The Bullpen
There are a lot of options for the Cubs in their bullpen for 2017, but it seems like the closer and setup roles are already entrenched. The Cubs sent outfielder Jorge Soler to Kansas City in exchange for closer Wade Davis, Hector Rondo and Pedro Strop figure to retain their setup roles, and veteran reliever and former Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara is also on this roster. That’s five guys who look like guarantees on this roster, leaving only two or three spots left in the pen.
I would assume Carl Edwards is a lock to make this roster, especially since he was the first guy Maddon turned to after former Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman blew the save in game seven of the World Series. This leaves the Cubs with two spots open, and honestly more likely one spot, to be filled by possibly eight different guys.
Justin Grimm, veteran newcomer Brian Duensing, the Cubs rule 5 draft pick Caleb Smith, Rob Zastryzny, Jim Henderson, Manny Parra, Gerardo Concepcion, and maybe a few more all vying for a shot at the Cubs final bullpen spot. Now, I understand that not all these guys bring the level of excitement a guy like Davis or Edwards might, but as it currently stands right now, none of the names I listed as ‘locks’ for the Cubs bullpen are left handed.
Duensing, Zastryzny, Smith and Concepcion are the only lefty arms I listed above that have a real shot at making this team, and if they don’t, the Cubs could go with an entirely right-handed dominant bullpen. So, do the Cubs add a lefty for matchup reasons or do they go with the best arm? That is where the excitement exists.
