Chicago Cubs weigh unconventional options for last bullpen spot—including Cabrera, Steele, Wiggins

The Chicago Cubs have worked themselves into an excellent spot after this latest extended winning streak. They are now 6.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres, owning the top Wild Card spot in the National League.

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As of Wednesday evening, they’ve also moved to just 3 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central Division after a 16-8 run since the All-Star break and a 9-2 record over their last eleven games.

So, with all that success, thoughts of the postseason—and the run to the postseason—are obviously at the forefront of many baseball minds.

One of the more intriguing situations facing Chicago has to do with their bullpen.

Bullpen favorites are rehabbing

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The team has a lot of horses coming back to the figurative stable this month and the next and that creates a good degree of uncertainty when it comes to the last one or two bullpen spots. It also gives them some interesting options for September 1 and beyond when rosters expand and there’s one more space open for a pitcher.

Hoby Milner is working through a rehab assignment in Iowa and could be back in the big league bullpen shortly. Closer Daniel Palencia is also in a Triple-A rehab stint, but struggling with control. Still, the hope is that he’ll be back in Chicago shortly as well.

Then, things get more theoretical and, arguably, more interesting as well.

Options galore

A recent report says that the returning Edward Cabrera will be heading into a late-inning relief role rather than back into the bullpen upon his return from a minor league rehab assignment.

Shelby Miller, who was signed to a 2-year deal in the offseason with the understanding that he’d spend the first year of the contract rehabbing from last Fall’s elbow surgery, is way ahead of scheduled and also having some rehab outings. He’s now expected to be ready for a big league return sometime in September.

Justin Steele suffered a setback in his own recovery from elbow surgery last year and has been scratched from the possibility of a return to the rotation this season. However, the possibility of him being used from the bullpen has been floated out to the public several times already. He’s currently throwing bullpen sessions

Ben Brown was having a breakthrough year up until his recurring neck problem popped up and forced him on the shelf. He’s also throwing bullpen sessions right now and is reportedly pain-free. A September return in a limited bullpen role is now a distinct possibility.

The oft-injured Hunter Harvey, who was signed to a one-year, $6 million contract in the offseason is in a throwing program at the Cubs’ camp in Arizona and could be available for a September return.

Then, maybe most intriguing of all, is the team’s top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins. The 24-year-old has struggled with injury and inconsistency all season, but there are some reports that the team may explore using him in a short relief role, at least temporarily. In Tuesday’s Field of Dreams game, he made a one-inning relief appearance for the Iowa Cubs and looked way better and more in control than he has as a starter this season.

All in all, the Cubs have lots of options, but, as of right now, no absolute urgency to get any of these pitchers into a prominent spot. That’s a pretty good position to be in.

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