Chicago Cubs recapsChicago Cubs minor leaguesChicago Cubs essaysChicago Cubs game threadsWrigley Field renovationsFull archiveLibrary Bleed Cubbie Blue Community GuidelinesCurrent time in ChicagoBCB Specials & Site InfoWinter 2019 music threadsCubs StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Cubs newsYahoo Cubs team pageYahoo Cubs reportYahoo Cubs depth chartYahoo Cubs transactionsYahoo Cubs photosOdds Shop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub Cubs essaysChicago Cubs spring trainingWho will be in the Cubs’ bullpen on Opening Day?New http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-max-muncy-jersey ,109commentsThis is not as easy as you might think.CSTShareTweetShareShareWho will be in the Cubs’ bullpen on Opening Day?The Cubs’ bullpen at Wrigley FieldAl YellonThe Cubs seemed to have a fairly set bullpen before this offseason began. It was filled with veteran pitchers, some of whom had tough years in 2018, but seemed primed for a rebound in 2019.And then Theo Epstein went out and signed a whole passel of pitchers with big-league experience who will compete for jobs in the bullpen.At MLB.com Tuesday, this article was posted with reports on all 30 teams and “battles” they’d have for positions during spring training. The Cubs’ battle was listed as “bullpen,” and here’s what reporter Jordan Bastian wrote:I count 10 names there for eight bullpen spots, and to those you can add these two, who had big-league experience for the Cubs last year: Dillon Maples and Randy Rosario.Something’s gotta give, obviously. I concur with Bastian’s five “sure things,” and we might add Duensing and Kintzler to that list Ross Stripling Jersey , only because both have significant big-league experience and $8.5 million worth of contract between them. On the other hand, Theo Epstein didn’t sign Barnette and Cedeno, both of whom also have significant big-league experience, to not have them in the pen when the season begins.It turns out, according to AZ Phil at The Cub Reporter, that Barnette has options remaining. A note on that site says:Article XIX-A refers to the fact that Barnette, even though he went through the MLB draft and was in the Diamondbacks’ system for four years, is considered an “international player” since he was signed by the Rangers in 2016 after he played six years in Japan’s NPB. Now, would Barnette refuse such an assignment? Impossible to tell at this point.It’s possible http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-max-muncy-jersey , I suppose, that the Cubs will let Duensing and Kintzler go at the end of spring training if they don’t show well. Or, if they do show well, it’s possible they could be traded.Regarding Chatwood, I suppose we simply don’t know what will happen with him. He simply can’t be on the 25-man roster if he’s going to pitch the way he did in 2018. On the other hand, maybe he’s fixed things. He does have good stuff and was a reasonably effective pitcher with the Rockies. Perhaps if he has a good spring, the Cubs can deal him somewhere. They’d likely have to eat some of the money, but that’s a better outcome than eating all of the $25 million they owe him.So while the Cubs’ starting rotation and position-player lineup seem set, pay close attention to all of these relievers (not to mention the other 23 pitchers in camp) and how they are used during spring games. There might be more than one the Cubs are putting on display for scouts. NEW YORK (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals first-round draft pick Griffin Roberts has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for a drug of abuse.Major League Baseball announced the ban Friday.Roberts is a right-handed reliever who was selected 43rd overall from Wake Forest this year. He pitched for Class A Palm Beach after signing for $1 Joc Pederson Jersey ,664,200 and had been expected to move quickly through the minor leagues.This was Roberts’ second violation for a drug of abuse, and he will not be paid during the suspension.Four other minor leaguers were also suspended for 50 games Friday: Red Sox pitcher Francisco Lopez-Soto, Yankees pitcher Alex Mauricio, Reds catcher Hunter Oliver and Athletics pitcher Dallas Woolfolk. Lopez-Soto and Mauricio were banned for drugs of abuse, and Oliver and Woolfolk tested positive for the stimulant Amphetamine. None of those players has played beyond Class A.