Chicago Cubs: Next year’s bullpen could look wildly different

Chicago Cubs: The closer’s role is locked down for years to come

Okay, so the ninth inning is handled. Which is something we haven’t been able to say heading into a year for some time. Chicago headed into 2015 with Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop covering the late innings.

Ahead of the trade deadline in 2016, Epstein pulled the trigger on Aroldis Chapman, adding the left-hander to the mix en route to the team’s first World Series championship in 108 years. But, at season’s end, he departed via free agency.

To address the closer’s role the next year, Chicago sent Jorge Soler to the Kansas City Royals for one year of right-hander Wade Davis. The veteran hurler nailed down 32 saves, finishing 56 games for the Cubs – who advanced to the NLCS for a third-straight year. But when the dust settled, the team again needed a ninth-inning arm.

Epstein bet on Dodgers setup man Brandon Morrow, inking him to a two-year deal with a third-year option on the heels of a breakout campaign. Well, that hasn’t gone particularly well. The oft-injured hurler didn’t throw a pitch after the All-Star Break last year and, after suffering yet another setback in his rehab, is done for the year. In all likelihood, his Cubs career is at an end.

But now, finally, Craig Kimbrel is here and the team has a long-term answer. He could, conceivably, be closing games for the team through 2022 – hopefully en route to Cooperstown. Without uncertainty in the closer’s role, the front office will shift its focus to the supporting cast.

Chicago Cubs: Experience will be key for next year’s team

As things currently stand, the Cubs will lose the following players at season’s end (barring those individuals choosing to re-sign with the team this winter or some other move):

• Pedro Strop, Brandon Kintzler, Cole Hamels (which creates a spot in the rotation that will need to be addressed) and Steve Cishek – four absolutely crucial members of this year’s pitching staff.

The following players have team options heading into 2020:

• David Phelps, Derek Holland, Jose Quintana, Brandon Morrow, Tony Barnette and Kendall Graveman. Given his consistency, I’d be shocked if Chicago didn’t pick up Quintana’s option. They’ll absolutely decline Morrow’s and the other four are anybody’s guess at this point and may very well be determined in the season’s final six weeks.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

Obviously, the biggest bullpen losses come in the form of Strop, Kintzler and Cishek – arguably the three most prominent members of Joe Maddon‘s circle of trust. Strop has fallen out of favor a bit this year given his struggles and waning velocity – but he’s anchored the pen for the better part of a decade.

Cishek is undoubtedly Maddon’s go-to guy in pretty much any tough spot. He relies on this guy to get the big outs in the high-pressure moments. Given what he’s done since coming to Chicago last year (2.76 ERA/1.094 WHIP in 134 appearances), he’ll be a hot commodity on the market this winter.

Meanwhile, Kintzler, who forced his way onto the club by exercising his player option for 2019 after the Cubs declined their team option on him, is a redemption story. After a brutal stretch late last season after joining the team midseason, he’s been a steady hand in the mix for Maddon, working to a 2.51 ERA this year.

As you can see, there are a lot of holes in this pen heading into next year. But the young arms may be ready to carry the load sooner than you may think.

Chicago Cubs: So what in-house options does the team have?

Fear not. At long last, we’re beginning to see some of the team’s pitching prospects work their way to the big leagues. And a few of these arms may very well end up getting a chance to earn roles in the Cubs bullpen come next spring in Arizona.

Leading the charge is right-hander Rowan Wick, who’s turned in a 2.25 FIP and 10.1 K/9 in 17 appearances this year. This kid’s stuff is absolutely filthy – and the Cubs control him through the 2024 campaign. It’s not out of the question to see him compete for the setup role with Strop likely on his way out of town.

Left-hander Kyle Ryan has also emerged as a critical piece of the puzzle. He’s recovered from a bit of a rocky start to the tune of a 3.23 FIP in 56 appearances, holding left-handed hitters to a minuscule .263 on-base percentage this year.

Tyler Chatwood could be huge, as well. You could envision him taking Hamels’ potentially vacated spot in the rotation – or he could empty the tank in a late-inning spot as a shutdown weapon bridging the gap to Kimbrel. Either way, there’s a lot to like after his bounce-back campaign.

But these are the primary pieces – at least ones with substantial experience under their belt. For the next wave, you’re looking at Triple-A Iowa with the likes of Duane Underwood Jr., Alec Mills, Adbert Alzolay and Dillon Maples.

None of these guys are in the position where you’d want to bank on them heading into 2020 – but there’s plenty of talent in this group. Maples is all about potential – but is yet to put it together for an extended period of time. Mills might be a long man – and the jury is still out on Underwood and Alzolay, two of the team’s most highly regarded prospects.

The pieces are in place – but I’d anticipate Epstein and Jed Hoyer being quite active this offseason, looking to add impact arms to shore up the guys returning. Either way, there will be new faces coming out from the left-field bullpen next season answering the call from the Cubs dugout.