Chicago Cubs: Mike Montgomery seeks consistency more than anything

Wants are great, but needs matter more

Having a swing man (a left-hander at that) is a nice commodity if you’re Joe Maddon and the Cubs. It’s understandable they aren’t keen on losing that weapon in a bullpen lacking a clear long option. But, for Montgomery’s part, he wants (and may need) a more defined role than he experienced last year.

"“I was in a role that’s not very common in baseball,” Montgomery said. “From their end, they might not have known how to handle it. My mentality was, ‘I’m going to be ready to pitch at all times.’ I kept saying, ‘Yeah, yeah, I can pitch.'”"

Despite feeling the grind and wear and tear on his body, the former Mariners hurler was actually better in the second half (by most measures). Still, given his low-cost controllability, having this escalate into any type of real issue needs to be avoided.

"“From a physical standpoint, it was hard,” Montgomery said. “It took a toll on my body, my arm. Making starts and coming out of the bullpen three days later, and pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen, I don’t think it’s something I want to do long term."

Winning comes at a cost

Before it’s all said and done, I still very much expect the Cubs to add a starting pitcher of some kind. Whether it’s an impact top-tier arm (Yu Darvish) or adding 1-2 middle-of-the-rotation-type starters, there are moves in the team’s future.

Next: Cubs need a proven weapon in rotation

As for Montgomery, it’s time to call him what he is: a long reliever. Sure, he wants to be a starter, but without a clear alternative in the bullpen, this is one of those times where the needs of the team trump the desires of a (largely unproven) player.