Healthy All-Star Pitcher Could Offer Cubs Depth

The Chicago Cubs will head to spring training this week in Mesa, Ariz., with several options for their starting rotation. But another has presented itself in the form of Jake Odorizzi.

MLB Network reported on Monday that Odorizzi, who missed all of last season due to an injury and surgery, is healthy and throwing without restrictions as the rest of baseball heads to Arizona and Florida for spring training. He has already thrown off a mound in front of scouts for up to 12 teams and is looking for a Major League deal.

The report didn’t link particular teams to Odorizzi. But the fact that the former All-Star pitcher is healthy is notable in that he would be depth for a starting rotation.

The question is whether he would be a good fit for the Cubs?

Justin Steele, who finished in the Top 5 of Cy Young voting last season, headlines the rotation. Rookie Shota Imanaga, who signed a free-agent deal with the Cubs out of Japan, could be the No. 2 starter.

After that the Cubs have Kyle Hendricks, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks and Drew Smyly. That doesn’t account for Cade Horton, one of the Cubs’ top prospects, who could be ready for the Majors sometime this season.

Odorizzi is a well-traveled starter who missed all of last season when he had an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right shoulder last April. At the time he was with the Texas Rangers, and it was hoped he would contribute to their rotation. He spent the entire season on the Rangers’ injured list as the franchise won its first World Series.

Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1st round of the 2008 MLB Draft, Odorizzi has 10 years of MLB experience since his debut in 2012 with the Kansas City Royals. He followed that with stints with Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Houston and Atlanta.

He made his only All-Star Game appearance in 2019 with Minnesota, where he had a career-high 15 wins. He’s 74-69 for his career with a 3.99 ERA.

Before his shoulder surgery he proved to be durable, making 30 or more starts in four different seasons.