Who is the Cubs Closer in 2024? Fantasy Baseball Saves Outlook

The Chicago Cubs will enter the 2024 season with plenty of confidence that they can get back to the playoffs. They re-signed Cody Bellinger, signed left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga to a four-year, $53 million deal, traded for a top prospect in Michael Busch, and signed manager Craig Counsell.

The Cubs made enough moves this offseason to help them get over the hump. Now, they'll need all three facets (hitting, pitching, and fielding) to come together, including the bullpen to seal games in the ninth inning. 

So, who is the Cubs current starting closer? Who could take his job in 2024? 

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Who is the Cubs Starting Closer?

At the start of the 2023 season, the Cubs did not have a permanent closer. They mixed and matched guys out of the bullpen for the first couple of months until Adbert Alzolay emerged. Alzolay earned his first save on May 6 but didn't land the full-time role until June 9.

After that, he saw almost all of Chicago's save opportunities from June 9 to September 1. During that span, Alzolay had the third most saves (20) -- only behind Alexis Diaz (21) and Devin Williams (21). Despite a forearm injury that kept him out for most of September, the former Cubs starter put together a solid season out of the bullpen.

Adbert Alzolay, Vicious 88mph Slider. 😤 pic.twitter.com/WRXiTki9Q2

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 23, 2023

Alzolay finished with a 2.67 ERA and 22 saves across 58 appearances. He also struck out 67 batters while walking just 13 in 64 innings pitched. The Venezuelan native has a great case to be the Cubs closer in 2024. 

Who Could Take His Job in 2024?

Alzolay should begin the 2024 season as the Cubs closer. Counsell has not fully committed to him yet. However, after the year he had, he should be the clear favorite to close out games. 

Outside of Alzolay, there isn't anyone on Chicago's roster with much closing experience. Relief pitchers Mark Leiter Jr., Julian Merryweather, and Jose Cuas have saved a combined 13 games in their careers and don't appear to be a threat in that department.

Hector Neris is FIRED UP pic.twitter.com/p4JgkEKGvG

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 23, 2023

If anyone were to take the job away from the 29-year-old, though, it would be Hector Neris. The Cubs signed Neris to a one-year deal this offseason, and the veteran does have two 20-plus save seasons in 2017 and 2019 with the Philadelphia Phillies. However, the veteran has worked great in that set-up role with the Houston Astros over the past two years, making Alzolay's the likely favorite to begin the season as the team's closer. 

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