What was perceived as a luxury late in 2016 may become a necessity as the Cubs prepare to defend their World Series title.
The late-winner acquisitions of pitchers Brett Anderson, Eddie Butler and Alec Mills serve as a strong indicator that the Cubs could opt for a six-man rotation sooner this season than last.
"You go into the season with five," pitching coach Chris Bosio said Sunday morning at the Cubs training facility. "We had the luxury of going to a sixth man because we were trying to piece some things together for the playoffs and give some guys some rest. But just like last year and the previous year, we’re going to have 12 to 13 starters starting in spring training.
"Those guys will be piggybacking each other. This is an opportunity to rest these guys because camp is starting so early because of the World Baseball Classic, so we’ll make sure we monitor everything. Health is of utmost importance to me. We’ll make sure these guys are healthy leaving camp. So we’ll get their feedback and play it day by day."
After rigorous playoff runs the last two years, preserving the arms of their top starters will be a priority for the Cubs.
Anderson will challenge fellow left-hander Mike Montgomery for the fifth spot in the rotation. Montgomery, 27, provided plenty of promise by posting a 3.28 ERA in seven starts as the sixth starter in late August and early September while giving an extended break to Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey. But Montgomery’s starting experience is dwarfed by that of Anderson, 29, who has started 115 games over an eight-year major-league career.
Anderson’s health could be one of the biggest spring storylines for a team with very few roster battles.
"He’s said he’s thrown three bullpens," Bosio said. "I’ve seen him throw a couple times. The biggest thing with him is just to keep him healthy."
Brett Anderson Jae C. Hong / AP
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brett Anderson throws against the Colorado Rockies during a game on Sept. 22, 2016, in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brett Anderson throws against the Colorado Rockies during a game on Sept. 22, 2016, in Los Angeles.
(Jae C. Hong / AP)
The Cubs have yet to reveal a detailed spring script for their starters, but the structure of Anderson’s contract — with includes a $3.5 million base salary with incentives based on starts that could bring the total value to $10 million — suggest he’ll be compensated handsomely if he’s injury-free and effective.
Anderson, a second-round pick of the Diamondbacks in 2006, started 30 games and posted 11 wins during his rookie season in 2009, and he made 31 starts and won 10 games in 2015 with the Dodgers.
But an array of injuries has limited him to no more than eight starts in four of the last five seasons. Thus, the Cubs have structured his contract based on incentives for games started.
Anderson made only three starts last season because of a bulging disk in his back that caused him to make his eighth trip to the disabled list in eight seasons. Anderson underwent Tommy John surgery in 2011, and he missed four months in 2013 because of a stress fracture in his right foot.
"He’s battle-tested but injury-plagued," Bosio said. "So we got to do what we can, and the organization had had very good communication with all the new guys. Obviously Anderson, with the stuff he had, the swing-and-miss stuff, the weak contact, was very attractive. So we got to make sure we can keep him on the field."
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