The Cubs intend to deploy a six-man rotation at times throughout the life of the 2017 season as they look to lessen the workload of a rotation that shouldered a considerable burden in the postseason, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Chicago’s interest in right-hander Tyson Ross — Sherman, like Yahoo’s Jeff Passan and FOX’s Ken Rosenthal, calls the Cubs a finalist for Ross — is tied to this thinking. However, he adds that even if Ross ultimately signs elsewhere, the Cubs will pursue additional rotation depth to ease the workload on its current starters.
As it stands, the Cubs project to have Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey and Mike Montgomery in their Opening Day rotation. Arrieta had never thrown more than 170 innings in a full season (between the Majors and minors) prior to joining the Cubs, but he’s now thrown 468 1/3 innings between the regular season and the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. Lester, similarly, has taken on a high workload, tallying 457 1/3 frames between the postseason and regular season dating back to 2015. Hendricks, meanwhile, posted a career-high 190 regular-season innings and added 25 1/3 more in the playoffs, bringing his year-long total to 215 1/3 (up from his previous high of 180). Significant workloads are nothing new for Lackey, but the grizzled vet is now 38 years old and missed a couple of weeks with a shoulder strain late in the season.
If the Cubs aren’t able to land Ross, Sherman writes that Chicago could look to bring Travis Wood back into the fold as a swingman and spot starter. Wood obviously brings plenty of familiarity to the Cubs, having spent the past five seasons with the team. Wood was pushed out of the Cubs’ rotation after a rough 2014 season and poor start to 2015, but he did throw 200 very good innings for Chicago in 2013 and average 30 starts per year from 2012-14. From my vantage point, he’d be an interesting option as a starter for teams with more clear-cut rotation vacancies, though perhaps a return to the reigning World Series champs would outweigh the opportunity to have a definitive rotation job elsewhere. Sherman notes that Rule 5 lefty Caleb Smith (selected out of the Yankees organization by the Brewers and traded to Chicago) also intrigues the Cubs and may get a look in a swingman role this spring.
If Chicago wants to look elsewhere for someone to fill that role, there are a number of options remaining on the market with recent starting and relief experience. Yusmeiro Petit, old friend Scott Feldman, Vance Worley, Dillon Gee and Jorge De La Rosa are just a few low-cost options that could potentially fit the bill. Jason Hammel, whose option whose market has surprisingly not developed much after Chicago bought out his option, makes some logical sense as a candidate to return if he’s willing to accept a one-year offer (at a higher rate than the other listed names). And, of course, the trade market can never be ruled out. (It is, after all, where the Cubs procured Montgomery this past July.)
Ross brings the most upside of the free agents, but one has to wonder his thoughts on potentially being in a six-man rotation as opposed to receiving the opportunity to rebuild his stock by taking the ball every fifth day. Then again, as mentioned with regard to Wood, the notion of pitching for a clear-cut World Series contender carries allure for any free agent.
The Cubs’ desire to incorporate a sixth starter with more regularity isn’t exactly new. Manager Joe Maddon utilized Montgomery as a starter late in the season last year and has voiced a belief that more teams will begin to look to six-man rotations in the season’s second half in the years to come (as the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales wrote last September). While the April schedule will present plenty of off-days and allow the Cubs to organically incorporate some extra rest into their starters’ schedules, that luxury is long gone by midseason as many teams deal with pitching injuries both minor and major.
Maddon’s baseball intellect is far superior to mine, however I wonder if he is mistaken about the six man rotation. Especially with starters so far into their careers. It seems they, they being the starting pitchers for the Cubs, would have to develop entirely new routines, off-season throwing programs, warm-ups, etc. to properly adjust to a permanent change in pitching rotations. It could ultimately turn out for the best, but I can also see how it could make pitchers uncomfortable and not as sharp as they normally are. To mention nothing of how they may have to readjust the conditioning of their bodies.
I don’t think anyone is talking about a permanent 6-man rotation all season. More so when there are stretches of time with no off days and pitchers are on 4-days rest between starts (5-days if there is an off day in between).
Pitchers, near the end of a season, often tend to look gassed. Why? Could it be that innings piling up aid in causing a pitcher to throw less effectively?
With a 25 man roster, the 5 Man rotation is what there is. If a team has a strong rotation, and a deep club, they could flirt with a six-man rotation more easily than with a club that isn’t deep.
The Cubs want to go with a six-man. They’ve done so in the minors. Where they’ve used a 6, the injuries are less than where they still have to use a 5.
Using a 6 forces the team to draft more pitching that is starter-friendly, which brings about more depth.
