Chicago Cubs: Relief Pitcher

*NOTE: With the pitching staff, I am going to be much more selective with which players receive mention. While every offensive player who had more than 100 plate appearances was named in the prior posts, there are simply too many pitchers to go through all of them in one post. As such, I will focus on those with a more realistic chance to make the majors and those who produced big statistical seasons.

Relief Pitcher
2012 Overview: The back end of the bullpen proved to be an absolute mess for the first part of 2012, but the group actually settled in nicely during the second half. No individual embodied this reality more than closer Carlos Marmol. He was horrendous prior to the All-Star break, allowing 20 hits and issuing 28 walks in 25.2 innings, although he did have 33 strikeouts. After the break, he allowed 20 hits again but cut his walks to 17 despite pitching four more innings than he had previously; he add 39 strikeouts after the break.

Middle reliever Shawn Camp had the opposite experience, throwing 45 pre-break innings with 39 hits, 10 walks, and 34 strikeouts whereas he struggled through 32.2 post-break innings with 40 hits, 11 walks, and just 20 strikeouts. Camp was never dominant; however, he did help stabilize what was an extremely shaky unit.

Lefty James Russell solidified himself as an above-average reliever, putting together a very solid year with a 1.30 WHIP and 55 strikeouts in 69.1 innings.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, Russell was the only lefty (and only reliever other than Camp) who maintained a job throughout 2012. Journeyman Manny Corpas was below-average, a roster filler. Youngster Rafael Dolis showed a power arsenal with no command, walking 23 batters in just 38 innings. Prospect Alberto Cabrera also struggled with his control with 18 walks in 21.2 innings, although Cabrera showed more strikeout ability notching 27. Organizational depth players like Scott Maine, Casey Coleman, Jaye Chapman, and Jeff Beliveau all made at least 14 appearances with poor results.

Two young pitchers did show some promise in limiited 2012 appearances. Michael Bowden, acquired after being designated for assignment by the Red Sox, pitched well in 36.2 innings allowing 30 hits and 16 walks while striking out 29. The former first-round pick is already 26 but should maintain a job. At a different point in his career, Rule 5 Draft selection Lendy Castillo pitched just 16 innings with horrendous results. Yet the 23-year-old showed bursts of potential and will have the chance to develop in the minors in 2013.

Down in Iowa, both Esmailin Caridad (29) and Blake Parker (28) pitched to strong campaigns, but neither project as more than fringe middle relievers when pitching their best.

Four names stand out from Tennessee. Converted starter Trey McNutt - the club's former top pitching prospect - moved to the bullpen but continued his downslide. 2013 is certainly a make-or-break year for McNutt as he is yet to harness his power arsenal. Kevin Rhoderick struggled more with control in 2012; despite his high strikeout total, his control has stagnated his career. Closer Frank Batista turned 23 last April and followed with another strong year as a closer with only 38 hits allowed in 52.2 IP and 21 walks. While he lacks big strikeout potential, he has a solid chance to reach the majors. Finally, 2011 fourth-rounder Tony Zych put together a strong year across Daytona and Tennessee over 61.1 IP, allowing 58 hits and 19 walks while striking out 64. At just 22, Zych has a big league future and may be the club's best true-relief prospect.

Sadly, Daytona produced just one reliever who enjoyed a strong 2012. A.J. Morris - who just turned 26 - was terrific against the younger competition, going 52.1 innings with 36 hits allowed, 15 walks, and 42 strikeouts. 2010 top pick Hayden Simpson completed his flop with a laughable 2.07 WHIP before being released this spring.

A couple of names popped up at Peoria. 21-year-old closer Yao-Lin Wang enjoyed a solid campaign with big strikeout totals (82 in 78 innings) but lacked a great ability to keep runners off base (1.27 WHIP). Converted outfielder Kyler Burke had a great 1.07 WHIP without strikeout stuff, but struggled upon his call-up to Daytona. 22-year-old lefty Jeffry Antigua split the year between Peoria and Tennessee showing a consistent ability to retire batters with plenty of strikeouts at both levels. Antigua has moved well as a one-level-at-a-time player.

While a couple of pitchers produced well at even lower levels - such as Eduardo Orozco, Michael Heesch, and Brian Smith - they did so over such short spans and against such low-level competition that it is nearly impossible to evaluate their performances.

The team did make a big acquisition in July, signing Dominican Juan Carlos Paniagua to a $1.5M bonus. Paniagua previously signed with the Diamondbacks and Yankees, yet both contracts were voided due to identity fraud. If Paniagua manages to stick, his low-to-mid 90s fastball is complemented by a good changeup, and a vastly improved slider. At 22, Paniagua seems unlikely to be given the opportunity to start, so he could move quickly in the bullpen if his command improves.

2013 and Beyond: Marmol is set to earn $9.8M in 2013 and he will start the year back in the closer's role. It is unlikely that he ends the year there as the volatile reliever will have more value for a contender if he pitches well. The bullpen figures to be very tumultuous again in 2013, with Russell and Bowden the only holdovers presumably assured of opportunities to pitch. Newcomer Hisanori Takahashi figures to get chances as a lefty.

The team did sign former Japanese closer Kyuji Fujikawa to a two year, $9M deal. The 32-year-old features a declining, yet still good, fastball and a power splitter. He occasionally throws a breaking pitch as well. Fujikawa figures to take over the closer's role when Marmol leaves, whether that is mid-season or at the end of 2013.

The team also inked Korean reliever Chang-Yong Lim. Lim is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and will not pitch for the team until 2014. Lim turned down offers from the Red Sox and Rangers to join the Cubs, so there is some hope that he can contribute a year or two of production. However, at 36, expectations are extremely low.

The unit will hopefully be completed by an overflow starting pitcher or two as the Cubs should have seven starters if everyone is healthy at the same time. If all of the starters do manage to get healthy, suddenly the group doesn't look so bad with Marmol, Fujikawa, Russell, Camp, Bowden, and two starters as long relievers. That's a bit too idealistic for my taste.

Overall Perception: Yuck. It's just a horrendous group with only a handful of MLB-caliber pitchers, let alone strong arms in the back. Having recognized the complete dearth of bullpen arms, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer made a really nice acquisition in Fujikawa. Even if he flops, he was worth the minimal investment and Japanese relievers have experienced quite a bit of success over the years. Paniagua is an intriguing option who could explode or implode this year and Antigua continues to climb. But barring a breakout campaign from McNutt or Burke exploding in his second full year on the mound, there isn't much in the pipeline either.

Final Rating: 1.5

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