Part 5/8:
With only eight bullpen spots available for the 26-man roster, the Cubs face tough decisions. Jordan Wicks, Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and Colin Ray are former starters vying for potential slots. Ben Brown, in particular, stands out with high strikeout potential despite some issues with hard contact conceded.
Javier Assad had a solid 2023 as a long reliever and may excel again if placed in a similar role. In contrast, Wicks has struggled and may find it hard to crack the roster without considerable improvement during spring training.
Colin Ray has experience and could serve as a flexible option within the bullpen or as an emergency starter, having shown resilience despite mediocre stats.