Chicago Cubs playing the long game with Brandon Morrow

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The Chicago Cubs continue to play the long game with Brandon Morrow.

When the Chicago Cubs decided to bring back Brandon Morrow this past offseason, they really had nothing to lose. Now, the construction of MLB’s summer camps has changed how the team might handle his health.

Morrow signed a one-year minor league deal with the Cubs in December, a low-risk, high reward sort of move if he could remain healthy and pitch effectively in the later innings.

Of course, just staying healthy has been something of a problem for Morrow in the last few years. He has not pitched since July 2018 due to a myriad of setbacks, notably elbow inflammation which has bothered him throughout his career.

Morrow entered camp feeling fairly optimistic, but he suffered a chest strain in February and was essentially put on the shelf as a precautionary measure. Spring training was suspended just three weeks later as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Theo Epstein / Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs knew what they were doing leaving him off the roster

But baseball is back, with players returning to their respective markets for workouts beginning on Friday. That is, if they were selected for the player pool.

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Teams were allowed to select up to 60 guys in advance of summer camp. Morrow was absent from Chicago’s pool, though that figures to be a smart decision. There are certain nuances to the system which make Morrow’s absence necessary.

Any player removed from the player pool cannot be re-added by said team. If the Cubs added Morrow immediately and he was still sustaining setbacks, they would have no choice but to release him or risk wasting a roster spot.

There is a reason the Cubs left 10 spots open: they want the flexibility to add players as they see fit; Jed Hoyer said as much on Tuesday. Players can be added to the pool at any point in the season. There are no restrictions. This means Morrow can join that pool whenever he is ready to pitch again.

Leaving Morrow off the initial roster bides both sides time and allows Chicago to ensure the right-hander is healthy. It should not come as a surprise the Cubs are playing the long game with Morrow.

Brandon Morrow / Chicago Cubs (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Brandon Morrow could be a much-needed veteran presence

Theo Epstein hinted the team might not have been cautious enough when the 35-year-old was shut down last August. Not to mention, the makeshift nature of Chicago’s bullpen makes it all the more imperative it has Morrow on retainer.

Aside from Craig Kimbrel, Kyle Ryan and (probably) Jeremy Jeffress, there are very few certainties. Rowan Wick and Brad Wieck figure to remain with the big-league club after solid showings last September. Dan Winkler and Casey Sadler might be candidates in middle relief, not to mention the likes of Duane Underwood Jr. and Ryan Tepera.

But with all that said, there are no set roles. David Ross will have his hands full in his first year as manager. However, Ross would also feel much better knowing a healthy Morrow might provide depth and effectiveness in the later innings.

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Granted, Morrow will not have a ton of time to heal up in a 60-game season. But he could also be a major difference-maker in a wide-open, shortened season where anything goes. Thus, the Cubs will closely monitor his health and add him to the pool when they see fit.

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The Chicago Cubs continue to play the long game with Brandon Morrow.

Chicago Cubs knew what they were doing leaving him off the roster

More from Cubbies Crib

Chicago Cubs: Brandon Morrow could be a much-needed veteran presence

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