These are the Most Difficult Decisions in Cubs Spring Training
Sep 15, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; From left Chicago Cubs vice president of player development Jason McLeod , general manager Jed Hoyer , vice president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and owner Tom Ricketts talk on the field before the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
The 2016 Chicago Cubs have already been pegged as baseball’s favorites by just about every publication there is. With the stacked lineup, and a formidable rotation, it isn’t hard to determine why. Even though there isn’t a ton of competition, there are some decisions the team will have to make before they break camp. Here are the most difficult roster decisions in Cubs spring training.
Cubs Spring Training – The Easy Questions
So we already know the guys that will be taking positions everyday. While there still remains a question of, will Jorge Soler win most of the at bats in left, how will Maddon rotate the outfielders, will Ben Zobrist or Javier Baez see their fair amount of time in the outfield as well? These are the good questions to have as a team, things that either one, won’t be answered today but throughout the season. Two, are positive good questions to have to ask. I’d rather ask who will play more between two good players, than… who in the world will they find to start at a position.
The biggest decision the Cubs are faced with (barring injury) is will they carry another pitcher or hitter as they break camp. While the general, and popular, decision is to bring an extra arm up, it might not be that simple. If the Cubs do decided to go with 13 pitchers, it becomes hard to figure out which 12 the team would take up north without big consequences. But going north with 12 pitchers brings another set of consequences of their own.
Cubs Spring Training – Hitters
The Cubs everyday lineup will be a mix of primarily nine different starters everyday. We know Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, Jason Heyward, Dexter Fowler, and Ben Zobrist will play just about everyday at their given positions (with Zobrist expected to play multiple). We also know that Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez will find their way into a lineup in about 145 games or more, and when Schwarber isn’t in left field he will split time with Miguel Montero and David Ross behind the plate. We also know the Cubs are not going to ignore Soler, and he will certainly see 130+ games for the Cubs this season (barring injury).
In fact, we know that the Cubs lineup is pretty set this year. While Joe Maddon (who used 110 different lineups last season) will continue to be creative, but for the most part you will see a similar lineup on a daily basis.
One of the most noticeable vacancies from the Cubs roster is, no one offers a defensive replacement option for Schwarber or Soler in left field. Perhaps the man best suited for that role would be Matt Szczur (who carries another set of questions himself). While the Cubs position players are the most versatile in the league, would carrying Szczur make sense at the expense of an extra bullpen arm?
The Cubs roster is the most versatile in the game and may completely discount the need for a another bench guy. Bryant can play four other positions, Russell could play two, Zobrist plays every position, Schwarber plays two, Baez will play possibly six or seven positions, and La Stella can play just about anywhere. If Maddon can’t get creative with those guys, he doesn’t deserve the wizard-like reputation we’ve given him.
Here is a look at the Cubs, and just how versatile they are.
- Montero C
- Rizzo 1B
- Zobrist 2B, SS, 1B, 3B, LF, CF, RF
- Bryant 3B, LF, CF, 1B
- Russell SS, 2B
- Schwarber C, LF
- Fowler CF
- Heyward RF, CF
- Soler RF, LF
- Ross C (and pitcher… lol)
- La Stella 2B, 3B, 1B, LF
- Baez SS, 2B, 3B, 1B, LF, CF
Cubs Spring Training – Pitchers
We are also pretty certain the Cubs pitching staff is figured out. Jake Arrieta was named opening day starter (huge surprise), then Jon Lester and a mix of John Lackey, Kyle Hendricks, Jason Hammel to fill out the rotation. In the pen there is a little less certainty in roles, but we have an idea of who the guys will be.
Hector Rondon will return as the team’s closer, you’ll have a mix of Pedro Strop and Travis Wood as setup men. Then you would expect Trevor Cahill and Rex Brothers to be that next tier, or the sixth and seventh inning guys. Clayton Richard will have a fairly similar role as mop up guy, and the super utility pitcher will be new comer Adam Warren.
While the main responsibilities are again figured out, there are still some questions that may need to be answered. Early in a season your starting pitchers are only going six or so innings, and while you feel good about the Cubs third, fourth, and fifth spots, Lackey is old and you’d expect to move slowly with him, Hendricks doesn’t see much more than six innings normally, and Hammel could easily pitch lights out or stink up the joint just the same.
The Cubs could very well benefit from taking looks at Richards, Cahill, and Warren as possible starters in spring, and those guys could handle multiple innings out of the gate. This could allow the team to break camp with 13 hitters, which would also allow Maddon the ability to pinch hit or get creative with double switches or defensive replacements.
Even with that, my gut tells me that the Cubs carry the extra pitcher as they break camp. This might leave their bench short, but it typically takes two or three starts for starters to be at or near ready to go deep into ballgames. At that time the team could easily send down a pitcher while bringing another player up, but this is where we begin to enter the more difficult decisions.
Cubs Spring Training – Options
Not bringing an extra bat up could cause issues for the future, both Christian Villanueva and Matt Szczur are out of options, which means if they remain with the team throughout the spring. Villanueva unfortunately suffered a broken tibia fielding a chopping grounder early this spring, and will be placed on the 60-day dl and Szczur will either have to remain on the 25 man roster, or become available to waivers before being assigned to the minor leagues. Is the thought of carrying an extra pitcher worth losing either or both of those guys?
Szczur is a speedy guy that would certainly be a defensive replacement option for Maddon in left. This could be a huge asset to the Cubs, and it would give Maddon additional flexibility. But is that flexibility more important than having an extra arm? Perhaps, and I suppose that answer differs from person to person.
I like Villanueva’s ability, but it seems like the Cubs have the market cornered on versatile players. It feels like the Cubs have invested so much time in Szczur, and he has always seemed fine in the limited time he has had in Chicago. Perhaps the team will explore another move, but even if they did the return would be less than value since opposing teams know they are out of options.
Speaking of options… Neil Ramirez is also out of them as well. He would be one of those obvious options to be that 13th pitcher. Is he more expendable with some of the Cubs more recent bullpen additions or guys already in their system. I’m sure exposing any two of Ramirez, Szczur, or Villanueva to waivers would result in someone being claimed.
I will say this, it is much better to be concerned about the 25th man on a roster than someone in the top five spots like it seemed that the Cubs have done in the past.
