So far this spring, the Cubs starter candidates have a combined ERA of 2.25, with three scoreless innings from Samardzija and Volstad. On the other hand, the bullpen pitchers have an obese ERA of 8.45, led by closer Marmol.
Manager Sveum just realized yesterday that he has to fill the 78 relief appearances of Sean Marshall, who was traded to the Reds. When asked, Kerry Wood said no, at his stage of his career he is as brittle as a Ming vase. So Sveum is thinking that maybe one or two of the starter candidates who don't get into the rotation would fill this void. Say, Randy Wells. Well, it is not as easy as it sounds.
First, a long time starter such as Wells would find it a "demotion" to sent to the bullpen. Second, a starter usual routine is pitch every fifth day and rest for four days in a row. A reliever such as Marshall was "on call" everyday. Third, changing the mindset of 33 starts into 78 relief appearances is not easy.
The pitchers who were going to cover the back end of the bullpen are gone: Cashner, Carpenter and Marshall were all traded by Epstein.
But as Steve Stone once said, "all relievers are failed starters."
The crop of potential new Cub relievers include Lopez, Wells, Sonnanstine, T. Wood, Coleman and Samardzija (where he was successful last season). The Cubs are pushing Samardzija as a starter because he is a power pitcher to compliment the finesse lefty starters.
It appears that the Cubs will not use any of the minor league pitching prospects to fill the bullpen voids. It is because the pressure to win, even in a clear rebuilding year, is on Sveum who will be compared to Quade from Day One. The pressure to win is from Ricketts, who needs to sell tickets.
Besides Marmol, K. Wood and J. Russell, the Cubs bullpen is an open, empty corral.
