Most people gravitate towards the poor offense the Cubs had in 2013. However, looking at the bullpen as we head into the off-season, there is also concern in the pitching department. Per ESPN:
Chicago Cubs
2013 statistics: 4.04 ERA (13th), .736 OPS (13th), 20.4% K rate (12th), 10.3% BB rate (14th)
Record: 21-31, 39 saves, 26 blown saves, 48-14 when leading after six innings
Closer: Open for battle
Top setup guys: James Russell, Blake Parker
Others: Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon, Daniel Bard, Chang-Yong Lim, Brooks Raley, Carlos Villanueva, Kyuji Fujikawa
Free agents: Kevin Gregg, Matt Guerrier
Gregg and Guerrier will not be bad in 2014. The Cubs had the fourth-most
blown saves in the majors in 2013, so the entire pen shares blame. The Cubs had counted on Fujikawa, a closer
in Japan, to serve in that role but he underwent Tommy John surgery
after pitching just six innings. It is unclear when he will return so there will be an open competition for closer.
Strop appears to be the in-house favorite to be promoted to closer, but the Orioles had given up on him due to his inconsistent control. Parker struck out
55 in 46.1 innings but doesn't have live fastball to get out of 9th inning jams. Bard is struggling in the winter ball. None of the current relievers seem to be a knock-out closer in 2014.
In addition, Rondon, the Rule 5 pick up last year, will most likely be returned to the minors for additional seasoning like the Cubs did with Lendy Castillo. Depending on what the Cubs do with Jeff Samardzija, Villaneuva could be the 5th starter or long reliever next season, a role he did okay with in 2013. Lim and Raley are replacement level soft tossers. Russell may have been overworked to the point of ineffectiveness.
So it is possible that the Cubs will need to drastically re-tool the pen this off-season. Strop, Parker, Villaneuva and Russell are the only known commodities. That means the Cubs will need to find at least four more bullpen arms by the end of spring training.
