(670 The Score) As the Cubs’ quiet offseason continues, pitching coach Tommy Hottovy’s wish list has remained the same.
“I’ve got this wish list – I think we all do – of guys that we’d like,” Hottovy said on the Mully & Haugh Show on Wednesday morning. “And I think the big thing for me is seeing how last year played out, we need to solidify, in my mind, that middle of the bullpen. We can’t rely on three guys, four guys all season long. I know we’ve got some really, really young guys coming up and guys that are ready to step up and have worked their tails off this offseason to continue to grow and get better. So being able to piece some pieces together there to help bridge the gap to those young guys with some veteran presence out there (would be helpful).
“Solidifying the bullpen, for me, is always key. Always, you can’t have enough starting pitching. Being able to add another starting pitcher gives you flexibility to do things with some of those kind of swing guys who you want to start but also have weapons out of the bullpen. So that could solve some of those issues as well. So on the pitching side for me, I feel like a starter and two bullpen pieces are probably kind of where my wish list would be.”
The Cubs have been the least active team in MLB this offseason. As of Wednesday morning, they’re the only team in the league that hasn’t signed a free agent to a major league deal or traded for a player on a major league deal this offseason. After the surprising hiring of new manager Craig Counsell, the extent of the Cubs’ activity has been the addition of players on minor league contracts.