's victory over the Dodgers.
Boxberger was unofficially shut down for a few days after pitching 10 times in the first 20 days out of the All-Star break, and the rest appeared to have done him well, as he retired all three batters he faced and punched out two of them. Boxberger remains part of Milwaukee's late-inning mix, but even with Josh Hader's departure, he may have been bumped down a spot in the pecking order -- trade deadline acquisitions Matt Bush and Taylor Rogers both followed him in Tuesday's contest.
Boxberger tossed a scoreless seventh inning in Tuesday's victory over the Twins.
Boxberger allowed a hit and issued a walk, but he also struck out two batters and escaped the jam unscathed. Boxberger has struggled a bit of late, allowing five earned runs (7.11 ERA) and posting a 2.37 WHIP in 6.1 innings over his last seven appearances, but he remains the top option ahead of setup man Devin Williams and closer Josh Hader.
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Brewers' Brad Boxberger: Escapes with first save
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Boxberger allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning to earn a save over the Reds on Friday.
Boxberger allowed a leadoff single to Kyle Farmer before issuing a one-out walk to Nick Senzel, but he was able to maintain a 5-4 lead and secure his first save of the year with Josh Hader (paternity list) away from the Brewers. Boxberger's now sporting a 2.49 ERA with a 23:8 K:BB through 26 games.
Boxberger tossed a scoreless seventh inning and picked up his eighth hold of the season in Tuesday's victory over the Reds.
Boxberger needed just nine pitches to get through his inning of relief and put the Brewers in position to come away with the win. Both runs he has allowed this season came in the same outing, and he owns a sparkling 1.59 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB over 11.1 innings across 13 appearances.
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Brewers' Brad Boxberger: Another scoreless appearance
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Boxberger tossed a scoreless seventh inning and picked up his fifth hold of the season in Wednesday's victory over the Pirates.
Boxberger, like he did last season, is operating directly in front of setup man Devin Williams and closer Josh Hader, and he has been stout thus far, giving up no runs and allowing just five runners to reach base in 7.1 innings over eight appearances.
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Brewers' Brad Boxberger: Earns win Sunday
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Boxberger (1-0) gave up a hit and no walks while striking out one in a scoreless seventh inning to earn the win over the Cubs on Sunday.
Boxberger made a career-high 71 relief appearances during his first year with the Brewers in 2021, and he began the 2022 season on a high note by picking up a win in his first outing. Josh Hader is firmly entrenched as Milwaukee's closer, but Boxberger picked up 23 holds last year while converting four of nine save chances. He'll continue to serve as a setup man alongside Devin Williams in 2022.
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Brewers' Brad Boxberger: Back with Brewers on one-year deal
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Boxberger agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Brewers on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Coming off a strong season and with 81 career saves under his belt, Boxberger could have been a closer had he landed on a different team in free agency. However, he should reprise his role as a setup man in Milwaukee, barring any trades or injuries to Josh Hader and/or Devin Williams. Boxberger logged a 3.34 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21.8 K-BB% in 64.2 innings last season. He also chipped in five wins and four saves across 71 appearances.
