As the Cubs embark on a new campaign with a new manager (Craig Counsell) at the helm, we answer 24 of the most pressing questions for the 2024 season.

Each spring, one of the most interesting storylines is how a team’s bullpen is coming together.

No bullpen is exactly the same from year to year, as there is so much volatility among relievers. Between free agents, young arms and non-roster invites, the Cubs have a bunch of new faces that will join the incumbents at some point in the 2024 bullpen.

One of the points Craig Counsell and Jed Hoyer have driven home this spring is the ever-changing nature of the roster. How the Cubs look on Opening Day is not going to be how they end the season and it very well may not be how the roster looks on April 15 or June 2.

Opening Day is just 1 game out of 162. The Cubs want to have depth and options on their pitching staff throughout the season, which means the bullpen will be in flux.

The Cubs bullpen ranked 13th in the majors bullpen ERA last season (3.85) and led the National League in strikeouts per 9 innings (9.9).

But the group was hit with injuries – particularly down the stretch – and then-manager David Ross was left with very few options in the circle of trust as the team was making a push for the playoffs in September.

With a little over a week left in spring camp, here’s how the Cubs bullpen is shaping up for the 2024 season:

The locks

Adbert Alzolay
Héctor Neris
Julian Merryweather
Mark Leiter Jr.

This quartet will be the high-leverage group, at least to start the season.

Last year, the Cubs had questions about Alzolay, Leiter and Merryweather but the trio emerged as late-inning stalwarts.

Leiter was designated for assignment between the 2022 and 2023 seasons but returned to the Cubs on a minor-league deal with an invite to camp and earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. He was effective against both righties and lefties last season working mostly in a setup role.

Merryweather has always had potential but the veteran right-hander struggled to stay healthy in his career. Last season was the first time he was able to put it all together for a full year and posted a 3.38 ERA, 17 holds and 2 saves while striking out 98 batters in 72 innings.

Julian Merryweather striking out the side in the 9th 💨 pic.twitter.com/zaXVu70SYt

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 16, 2024

In his first full season as a reliever, Alzolay grabbed hold of the closer’s role and turned in a strong season (2.67 ERA, 22 saves, 1.02 WHIP). He will once again be in the 9th-inning mix.

Neris is a valuable addition to the bullpen both for his leadership and on-field skillset. The 34-year-old carries a pedigree as a proven winner (15 postseason appearances including a World Series ring with the 2022 Astros) and has plenty of experience in a variety of roles (111 holds, 89 saves in his career).

The swingmen candidates

Drew Smyly
Hayden Wesneski
Javier Assad

The Cubs bullpen will feature at least 1 and maybe as many as 3 players who are currently being stretched out as starters.

Jordan Wicks looks ticketed for the rotation but with Jameson Taillon’s injury, there will be another starter spot available to begin the year. One of the above pitchers will likely fill that role and the others could wind up in the bullpen (it’s also possible Wesneski or Assad start the season in the Triple-A rotation).

The veteran Smyly started last year in the rotation but after some struggles, ended in the bullpen and performed well as a reliever (2.51 ERA, 1.22 WHIP).

Wesneski also began 2023 in the rotation but after some struggles, was sent down to the minors and worked mostly as a reliever when he returned to Chicago. His main issues are getting left-handed hitters out – they slashed .298/.369/.617 (.986 OPS) against him last season.

Assad was extremely valuable for the Cubs in a variety of roles last season with a 3.02 ERA in 10 starts and a 3.07 ERA in 22 relief appearances, working as mostly a long man but occasionally in short bursts out of the bullpen.

The likely options

José Cuas
Yency Almonte

Cuas was the only reliever the Cubs picked up at the trade deadline last year and he performed well in Chicago (3.04 ERA, 1 save, 6 holds). He represents a different look out of the bullpen with a sidearm delivery and had neutral splits last season (.770 OPS by lefties, .763 OPS by righties).

The Cubs acquired Almonte along with Michael Busch from the Dodgers in January. The veteran right-hander had a 5.06 ERA in 49 games in L.A. last year but was stellar in 2022 (1.02 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 1 save, 9 holds in 33 games).

