The Washington Nationals face scrutiny for parting ways with former closer Kyle Finnegan, who remains a free agent. Predictably, he has drawn interest from teams like the Chicago Cubs, a franchise looking to revamp its roster and solidify its bullpen. Finnegan had a stellar first half of the previous season, posting a 2.45 ERA with 25 saves, leading to an All-Star selection. However, his performance faltered in the second half, resulting in a 5.79 ERA, prompting the Nationals to non-tender him.

As the Cubs consider adding Finnegan, they currently rely on rookie Porter Hodge as their closer, who performed admirably last season. However, bringing in the experienced Finnegan could provide stability, allowing Hodge to further develop without the pressure of being a full-time closer. Meanwhile, the Nationals have found a possible replacement in Jorge Lopez, who had a rough start in New York but bounced back with solid performances in Chicago.