Today the Cubs announced nine more cuts from big league Spring Training, reducing the spring roster to 40.
Right-handed pitchers Luke Farrell, Cory Mazzoni, Alec Mills, and Jen-Ho Tseng; left-handed pitchers Dario Alvarez and Rob Zastryzny; outfielder Jacob Hannemann; and infielders David Bote and Chesny Young were the cut players, who’ll now head over to minor league Spring Training to get ready for their seasons ahead.
At the open of camp, only Alvarez among that group had a chance to make the big league team without injury, but, with a bullpen that already features three lefties (Mike Montgomery, Justin Wilson, Brian Duensing), his chances of being that 8th reliever were really slim. He’s got a heckuva slider, though, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him at some point this year.
The other pitchers are all among the Cubs’ upper-level starting and relieving depth, each of whom could be shuffled up and down as necessary. On a double-header day or a spot-starter day, it’s easy to see Tseng, in particular, getting a big league start, as he did late last year.
Bote has emerged as a legitimate big league utility prospect, so he’ll be a guy to watch in the first half.