An important factor: Cuas has 2 minor-league options remaining while Almonte does not have any. The Cubs will want pitchers they can shuttle between Triple-A and the majors to maintain fresh arms on the staff and as such, Cuas could find himself in that situation even if he continues to perform well out of the bullpen. The Cubs know there will be situations this season were players are optioned to the minors, not because of performance or skillset, but in order to protect players on their roster. 

The young arms

Luke Little
Daniel Palencia
Ben Brown
Cam Sanders
Ethan Roberts

The aforementioned roster crunch could mean Little and Palencia ride the shuttle between Iowa and Chicago this season. Both debuted last season and illustrated their tantalizing potential.

Palencia, 24, has a triple digits fastball and misses bats (10.5 K/9) but walks and consistency were an issue last season.

Little joined the bullpen down the stretch and did not allow a run in 7 outings while striking out 40% of the batters he faced. As the lone left-handed reliever on the 40-man roster, the 23-year-old will undoubtedly be in Chicago throughout the season, though it may not be on Opening Day.

Brown is a top prospect and is currently working as a starter but he does have some experience as a reliever throughout his career (26 games out of the bullpen). He has big-time strikeout stuff (12.6 K/9 in the minors last year) but like many young pitchers struggles with his control.

At some point this season, the Cubs could opt to bring Brown up and pitch as a reliever as he adjusts to MLB hitters.

Sanders and Roberts are not on the 40-man roster but could pitch their way into the mix in 2024. Sanders has dynamite stuff but major control problems (sense a theme?) while Roberts is recovering from Tommy John surgery. 

Roberts initially made the 2022 Opening Day bullpen but made only 9 appearances before injuries cost him most of that year and all of 2023.

Both Roberts and Sanders have been optioned to minor league camp, but could find their way up to the majors this season. 

The non-roster guys

Carl Edwards Jr.
Edwin Escobar
Brad Wieck
Richard Lovelady
Colten Brewer
Sam McWilliams

Edwards is a familiar name to fans as a part of the 2016 championship team and nearly 200 appearances in a Cubs uniform. He signed a minor-league deal over the winter and if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, the Cubs may lose him to another team.

Escobar and Lovelady are also minor-league signings who could factor into the equation as left-handed options at some point this season.

Brewer, 31, has 84 big-league appearances under his belt. McWilliams is 28 but has yet to reach the majors in his career.

The biggest question mark

Keegan Thompson

Thompson gets his own category because he’s a complete unknown. The righty was optioned to Triple-A Sunday during the latest round of roster cuts, adding another wrinkle into his status this season. 

The 29-year-old has been a weapon for the Cubs as a reliever over the past 3 seasons (2.73 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 109 strikeouts in 102.1 innings). He has also been in the rotation at times, including 17 starts in 2022.

“I think Keegan has proven he can get major league hitters out,” Counsell said. 

The big issue with Thompson has been health and availability. He has struggled to recover after outings in the bullpen, often needing multiple days after even short appearances. He also dealt with a back injury last year that cost him months. 

Thompson is best utilized as a long reliever out of the bullpen, where he can be a shutdown option for several innings at a time. But if he needs 3 or more days between appearances, that leaves the Cubs in a tight spot as the bullpen would be a man down on a regular basis.

“Those things matters because they end up affecting each other,” Counsell said. “That group is connected down there. Getting outs and covering each other really matters. The best way to do it is to get people out and that helps the next guy.”

He also struggled with his control last year, walking 19 batters in 28.2 innings.

It will be very interesting to see what becomes of Thompson and how the Cubs will utilize him in 2024 – if at all.

24 for ’24 series

What are the Cubs expecting from Kyle Hendricks in 2024 and beyond?
What role will Drew Smyly fill on the 2024 Cubs?
How will Jameson Taillon fare in Year 2 with Cubs?
How will Shota Imanaga handle the adjustment to MLB?
Who will DH for the Cubs?
Who is the Cubs’ fifth starter?
Will defense once again be the Cubs’ strength?
Can Seiya Suzuki pick up where he left off? 
What are the Cubs’ long-term plans at first base?
Have the Cubs done enough to address their left-handed hitting?
Will Justin Steele replicate his stellar 2023 season?
When will Pete Crow-Armstrong be up with the Cubs in Chicago?
Will Adbert Alzolay be Cubs’ closer again?
Who will hit leadoff?
How will Christopher Morel fare at third base?