MESA, Ariz. -- It's not official yet, but the Chicago Cubs plan to add another left-handed arm to the bullpen mix in the form of former Detroit Tigers reliever Phil Coke, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Coke, 31, appeared in 62 games for the Tigers last season, compiling a 3.88 ERA. In his seven-year career with both the New York Yankees and Tigers, he is 22-27 with eight saves and a 4.16 ERA.
"It's not a secret we're seeking that left-handed kind of specialist, but it's also nice to have that lefty that can get out a righty," manager Joe Maddon said Thursday morning. "I've seen Phil Coke a lot in the past, and he was able to get righties out as well."
Coke has a career .243 batting average against when lefties hit off of him, but that balloons to .303 against righties. Last season's splits (.257/.333) were no different. And in appearances deemed late/close, Coke's career splits are similar (.232/.309), according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Maddon likes a certain criteria that he's found successful in the past.
"It's that 27-, 28-year-old guy that's banged around, banged around and all of a sudden that to me is the sweet-spot age. ... He's been with like two other organizations, good stuff, really hasn't quite worked out, and all of a sudden the game slows down, he understands it better and now the guy becomes as good as he can. That's a real interesting age for me."
Coke sort of qualifies in that the Cubs would be his third organization, though he's 31, not 27 or 28. The Cubs have several other journeyman-type players vying for that spot including Francisley Bueno (34, third organization), Drake Britton (25, second organization) and their own Zac Rosscup, who's 26. Joseph Ortiz, 24, who was with the Rangers last season, is also in the competition.
With his experience on winning teams, Coke might move to the front of the line in the competition for left-handed specialist, but spring games will help sort things out.
FOX Sports first reported the Cubs' interest in Coke.
