Chicago Cubs' Roster Decisions Mainly Based on "Flexibility"

Now, when I use the term "flexibility," I am not referring to pitchers who can pitch both long and short relief, or can either start or relieve. Yes, that is a type of flexibility, but not the definition the Cubs are using to make decisions on the final roster.

Specifically, it is more about contract options here. For example, as bad as Jeff Samardzija is at baseball, he will find a roster spot mainly because he is out of options.

Likewise, Carlos Silva is a lock for the fifth spot in the rotation, because what else are the Cubs going to do with the fat man? As bad a starter as he is, Silva's been even worse as a relief pitcher. Oh, and there is also that not-so-small issue of money owed to the man.

What the Cubs should do and will do are two distinctly different things. They should release Silva and eat the millions of dollars remaining on his contract. The Mets are doing this, and it's about time for GM Jim Hendry to do the same.

Unfortunately, that is not likely, for it would require Hendry to admit his mistake, something he is not fond of doing in front of a new owner who has inexplicably taken a shine to Hendry.

Look, Silva was acquired to save face in the first place. Rather than simply curing themselves of the cancer known as Milton Bradley by releasing him, they traded him for a stiff. Saving face seems to be what this Cubs regime is all about.

Sure, Silva won his first eight decisions in 2010, which only proves the old adage that even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then. Meanwhile, that short sample aside, Silva has been a terrible pitcher for a long time.

Samardzija, too, is not good at throwing a baseball. He might be better at catching a football, but we won't know if he still has a future in the NFL until later, because it's apparent he's going north with the Cubs.

Granted, it's not as if the bullpen is pitching lights-out this spring anyway. But I'll bet that if "The Shark" still had minor league options available, the Cubs would send him to Iowa. Ah, but they don't have that flexibility.

Likewise, Andrew Cashner will not be pitching every fifth day for the team, in part because he doesn't look ready, but in large part because the Cubs have flexibility with Cashner.

Flexibility—there's that word again.    

Similarly, one must wonder whether the Cubs will keep Blake DeWitt because they can send Darwin Barney back to the minors. That will be an interesting decision, for it seems that Mike Quade would rather go with Barney.

By the way, isn't it just like the Cubs, with their pitiful history, to have a player named "Barney"? If they add BJ and Baby Bop, I swear I'm going to pledge allegiance to another team!

The Cubs will tell you that these are "baseball decisions." But we know better than that.