Cubs bullpen ready to answer questions
If the Cubs should have learned one thing from 2014, it's this: You don't have to waste money on a big-time closer, especially if you're rebuilding.
Like most teams, the Cubs learned the hard way. After inheriting Carlos Marmol from the previous regime, Cubs president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer opted to sign closer Kyuji Fujikawa out of Japan before the 2013 season, even though the team was nowhere near to being a contender.
Fujikawa ended up needing Tommy John surgery early in the 2013 season, and he essentially became a two-year waste of good money.
Epstein and Hoyer tried again last year, with veteran Jose Veras. They cut their losses early with the ineffective Veras, letting him go in early June.
Eventually winning the job and excelling was inexpensive second-year man Hector Rondon, a Rule 5 draft pick before the 2013 season. Rondon finished with 29 saves in 33 chances and stabilized what turned out to be a decent bullpen for most of the season.
Bullpens are finicky creatures from year to year, and the Cubs face their share of questions from the sixth or seventh inning on. Here are the main concerns:
Is Rondon the real deal?
There's no reason to think he isn't, but if the Cubs push toward contention, Rondon will be operating in more meaningful games with more pressure attached to them.
Rondon has a good fastball and slider, and he keeps things simple on the mound. He had an ERA of 2.42 and a WHIP of 1.06 last year, both solid numbers.
If Rondon falters, the Cubs made a move to cover themselves this winter when they signed former St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Motte to a free-agent deal worth $4.5 million for one year.
Motte saved 42 games in 2012 before missing the 2013 season because of elbow surgery. He worked his way back last year and appeared in 29 games for the Cards.
What about a lefty?
The Cubs traded stalwart - and sometimes overworked - James Russell at the July 31 deadline last year, leaving them without a veteran left-handed setup man.
Zac Rosscup made 18 appearances with the big club last year, and he will be given a long look in spring training. It's possible Felix Doubront could work as a middle man if he doesn't crack the rotation, as could lefty Tsuyoshi Wada.
Are they all right from right?
The strength of the Cubs' bullpen is from the right side. Pedro Strop had a shot at the closer's job last year before settling into a setup role along with Justin Grimm and Neil Ramirez.
Grimm was a workhorse, appearing in 73 games, so the Cubs might have to watch his workload.
The hard-throwing Ramirez needed a disabled-list break shortly after midseason because of triceps soreness. He bounced back nicely and wound up with 53 strikeouts in 42⅔ innings. His ERA was 1.44, and his WHIP was 1.05.
Ramirez has a varied repertoire, and there has been talk of him becoming a starter, but the Cubs seem content on keeping him in the bullpen.
Park Ridge's Brian Schlitter made the team out of spring training last year, completing a remarkable comeback from injury problems that had plagued him throughout his pro career. The 29-year-old Schlitter worked in 61 games in his first major-league action since 2010.
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