So many arms…

One weakness of the Cubs in 2024, especially early in the season, was the lack of depth in the bullpen. The players at the close of the season were almost completely different than those that started the season.

Opening Day 2024 Bullpen:

• Adbert Alzolay (closer)
• Hector Neris
• Yency Almonte
• Jose Cuas
• Mark Leiter Jr
• Luke Little
• Julian Merryweather
• Drew Smyly

Of those players, only Smyly was on the active roster at season’s end. And only Little and Merryweather are on the current 40-man roster. By the end of the season, the bullpen had solidified with Porter Hodge closing, and acquisitions Trevor Miller, Jorge Lopez and Nate Pearson.

So, one of the goals for the Cubs’ front office this season was to bring in more arms so that the like of Colton Brewer and Richard Lovelady will not have to be counted on. And if there is injury an/or ineffectiveness (which will happen) replacements will be available.

2025 Projected Bullpen

• Ryan Pressly (closer)
• Porter Hodge*
• Tyson Miller
• Nate Pearson*
• Caleb Thielbar
• Julian Merryweather
• Eli Morgan*
• Colin Rea

But there are other on the 40-man who might have a chance

• Keegan Thompson
• Caleb Kilian*
• Jordan Wicks*
• Ben Brown*
• Cody Poteet*
• Luke Little*
• Jack Neely*
• Daniel Palencia*
• Ethan Roberts*
• Gavin Hollowell*
• Rob Zastryzny
• Matt Festa

Plus a few interested non-roster players

• Cade Horton*
• Phil Bickford
• Ben Heller
• Brooks Kriske
• Trevor Richards

*=player has minor league options remaining

That’s 24 players competing for 8 spots, which is a good thing. However, several of these players will probably not be in the organization come opening day.

The non-roster invitees are long-shots, and Horton will almost definitely begin the season in the minor leagues. But for the several players out of options who might be in the fence, they will have to make the roster, go to the IL, accept a minor league assignment or get traded. Specifically, this will be the case with Colin Rea, Keegan Thompson, Julian Merryweather, Rob Zastryzny and Matt Festa.

Rea was just signed for $4.2M, and is most likely the first spot/fill-in starter, so I don’t see him going anywhere. Thompson and Merryweather were both offered arbitration, and are owed $850k and 1.225M respectively. Each has had ups and downs with the club, so I think they were kept around to see what version we might get in 2025. But I could see one or both not making the team and getting waived or released if they don’t look good in Arizona. Not sure what to make of Zastryzny and Festa. It’s the 2nd go around for Zastryzny with the Cubs, and he did well in very limited acton with the Brewers last year. The Cubs traded some cash to Texas for Festa, who did OK with the Rangers in 18 games but had on awful game for the Mets. I think either would need to really stand out to make the roster in this crowded field.

Then there are several young arms that may get a shot in 2025. Little has shown promise when he was not injured, and provided another left-handed option. A plethora of righties: Palencia, Neely, Kilian, Poteet and Roberts are available. And Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks have showed promise as starters, although Wicks had a rough 2024 and Brown was injured. I could see most of these pitchers getting a chance for time in the majors in 2025, especially to fill in for injuries. But they will have to take a Hodge-level step to stay on the club, and not get sent back to the minors.

Bullpen pitchers can see lots of volatility from year to year, so hopefully the Cubs have amassed enough serviceable arms that Craig Counsell can find the right mix to keep down the blown saves and win more close games – two elements that held the Cubs back in 2024.