Cubs turn to journeyman pitcher Allen Webster to address struggling bullpen

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After a disastrous first week from their bullpen, the Cubs are shaking things up.

Saturday, the team demoted struggling reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to Triple-A Iowa. In his place, the team will promote 29-year-old right-hander Allen Webster: 

At 1-6, the Cubs are off to their worst start under manager Joe Maddon and worst start since going 0-14 in 1997, with the bullpen being at least partially responsible for the team’s struggles. In 26 1/3 innings, Cubs relievers have walked 21 batters (tied for worst in MLB) and have an 8.54 ERA (second-worst in MLB).

Rather than seeking external help, general manager Jed Hoyer said Thursday that the Cubs’ focus is on getting their own relievers right. While one reliever alone won’t completely solve the team’s bullpen problems, giving Webster a look is worth a shot.

Webster is a 29-year-old journeyman who has pitched in parts of 11 minor league seasons, four MLB seasons and one season in Korea. It’s worth noting that he has made just 31 MLB appearances (23 starts), however. He made three appearances with the Cubs last season, allowing two runs in three innings.

Lack of big-league experience aside, Webster is an intriguing addition in that he instantly would become one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the Cubs’ bullpen. From 2013-15, his four-seam fastball averaged 94.9 mph, 92.8 mph and 92.1 mph, respectively, in MLB games. It averaged 95.3 mph in Chicago last year.

Webster has struggled with control at times in his career, which makes his promotion somewhat ironic when considering how the Cubs’ bullpen has fared thus far. He holds a 4.9 BB/9 in his MLB career and a slightly better 3.5 BB/9 in 197 career minor league games.

Spring training numbers don’t predict regular season outcomes, but Webster’s control is still noteworthy. In nine games (12 innings), he struck out 11 batters compared to just three walks. He also finished with a 1.50 ERA and was one of the last players in camp cut.

Be that as it may, Webster’s stay with the Cubs could be brief, depending on the statuses of offseason additions Tony Barnette and Xavier Cedeño. Barnette has not pitched since March 3 due to shoulder soreness while Cedeño is dealing with a wrist injury.

Because Webster is out of options, the only way the Cubs could send him back down to the minor leagues would be if they designate him for assignment and it would be unlikely he'd pass through waivers without being claimed.

No matter what happens, it was clear the Cubs needed to try something different with their bullpen. Only time will tell if the group can turn things around for the better.

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