The Chicago Cubs signed right-handed relief pitcher Shawn Camp, the club’s lone free agent, to a one-year $1.35 million contract for 2013. This, at least in my opinion, has been the best move the Cubs have made thus far this offseason. The 37-year-old relief pitcher led the Cubs bullpen with 80 appearances, while logging 77.1 innings.
Camp was one of the two bright spots of the young and developing Cubs pitching staff, the other being the emergence of potential number-one starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija. Camp posted a 3-6 record with 2 saves, 18 holds, 54 strikeouts and a 3.59 ERA in his 80 appearances during the 2012 season.
Although Camp may be 37, and obviously in the back end of his career, this gives Team Theo one more year to develop the youngsters in the farm system and mold them into major league caliber pitchers for this highly inexperienced bullpen. There may be a lot of pieces missing from the puzzle still, but I believe re-signing a proven veteran like Camp is absolutely a step in the right direction for the Cubs heading into this next season. With a little help from outside free agents, this pitching staff could help a young team win more than 61 games in 2013.