The Cubs just made a couple bullpen moves, and they’ve shuffled a ton of arms lately, so I thought it would be worth a quick re-set of where things stand now, and where they’ll be in a few days:
Craig Kimbrel
Steve Cishek
Brandon Kintzler
Kyle Ryan
Derek Holland
Brad Brach
Tyler Chatwood
Rowan Wick
Duane Underwood
Underwood is coming up tonight for Pedro Strop, who hits the IL (cause TBA). Then, Underwood likely goes down tomorrow to accommodate newly-added righty David Phelps.
Now here is where things get really crazy. That’s already a nine-man bullpen if you’re counting Chatwood in the pan, rather than the rotation … which you should, because Cole Hamels returns this weekend. That means, in all likelihood, one of these guys is going to have to go come this weekend. Wick has options, as does Ryan, though you’d hate to see them sent down. The new guy, Phelps, won’t go out. So unless someone like Brach is getting dumped or Chatwood gets traded, you’re banking on an injury or something crazy happening.
Oh, and also … what if the Cubs trade to add another reliever? I tend to doubt it at this point, but it’s not impossible.