Jed Hoyer teases Clay Holmes’ role change that could define Cubs’ postseason pitching staff

After the Chicago Cubs traded for Kevin Gausman on Sunday, there wasn't much an expectation that they would prove to be the suitor for Clay Holmes. Leave it to Jed Hoyer to leave no stone unturned at the deadline, and complete a trade for Holmes (and Tyrone Taylor) to round out their deadline haul.

The initial expectation is for Holmes to pitch out of the starting rotation. He's been making his way back from a shin fracture in May, throwing over 70 pitches in a tick over five innings pitched over the weekend. It was Holmes' third start of his minor-league rehab assignment, and chances are he could make his Cubs' debut the next turn through the rotation.

Of course, there are looming decisions that surface because of. Factoring in the return of Edward Cabrera, the Cubs could reach September with six starting pitchers on their roster. It's an outcome that ignites a conversation about what the Cubs may do with Holmes in the postseason.

Clay Holmes could transcend into a bullpen ace for the Cubs during the postseason

If healthy, Holmes certainly has proven to be a deserving option of being a part of a postseason rotation. However, during his time with the New York Yankees, he was the closer for multiple postseason runs. Jed Hoyer left that door open while talking about Holmes and his role moving forward with the Cubs.

"We have to decide exactly how we want to play that," Hoyer said. "But I think we love the fit from a shape standpoint. He's a fantastic ground ball guy, doesn't give up home runs. I think putting that kind of guy in front of this defense makes a ton of sense for us. And obviously we can figure out the role. He's going to be a starting pitcher, but obviously his track record as a fantastic closer is certainly something that will add a bonus potential."

Above all else, what the Cubs did at the trade is give themselves options in October. Options they lacked last year when they were eliminated by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. The Cubs barely patched together their rotation, and that essentially left them with no bulk options in the bullpen.

Assuming health, which is a large assumption, that shouldn't be a problem for the Cubs this time around. Perhaps that does mean that Holmes becomes a bullpen ace for the Cubs in the playoffs. It certainly wouldn't be a terrible option

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