Cubs Finalizing Deal With Brandon Morrow

(670 The Score) The Cubs are on the verge of filling the large void in the back end of their bullpen.

Chicago has agreed to a deal with right-handed reliever Brandon Morrow, Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan reported Sunday afternoon. It's a two-year deal with an option for a third year, and it's pending a physical. The deal is for $9 million in 2018 and 2019 and then includes a $3 million buyout option or a $12 million vesting option for 2020, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported. So the deal would guarantee Morrow at least $21 million.

Morrow is a prime candidate to take over the closer's role, which was a primary need as Wade Davis hit free agency. Davis remains unsigned, though a return to Chicago isn't expected.

Morrow, 33, served as the Dodgers' primary setup man in 2017 as they reached the World Series. He had a 2.06 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 45 appearances. He had dominant stuff, registering a 10.3 strikeout-per-nine-innings rate and just a 1.9 walks-per-nine-innings mark.

Morrow proved to be durable as well, tying a record by appearing in all seven World Series games and pitching in 14 of the Dodgers' 15 postseason games.

Morrow spent most of his career as a starter before remaking himself into a dominant reliever, a process that started in 2016.

The addition of Morrow will allow the Cubs to keep C.J. Edwards in a setup role. He has what the team believes is the talent to eventually become a closer but too often struggled with his command.