The Cubs picked up Shawn Camp after he was released from the Mariners. Why was he released? He was bad. But in one outing with Chicago, the powers that be said he looked good.
With the pick up of De La Cruz earlier, the Cubs brass seems like it now wants to stockpile journeymen middle relievers.
Camp, 36, again does not fit the youth movement of Epstein. Camp pitched last season in Toronto. In 67 appearances, he was 6-3, 4.21 ERA and 1.523 WHIP. This spring in 8 1/3 innings pitched with Seattle, Camp was 0-0, 2.16 ERA and 3.12 WHIP. But observers called his performance "old and outdated."
Management will meet tonight to finalize the 25 man roster. The bullpen appears to be the sore point.
There is a good possibility that both De La Cruz and Camp will make the bullpen spots, with Wells being optioned to Iowa as the 6th stock piled starter. Or Lopez could take one of those spots and become the opening "spot starter."
Inconsistent closer Marmol, fragile Kerry Wood, and lefty specialist Russell are the only clear bullpen arms. Dolis has made an impression to stick as the 7th inning set up guy.
Adding cast offs this late in spring training is an indictment on how bad the pitching talent was under Hendry's regime and/or how bad or late Epstein and Hoyer realized it to not better plan for rebuilding the bullpen.
