So how are you feeling after yesterday’s circus Cubs fans? I know I could hardly contain myself.
Once Cubs fans stopped dancing in the streets, sometime around midnight, I began to look at the entire Cubs roster to ensure to myself that this roster is indeed the one to beat in baseball. While the lineup is more than likely stronger than any other in the game, there are areas of concern for the Cubs. Concerns which could make the next Cubs move their most important yet.
The questions remaining for this team are, what do they do with Jorge Soler who presumably will not play on an everyday basis, and how will they consistently get outs late in games?
I have been a big proponent of trading Soler all offseason. This isn’t because I don’t like him, or have given up on his talent, it is because he has incredible talent but no role on this Cubs team. His role has diminished even more with the resigning of Dexter Fowler, assuming he starts in center with Jason Heyward moving back to right field. Then there is Kyle Schwarber, who should get the majority of the play in left (perhaps Shane Victorino?).
While there has been a lot of talk in which the Cubs could use four guys with all of them getting at least 130 games played in the outfield. This would assume Schwarber gets some time at catcher, Soler works in both left and right field, and Heyward sees time in center while pulling the load in right. This doesn’t account for Javy Baez and Ben Zobrist playing out there, or who would be the defensive replacement for Kyle or Jorge late in games.
If you think I’m going in a direction with these points, you’re probably wrong. The Cubs keeping Soler (or Schwarber as some have suggested the team could trade him also) will have a unique ability to keep their versatility, without sacrificing production. With Soler the Cubs have by far the most talented outfield in all of baseball, sorry Pittsburgh, and their depth is what makes them the most feared.
What is most impressive about the Cubs depth chart is there are multiple players that fill in all around the diamond, and this doesn’t even include Kris Bryant’s ability to fill in at any outfield position. Flexibility and versatility are not the Cubs issues though, and the Cubs are more than prepared if one of their regular position players were to miss time due to an injury. The true area of concern, and it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise to anyone that has followed them, is the bullpen.
While you could question both Kyle Hendricks or Jason Hammel at the back-end of the rotation, they have both performed well for the team over the last two seasons. The Cubs are getting more from their fourth and fifth spot in the rotation than just about anyone else in the league not named the New York Mets. Where the true concern from a pitching standpoint is the late inning bullpen guys.
Wait, no Pedro, that’s not a good thing I just said.
While Pedro’s overall numbers were impressive, his entire season was not, and that was the case of the entire Cubs bullpen. While they were extremely dominate at times, and were especially so in the 2015 playoffs, Hector Rondon lost his closer’s job, Strop had been threatened to lose the primary setup role, and the hodgepodge group of guys the team got off the scrap heap do not particularly strike fear in opposing hitters.
When you look at the Kansas City Royals, they had an impressive lineup, guys that could hit and play defense. One of their biggest reasons for success was a fully rounded out bullpen. Especially their late inning guys. Their mentality was, get a lead and keep it with incredibly sound defense and unquestionably tough late inning pen arms.
And it worked.
“There’s no better weapon.” Royals manager Ned Yost was quoted saying after winning the American League pennant for the second consecutive season.
There isn’t a better weapon either. With the success of their pen, Herrera (1.41), Davis (1.00) and Holland (1.44), Kansas City enjoyed the luxury of playing what amounted to six inning games while everyone else had to play nine. That is a HUGE advantage.
I feel like most people are confident in Rondon being able to be the guy at the end of games, but beyond that there are questions on if Strop can be more consistent and can guys like Travis Wood and Trevor Cahill and Clayton Richard duplicate their bullpen success they had late in the season? While I’d love to say that they would, 2015 was each of theirs first as a reliever.
Basically at this point there is enough evidence to say they will all absolutely stink as there is to say they will all be great. Even if they are mediocre, that leaves the Cubs chances of winning in 2016 in some sort of jeopardy. Yes they can certainly overcome possible bullpen woes, but why set a team up for possibilities when the investment is already this high?
The thing is, the Cubs have the resources to acquire a legit pen arm or two within their minor league system right now. There is seemingly no place on the Cubs roster for a Billy McKinney at the moment, and although the Fowler deal is only for one season (with an option for a second season that has no chance of being exercised) Albert Almora’s general future with the team could be questioned. But those aren’t the only two…
Willson Contreras
Dan Vogelbach
Gleyber Torres
Among others represent very tradable pieces to what could be a world championship puzzle.
I know Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein raved about the Cubs bullpen on multiple occassions, but from a baseball realists perspective when they have invested so heavily in this offseason they should be willing to go just one more step. While I don’t think they find a deal before spring training games start, it could be a real possibility that there are some moves before the team breaks camp.
While the Cubs are setup to compete for years and years, and it shouldn’t be an “all in” like situation, it really should be at the same time. Dex will not be in Chicago in 2017, the catching position slims a little (and you can’t count on Miguel Montero to continue at his pace forever), there will certainly be another big outfield decision to be made, and Lackey at 38 is far less attractive than Lackey at 37.
With the Cubs legitimately being this close to having a World Series contending team, this is exactly the time to make that one more move Theo. Do it. Just do it.
Picture Source: Cubs.com
