(CBS) — The signing of LHP Brett Anderson (pending a physical) is precisely the type of move both Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer promised to do, after winning the World Series in November.
To be more exact, the front office has been looking for rehabbing pitchers who are making comebacks.
Proceeding from a position of strength, the Cubs very much want to fortify an organization weakness in big-league pitching depth. The 2017 staff looks solid, with a group of returning pitchers who had the most innings pitched and lowest ERA in baseball. Only Jason Hammel will be missing from that accomplished group.
Replacing the 166.2 innings thrown by Hammel is just the short-term 2017 outlook. With a vision beyond this year, the Cubs’ front office will be looking to replace and fortify this group past 2018. Both Jake Arrieta and John Lackey can be free agents in November of this year. The ominous task of likely replacing close to 400 quality innings will be the job of Epstein, Hoyer and scouting guru Jason McLeod.
The minor-league system is close to producing legit rotation replacements. At this juncture, they may need at least another solid minor-league season to be ready. Dylan Cease, Duane Underwood and Oscar De La Cruz are the top pitchers moving through the Cubs’ system. Trevor Clifton, Jose Albertos and Bryan Hudson are also among the top 10 prospects in the organization’s minor-league system.
Using a little imagination, the front office believed in the good reports on how Anderson was throwing in Arizona before agreeing to terms, pending the physical. The 28-year-old pitcher had arguably his best season in 2015, posting 30 starts for the first time since his rookie season of 2009. Back surgery in 2016 limited Anderson to just four outings. The gamble is $3.5 million in 2017. That another $6.5 million can be earned is not a risk. Those incentives are based on the best-case scenario of Anderson making numerous starts or appearances.
The Cubs new pitcher has had many injury-plagued seasons in his career. The good news is that Anderson has a lifetime 3.86 ERA when he is able to compete. The Cubs’ rotation tryouts in February will be an audition for Mike Montgomery and Anderson. Maybe the best-case result would have Anderson healthy, winning the fifth starter’s job outright in spring training.
The Cubs could really use the quality bullpen innings from the left side that Montgomery began to give them last September and through the postseason. The team added veteran Brian Duensing this offseason to the bullpen mix. A former starter, Duensing could also get stretched out this spring as a rotation possibility. Rob Zastrizny pitched well in the last part of 2016 for the World Series champs. Both pitchers have swing-man potential from the left side. Veterans David Rollins and Dylan Floro will compete for a left-handed role, as well.
The Cubs have been lucky, having had only a handful of starts missed by their rotation the past two seasons. That good health has led to 200 regular-season wins the past two campaigns.
Epstein and Hoyer know that they have been lucky with the good health of their pitchers. This will not be the Cubs’ last move in making sure they are pitching-protected going into the 2017 season.
from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2juWnk9
No comments:
Post a Comment