Julian Merryweather

Injuries have marred Merryweather's career, but he finally stayed healthy after he was claimed off waivers by the Cubs last January. The out-of-options right-hander won a bullpen role out of spring training and with prevailing health, he went on to pitch a career-high 72 innings for Chicago. This was more than his previous three seasons combined. Merryweather was a pleasant surprise for the Cubs, demonstrating increased velocity on his 4-seam fastball (98.1 mph on average), while throwing more sliders (49.3% usage) with great success (45.3% whiff percentage). Merryweather's numbers (2 saves, 17 holds, 1.31 WHP) weren't overwhelming for fantasy purposes, but he racked up 5 wins and was 6th among qualified relievers with a career-high 98 strikeouts. Banking on a repeat of last year's numbers might be a mistake given his health history, but Merryweather is still a solid target for those speculating on saves in 2024. Read Past Outlooks