Cubs Trade for Heilman, Bullpen Space Shrinks
When the Cubs recently traded backup shortstop Ronny Cedeno and recently acquired minor league pitcher Garret Olson, one less pitching spot is available on the Cubs’ major league roster. With many of the Cubs’ pitching staff signed to major league deals, that leaves little room for young pitchers to make the major league roster.
And this includes Valparaisian Jeff Samardzija.
Traditionally major league teams will use 11 or 12 of their 25 major league roster spots for pitchers, allow 12 or 13 position players. 5 spots are for starters, 2 of these 11-12 are designated as long relievers. Then you need to account for your closer, your right-handed setup man, and your left-handed setup man. This allows for 1-2 positions that are filled by middle inning pitchers. As it currently stands, the Cubs’ pitching staff looks like this:
Starting Pitchers:
1) Carlos Zambrano
2) Ryan Dempster
3) Ted Lilly
4) Rich Harden
5) Sean Marshall/Aaron Heilman/Rich Hill/Chad Gaudin
Long relievers will be the two in consideration for the fifth slot that don’t get that spot.
Closer: Carlos Marmol
Right handed setup: Kevin Gregg
Left handed setup: Neal Cotts
This leaves the left over #5 starter/long reliver, plus: Luis Visciano, Michael Wuertz, Angel Guzman, Kevin Hart, Jose Ascanio, and Samardzija to all fight for the last one or two roster spots.
Given Samardzija will be better than most of those candidates, drawing from his 2.28 ERA last season, that still does not leave many spots open for the former Valpo star. An abundance of pitching is usually considered a good problem to have.
However, barring a trade for often sought after Jake Peavy, there could be some tough decisions and disappointment ahead for the Cubs.