Chicago Cubs look for strengthening rotation and bullpen – MLB News
As the Major League Baseball clubs look and vie for the competition-oriented players to build up a stronger team for the upcoming season, Chicago Cubs' president of baseball operations Theo Epstein has said that the club has to be creative to make the most use of free agency.
"We'll have to be creative," said Theo Epstein. The statement came at a time when as the free-agent shopping season will be in full swing, prompting the teams to look for the most competent and capable players out there.
The first major boost to the Cubs otherwise poor season came on Tuesday, October 30, with Darwin Barney winning National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award as top defensive second baseman. On the other hand, Cubs are looking to make other necessary adjustments.
Rotation, it goes without saying, will constitute the major focus of the club. With the likes of Paul Maholm Reed Johnson traded, the Cubs have to bring in the youngsters to fill the spot. They do not want to see any vacuum be created in the conspicuous absence of experienced players.
One of the pitchers that was being touted as the club’s potentially dominating starters was Arodys Vizacino. He underwent Tommy John surgery this year and is expected to make his return, albeit with innings limit.
"We'll build the [2013] rotation without him -- and then we hope that there will be a time that he forces his way into the rotation," Epstein said of Vizcaino.
Rotation and bullpen will remain the focus of the Chicago Cubs. With pitchers required to be in line with Jeff Samardzija, Matt Garza and Travis Wood, the Cubs are being cautious with the pick given the constraints they have.
First and foremost, in the free-agent shopping season, there will not be much of options available to the club.
"I've always believed -- and I still believe -- the dollars you spend in Major League free agency provide the lowest return on investment of any dollars we spend in baseball operations," Epstein said. "You don't set out looking to spend all your money on free agents. It's a bit of a fool's errand.”
It will be interesting to see how the Cubs go about it at a time when other teams in the National League Central have had their fair share of prominent offensive and defensive players, awaiting the 2013 Major League Baseball season to unleash aggressive play.
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