Today we look at the Cubs\u2019 younger right-handed swingman.<\/p>\n
The Cubs have restocked the bullpen and added a starter. So far, we\u2019ve covered the starting five and the entire batting\/fielding group (as it stands). We\u2019ll look at the additional starter candidates and the bullpen in alphabetical order, which means that the roster will consist of Assad, Brown, Harvey, Hodge, Hollowell, Little, Martin, Maton, Milner, Neely, Palencia, Ray, Roberts, Rolison, Thielbar, Webb, Wicks. We\u2019ll skip Miller and Steele until they are activated.<\/p>\n
Javier Eduardo Assad<\/a> was born July 30, 1997 in Tijuana, Mexico. He\u2019s 18-12 lifetime, 3.43 ERA in 78 games, 54 of which were starts, over a four-year period. When he isn\u2019t starting, he\u2019s a long reliever. He\u2019s fine in either role \u2014 I don\u2019t think he gets enough respect, honestly. He started 29 games in 2024, his best overall and most complete season, and then got hurt, suffering a Grade 2 left oblique strain in Spring Training which bit him twice, aborting a first comeback attempt.<\/p>\n He seems fine now, is playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, and is said to be focused on his health<\/a>.<\/p>\n His health willing, Assad will probably make the cut in the spring and travel north. He\u2019s more or less on a plain with Colin Rea as a swingman, and there\u2019s no reason not to keep both unless they lay eggs in Mesa.<\/p>\n