The Cubs participated in spring training this year, and their bullpen basically did it. Offseason trade acquisition Ryan Media and Ryan Brasier Added a pair of veteran right to the late mix – including closer pressure. Chicago signs left-handed Caleb Thielbar Reaching one year, $2.75mm for deals. Those three joined Porthoch,,,,, Tyson Miller and Keegan Thompson As a virtual lock. These three retains are all very good in 2024, and neither of the latter two holders are the choices for minor leagues.
There are many candidates in the remaining locations, most of which are already in the 40-man lineup. Right-leaning Julian Merryweather It performed poorly in an injury season, including a rib fracture in September and knee surgery at the end of the season. He scored 11 runs in 15 innings (6.60 ERA), but Merryweather was outstanding in 2023, recording a 3.38 ERA and a 32.3% strikeout rate in 72 innings. He is also a minor league choice, which will definitely make him take others’ footsteps. (So far, there are four unrated spring innings that have not hurt his career.)
Others in the 40-man lineup include rights Nate Pearson,,,,, Eli Morgan,,,,, Jack Neale,,,,, Daniel Palencia,,,,, Ethan Roberts and Gavin Hollowell. Everyone has at least one minor league option. But the cub has at least one non-lineup inviter and he is pushing a place: Veterans are right Brad Keller.
Maddie Lee of Chicago’s Sun Age wrote yesterday that Keller’s average fastball rose more than three miles per hour this spring, at 96.3 mph, up to 98 mph. Sales coach Tommy Hottovy and manager Craig Counsell both spoke highly of Keller’s work this spring, with the captain noting that Lee Keller was “more than we expected” in the camp. Keller’s four runs in the seven-innings work didn’t stand out, but when looking at such a small sample, the team focused more on the original stuff, speed and command. Keller has allowed only six batsmen so far and has stabbed six batsmen with a 48% cut and induced six batsmen.
Patrick Mooney reported that Keller’s speed jump and smoother mechanics not only made him a legitimate consideration for breaking the camp, but also made the team “possibly” add Keller to the roster. The veteran Righty has an imminent exit opportunity in his deal, so the Cubs will have to choose a contract with the major league roster or risk landing with another team. His minor league agreement is based on Mooney per person and Keller makes Keller an affordable rescue team if the team sees it fit.
However, adding Keller to the mixture can lead to complications. Currently, the Cubs have six relief workers who cannot choose future minors on the runs at the bullpen attraction: Pressly, Brasier, Thielbar, Miller, Thompson and Merryweather. Hodge has full teams with the remaining minor league options, but with an ERA rate of 1.88 higher in 43 innings and a strikeout rate of 31.7%, he won’t go anything. He was locked in the seventh place in the pen.
Effectively, unless the bears are willing to move on from Merryweather, they have only one bullpen available. Inserting Keller into the site will make their bullpen largely static, prohibiting injuries. Keller has over five years of Major League Baseball Services (MLB) services (more specifically 6.062). Without his consent, he could not choose.
This level of inflexibility is difficult to manage for any team. The break time this season will help, but if the Bears need to call up a new arm at any time, they will choose between choosing Hodge or designating someone for assignment. This is not an ideal setting. (The Metropolitan faces similar situations when weighing and re-signing Jose Iglesiaswhich is largely why he ended the priest. )
This situation will only become stupid when it is right Javier Assad Healed by tilt damage. Assad was excluded from opening day, probably starting this year. But if he returns in April, he may push for the right Colin Rea From the fifth starter position to the long-term relief role. Like many of his teammates, Rea has no choice. The Cubs technically have the option of Assad, but he shot 3.73 ERA from the rotation last year. His strikeouts, home runs all point to some return, but Assad is still good enough at this point in his career (3.40 ERA in 294 innings) that he can be seen as a lockdown when healthy.
It is always possible to organically sort out the situation. In six weeks of spring training and 162 seasons, any team’s injury, especially when it comes to pitching, is inevitable. However, due to the health of most pitchers at present and the slight flexibility resulting from the lack of optional arms, the Cubs seem to be pushing their decisions to make some decisions faster.
