Time for Bullpen “Plan C”

The bullpen for the Cubs has been up and down this season. It was a rocky start for many of their relief pitchers, but after some additions and role changes, things were going great. But, as may of us feared, regression reared it’s ugly head in July, and it may be time to reshape the pen for the stretch run and potentially the playoffs.

At the end of January I had a pretty strong idea of who I felt would take the 8 bullpen slots for the Cubs to start 2025. This was based on performance at the end of 2024, a couple of trades and two free agent signings.

Here was my predicted “Plan A” bullpen:

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

And except for Tyson Miller, who was replaced by Ryan Brasier for the Japan trip and then Brad Keller when Brasier was injured in the season opener.

But that initial bullpen did not do very well, carrying a 4.76 ERA though March and April. And over the course of the season, this initial group changed quite a bit.

• Rea had to go into the rotation to replace Justin Steele
• Pearson was ineffective in his first few outings and was sent to Iowa
• Morgan was just as bad, and went on the IL with an elbow injury
• Merryweather started well, but could not get outs in May and was released

Several folks passed through the roster for short stints: Gavin Hollowell, Tom Cosgrove, Ethan Roberts, Luke Little, Brooks Kriske, Michael Fulmer, Jordan Wicks and Genesis Cabrera. But for the most part here was the “Plan B” Cubs bullpen:

• Daniel Palencia (Closer)
• Brad Keller
• Caleb Thielbar
• Ryan Brasier
• Ryan Pressly
• Drew Pomeranz
• Porter Hodge
• Chris Flexen

This group really locked things down for a couple of months, with a 2.37 ERA in May and a 2.44 ERA in June. But things have gotten UGLY in July, with a ERA that has shot up to 6.30. So, a change is needed.

Of the Plan B players, only the top 4 are safe. Flexen has already been released, and Hodge is still on a rehab assignment in Iowa. For now, Kriske and Hollowell are currently with the Cubs, but that may soon change based on some players returning from injury as well as potential trades. In addition to the return of Hodge, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad could be returning from injury. Assad might join the bullpen, with Taillon pushing Rea back to a reliever role.

So, here is my speculation on what the Cubs “Plan C” bullpen could look like:

• Daniel Palencia (closer)
• Brad Keller
• Caleb Thielbar
• TBD trade
• Ryan Brasier
• Colin Rea
• Porter Hodge
• Javier Assad

Drew Pomeranz is the guy I think has the most chance to stick around, primarily because he’s a lefty. He will definitely stay for a few more weeks until Rea, Hodge AND Assad would all be available for bullpen duty.

Pressly is the big name I see being DFA’d. Unless he has an injury that would put him on the IL, I just don’t think they can continue to use him in any meaningful games. He had been somewhat lucky in May, June and early July, giving up runs in only 2 of 25 outings. But in those outing, he allowed baserunners in 19 of them. But his luck has caught up with him recently, allowing runs in 4 of his last 5 outings, all on home runs.

He might still have a little time to turn things around, hopefully in lower leverage situations, but he needs to do it fast.