Chicago Cubs seeking more pitching depth – MLB News
With the arrival of Winter Meetings, scheduled for Monday to Thursday, the Chicago Cubs’ focus apparently seems to be acquiring more pitchers. A flurry of activity is expected in the meetings, but it is the Cubs need to add more depth that will garner more attention.
“We’re constantly on the lookout for more depth,” said Jed Hoyer – the Cubs' general manager. “If you think you have enough pitching, you’re always wrong.”
Although the Cubs recently acquired free agent pitchers Scott Baker and Scott Feldman (both to one-year contract), injuries have remained an area of concern for the team.
Take for example the fact that Feldman had missed games in the first half of the past season due to knee surgery. Scott Baker was out of the whole season this year due to Tommy John surgery.
Vulnerability to fitness issues for the pitchers of their calibre is indeed a matter of concern for the Cubs. That too at a time when the Cubs are essentially in a re-building phase, seeking a team that lays a solid foundation.
With this in focus, injuries being a source of worry, the Cubs' general manager makes a case to seek more depth.
“We do have some guys who are coming off injuries that are in our rotation, so we’re going to be active seeking depth,” said Jed Hoyer.
Jed Hoyer had some other observations to make.
“I don’t think we’re in a position where we have enough talent to say any one player on the roster is untouchable,” Hoyer said. “We certainly have several players that we would have a hard time parting with. It would take a heck of a package to make it happen.”
The rotation is complete at the moment, having Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija, Travis Wood, Scott Feldman and Scott Baker in them. The past season was not particularly impressive when it came to their starters.
In the upcoming season, though, the aforementioned five starters are expected to alter the outlook for the Cubs. With more depth that the Cubs have been seeking, the club hopes things will improve.
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