The Chicago Cubs bullpen is a complete joke and nothing changed last night. The Cubs were leading once again in the late innings and once again the bullpen blew another lead. This time the culprit was James Russell of whom has been the Cubs best relief pitcher this year. After the game, manager Dale Sveum called the bullpen “comical”. As you can only laugh at how horrible the bullpen really is. Theo Epstein said last week about how he’s thought the first half has gone; “it’s been a good first half for the first 7 innings.” If the Cubs had a bullpen, the Cubs are at or above 500. According to the stats, the Cubs should easily be 10+ games better. Now that’s why you see the Cubs acquire and add new guys to the bullpen.
The Cubs traded SP Scott Feldman and C/1B/3B Steve Clevenger to the Baltimore Orioles for two possible relief pitchers (Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop). Arrieta is going to start in Triple-A and take Chris Rusin’s spot on the rotation. For now, at least. Strop will join the Cubs bullpen.
Both pitchers the Cubs acquired are gambles, but if they pitch to their potential, the Cubs got a steal. Arrieta is starting in Triple-A and from the reports, he will get every chance to be a starter. But in the likely scenario, he’ll be a bullpen piece and we could see him in the bullpen this season.
The Cubs will also add Matt Guerrier to the active roster. The Cubs acquired Guerrier from the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday in the Carlos Marmol deal.
Both Strop and Guerrier will be added to the active roster before today’s game. When both players are added, two other players will be gone. Paul Sullivan says Hendry Rodriguez and Shawn Camp could be designated for assignment before today’s game.
The roster shakeup continues!
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