Cubs get closer Wade Davis from Royals for OF Jorge Soler

With multiple bidders in the mix, it is unlikely that a deal will get done on Tuesday night unless the Nationals or Cubs significantly increase the offer.

The Winter Meetings are official underway in our nation’s capital and teams are scurrying around talking to free agents trying to convince players to sign with their teams. While he didn’t match his numbers from 2014 or 2015 – granted, those numbers were ridiculous – the right-hander still notched 27 saves with a 1.87 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.

Davis is a two time All-Star who battled arm problems last season.

Davis was still strong in 2016 with a 1.87 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 43.1 innings, but his walk rate (3.3 per nine innings) was the highest since 2013 and had two different stints on the disabled list with a flexor strain in his right forearm.

Those early hooks? The way he rode Aroldis Chapman in the playoffs – in particular how he used him in Games 6 and 7 of the World Series?

Davis joins a bullpen that includes Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Carl Edwards Jr. and more.

“We knew a lot about him through Joe and Davey Martinez”, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said.

When the original news broke about the Cubs showing interest in Davis, I mentioned some Cubs prospects I wouldn’t mind seeing in a Royals uniform in the future. In the span of five months, the Cubs have now used their organizational depth to trade twice for elite closers – the July 2016 deal with the New York Yankees for Chapman, which sent four prospects to the Bronx, and now the one with Kansas City for Davis. The Royals would sen closer Wade Davis to the Cubs for young outfielder Jorge Soler.

Chapman, meanwhile, could command the largest contract for a closer. Davis, who will make $10 million next year, was part of those looming free agents, along with outfielder Lorenzo Cain, first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and pitcher Danny Duffy.

However, the Cubs are comfortable with Davis’ medicals.

However, Soler was limited to just 86 games this season due to the signing of Jason Heyward. At some point, the Cubs have a big decision to make. He has only allowed one home run in his postseason career, and that was to Nelson Cruz back in 2010 when Davis pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Hoyer acknowledged the Cubs are still in pursuit of more pitching. While his.238/.333/.436 batting line may seem low, Soler also ran into a bit of bad luck. Over the next couple of weeks, it will be interesting to see what the Royals get if they do trade Davis, especially if the Cubs are the team that winds up acquiring him.