Analyzing the Cubs' bullpen options at this point in spring training

In a matter of days, the Chicago Cubs will pack their bags and head to Japan for a pair of exhibition matchups against NPB clubs ahead of a season-opening two-game stint against the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at the Tokyo Dome.

Shota Imanaga will get the nod in the opener, followed by Justin Steele in the second and final game of the series. Who's starting the games is set in stone, barring an injury or illness. The more prudent question is what will the Cubs' bullpen look like for the Tokyo Series?

There really aren't a lot of question marks with this group. An offseason overhaul put the team in a good position depth-wise and will hopefully help the Cubs avoid the early-season bullpen issues that have plagued them in recent years.

Roster rules allow the Cubs to carry extra bodies to Japan for the exhibition games, so the guys who make the cut won't necessarily break camp with the team when they open the domestic schedule on March 27 in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Special roster rules allow the Cubs to carry extra players to Japan

Those rules will, however, allow a ton of relievers to be at Craig Counsell's disposal for the Dodgers series on March 17-18. At the back end, you have newcomers Ryan Pressly and Ryan Brasier, along with last season's breakout reliever Porter Hodge. That has the makings of a formidable trio capable of locking down the late innings.

Julian Merryweather, Keegan Thompson, Eli Morgan and Caleb Thielbar should all make the cut as the team's middle-relief options, along with Tyson Miller. This is where you're going to see some guys who might not make the 26-man at the end of the month sneak their way onto the roster in Japan just due to the fact the Cubs don't need to carry their full starting rotation for those two games.

Nate Pearson, Colin Rea and Brad Keller all profile more as the swing-man/long relief arms that could be especially important against the Dodgers. If things go sideways for Steele or Imanaga, you'd ideally not have to burn every relief arm before flying back to Arizona to close out spring training. All three of those guys are more than capable of pitching multiple innings.

The more interesting thought exercise is who actually breaks camp with the team when the roster is trimmed down to 26 and Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd are part of the equation. Options are going to be a major factor here - and it's why, despite a 1.93 ERA with Cleveland last year, Eli Morgan could very well start the year at Iowa.

Rea covering Assad's rotation spot will probably let someone like Thompson, who's out of minor league options, break camp with the team in Arizona. Tyson Miller is the one name I'm watching closely because he hasn't had a single clean appearance this spring - and as a guy who has to hit his spots and execute to be successful, there's just no margin for error. A crowded bullpen mix isn't going to extend his leash, either. If he looks good by the end of spring, the level of concern probably levels off - otherwise, an IL stint - or even cutting him loose - feels like a real possibility.