LaTroy Hawkins isn’t being brought to Chicago to replace Joe Borowski, but the arrival of the hard-throwing right-hander could ignite the Cubs first closer controversy in years.
Sources said Hawkins agreed to a three-year contract worth an estimated $11 million on Tuesday in a deal that could be announced as early as Wednesday.
The addition of the 6-foot-5 Hawkins, who turns 31 on Dec. 21, solidifies a thin middle-relief corps and gives the Cubs one of the game’s most dominant set-up men. Hawkins finished fifth in the American League with 74 appearances for the Twins, ranked sixth among AL relievers with a 1.86 earned-run average and tied for third in the majors with 28 holds.
But Hawkins’ experience as a closer also factored into the signing. The Cubs will rely on Hawkins, Kyle Farnsworth and Mike Remlinger to bridge the gap from the starters to Borowski, who posted 33 saves in his first season as a closer.
Hawkins, who hails from Gary, Ind., is basically replacing free-agent Antonio Alfonseca, who lost his job to Borowski after a spring training injury and struggled as set-up man. But some in the organization believe Borowski still is more suited as a middle reliever who can go two or three innings.
Hawkins was a closer with the Twins in 2000 and 2001, but was demoted to a set-up role in 2002 and flourished.
The Cubs finished 17th in the majors in team bullpen standings in 2003, and the middle relievers struggled during the Marlins’ comeback victories in Games 6 and 7 of the National League Championship Series.
With the winter meetings in New Orleans a week away, the Cubs also are looking for a left-handed hitter, a left-handed reliever, another utility infielder and a fourth outfielder to join Corey Patterson, Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou.
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Edited by the Sports staff of RedEye.
