What do you do with a guy who walked 95 batters in 103.2 innings? Simple. Stick him in the minors until he figures out how to throw strikes again, or just cut him. But what if that same guy is making $12.5 million in 2019 and another $13 million guaranteed in 2020? Not so simple.
The Cubs have a Tyler Chatwood problem. He want from being a wildly effective pitcher in 2017, with the Rockies, to legitimately having the yips or close to it in 2018. But what now?
Spring training has started and Yu Darvish is throwing harder and feels healthy. He’s expected to be right back in the starting rotation after missing the last four months of 2018, and with Cole Hamels back there’s no room for Chatwood. So, just stick him in the bullpen, right?
The Cubs are already dealing with a hit to their bullpen depth, as closer Brandon Morrow isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. Pedro Strop and Steve Cishek return as the most reliable relievers, while free agent pickups Tony Barnette and Brad Brach have been brought in to help solidify the bullpen.
Mike Montgomery, like Chatwood, will be pushed out of the starting rotation, but unlike Montgomery that doesn’t mean a bullpen spot is guaranteed for Chatwood.
In case you missed it this winter, MLB.com hired a new Cubs beat writer, Jordan Bastian. Definitely give him a follow on Twitter right here and he’s already winning over fans with his 25-man roster prediction for 2019.
Tyler Chatwood to the bullpen? NOPE! Here’s Bastian’s prediction for the opening day roster for the Cubs.
CATCHERS
Willson Contreras
Victor Caratini
INFIELDERS
Javier Baez
Kris Bryant
Anthony Rizzo
Ben Zobrist
OUTFIELDERS
Albert Almora Jr.
Jason Heyward
Kyle Schwarber
UTILITY PLAYERS
David Bote
Daniel Descalso
Ian Happ
STARTING PITCHERS
Yu Darvish
Cole Hamels
Kyle Hendricks
Jon Lester
Jose Quintana
RELIEF PITCHERS
Tony Barnette
Brad Brach
Steve Cishek
Brian Duensing
Carl Edwards Jr.
Brandon Kintzler
Mike Montgomery
Pedro Strop
We’re six weeks out from the first game against the Rangers and a lot can change during spring training. I still think Brian Duensing is a candidate to be flat out released because it’s a lot easier to eat $3.5 million than Chatwood’s money.
I mean, Chatwood can’t possibly be as bad as he was last year, right? But even if he does improve his command, do you trust him to throw enough strikes out of the bullpen?
On Tuesday, Theo Epstein had a press conference with Jed Hoyer and Joe Maddon, and during the media session he said the Cubs were still in touch with several free agents. He added that they could squeeze one more reliever.
So, who knows, maybe by the end of spring training the Cubs say Chatwood has a sore shoulder and they place him on the injured list.
A prediction all Cubs fans can live with? Chatwood nowhere near the 25-man roster.
