Cubs Roster Profiles: Randy Wells

As the 2012 season approaches, Cubbies Crib is profiling each and every member of the Cubs forty man roster. Today, we are talking about Randy Wells.

All of the talk involving Wells last Spring Training revolved around how the starting pitcher had learned from his sophomore slump. This past off season, the talk in regards to Wells has shifted to whether he will even make the rotation for 2012. In addition, his name has been mentioned as a trade candidate.

2011 Recap

Wells backed up his talk of learning from the mistakes he made in 2010 with a solid Spring Training last year. He carried that over into his first start of the regular season against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but an injury proceeded to sideline him for almost a month. When he returned, he was able to eat up 135 innings despite time on the shelf. However, his overall numbers took a slide. A winning record of 7-6 was an improvement over the double digit losses in 2010, his ERA was just a tick under 5.00 and he surrendered a career high 23 home runs despite the injury shortened season. Another cause for concern is the fact that his strike outs to walks ratio dipped by over half a point to 1.74.

2012 Outlook

It should not surprise if Wells has another solid Spring Training this go around. But the doubt will linger as to whether the former minor league catcher will be able to translate it over the course of the 2012 regular season. Despite still being young in terms of pitching experience, he is starting to run out of time to prove that his first full season as a Major League pitcher was not a fluke, as he will turn 30 years old in August.

His chances of spending a significant portion, if not all, of the 2012 season in the Cubs rotation will not depend just on having a solid Spring. It is well known know that Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer treasure exaggerated depth in the starting pitcher department, and Wells will have to beat out almost a half dozen names to secure a back of the rotation spot behind the likes of Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, and Paul Maholm.

If Wells is able to stick in the rotation, a record of 9-7 with a 4.50 ERA and a SO/BB of at least 2.00 would be considered a success out of the fourth or fifth starting slot. A pace for anything worse will lead to Wells being a part of the revolving door at the back of the Cubs rotation, a sight fans are already sick of from last season.