The Cubs would love to see a 26 or 27 man roster. They would then use a 6 regularly. Likely throughout the entire system. (They currently roll with a 6 in the Northwest, Midwest, and Carolina Leagues. Yes, it’s incidental, but since they’ve been in the Carolina League for two years, they’ve used a 6 two seasons. And won two titles.
I love the topic, as I love keeping players healthy.
Having the pitchers hit in Double-A and Triple-A has helped prevent the team from using a 6 there.
Ask away, should you wish.
I was surprised the roster expansion wasn’t agreed upon with the latest cba. I thought that was something everybody wanted. Just one more spot would really help teams maneuver better
It would be extremely insightful if this were able to be formulated. By that I mean, if someone was able to develop a way to identify which starters would be best served by an extra day off. Perhaps it could be based off of such factors as: Innings thrown, age, favored pitch, release point, arm health, etc.
I also see this more as Montgomery/other 5th starter getting more time off than sp 1-4
I feel like the most effective way to is to have a start skipped in May, August and MAYBE September. It did wonders for deGrom and Harvey in 2015- and before someone says something about their 2016 injuries, Harvey’s was not related to his TJS recovery.
wouldn’t the fact that their rotation fell apart lend itself to the idea that perhaps even more skipped starts than that may be beneficial? I say may because it’s also entirely possible that those pitchers just break regardless of ip cuz that’s sorta what pitchers do.
too late to edit: Or am i misunderstanding your point that it will help to keep them healthy to finish out 2017 and isn’t about preservation after that (since jake will be a fa and so will lackey)
“but [Arrieta’s] now thrown 468 1/3 innings between the regular season and the playoffs IN EACH of the past two seasons.”
Arrieta has thrown 468 1/3 innings in each season? What a beast!
That makes his 0.75 2nd half ERA in 2015 that much more impressive.
Innings eater beast mode
I would be stunned if the Cubs didn’t land their man Ross.
I hope your right . They have always coveted him and he can rest until ready .
The Cubs and Dodgers seem like they would match up well in a trade. The Dodgers have lots of young starting pitching(De leon, Wood, Stewart, Stripling) and the cubs have two young 2b (Happ and Baez). If they traded Baez they could move Zobrist to second until Happ is ready, and then Schwarber could get more playing time in left
I can see that working out for both teams…I doubt it would happen though since they are going to be going head to head to make it to the World Series every year in the near future and you’d hate to be on the losing end of a deal with a rival…it would suck getting shut down in the playoffs by a guy you just had or having a guy that you just had demolish your pitching to help the other team advance
I hadn’t thought of that, its a good point.
Baez is not getting traded for prospects
Baez isn’t getting traded
Thanks Theo
I don’t think he is either just saying that I could see it working out for both sides
2nd baseman (among other positions) Chesny Young also seems to be on a fast track in the Cub’s system, now getting extra credit in the Dominican Winter League.
If the Cubs don’t sign Ross, thoughts on a trade with Tampa Bay for Alex Cobb. They could send OF Mark Zagunis and RHP Bailey Clark. That to me is a good trade for both sides.
I’m impressed with anyone that acknowledges the existence of Bailey Clark.
The Cubs sound high on the guy who has at least a 65 beard on the 20/80 scale.
He follows Cubs Den. Smart man.
His beard apparently draws rave reviews from the Cubs brass.
I like odorizzi better but if Cobb cost less I’m good with it
Its risky trying to get a guy that had TJS. However they don’t trade major prospects for him. If they have Ian happ part of it(lets face it he’s blocked at 2nd with Baez and in left and right with Heyward and schwarber/Contreras and Zo from time to time.
If you trade Happ Bailey and Zagunas you can probably get Odorizzi and ptbnl
I wouldn’t mind Justin Grimm getting a shot either.
Because Grimm throwing his curveball 75 times a game is what the Cubs definitely need
I laughed, too true.
Why would you want Grimm starting??
I think I’d go after Wood if I couldn’t get Ross. Montgomery has yet to prove he can handle a starting role and he and Wood could switch off in the long man/ starter role.
I like the idea of a 6-man rotation for stretches of the 2017 season, especially in regards to a veteran Cubs rotation that has gone deep into the postseason the last two years.
I still don’t like the idea of Mike Montgomery being a part of that rotation. He would be better served as the Cubs primary late inning left-handed reliever, perhaps their version of Andrew Miller. He performed well in that role for the Cubs down the stretch last season after being acquired from the Mariners in late July, including during their postseason run. With southpaw closer Aroldis Chapman gone and replaced by righty Wade Davis, Montgomery should be utilized as their top lefty in the pen in 2017.
Off topic but idgaf. How is it that the cubs are projected to only win 94 games this year? Why would they be worse than 2016? If anything they’ll win the same amount if not more. I can’t seen them winning less than 100 games.
Talking heads will write about anything these days. Its sad.