Chicago Cubs rotation comes into focus with homegrown flair as Jordan Wicks and Javier Assad make opening-day roster

MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs’ efforts to develop more homegrown pitching is strongly reflected in the rotation they are using to start the season.

Manager Craig Counsell announced Thursday that left-hander Jordan Wicks and right-hander Javier Assad will be part of the opening-day rotation. The starting group is comprised of three homegrown starters: left-hander Justin Steele (fifth-round pick, 2014), who gets the opening-day nod Thursday, Wicks (first round, 2021) and Assad (international amateur free agent, 2015). An argument can be made for Kyle Hendricks to be considered one, too, after the Cubs acquired him in a trade one year after the Texas Rangers drafted him.

“We obviously had a dry spell in that regard and we had to make make some changes,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Thursday. “Both scouting and player development have done a really nice job with making those adjustments. You have to have that in today’s game. It’s hard to rely on the free agent market for enough pitching. It’s really expensive and it’s usually older. Hopefully we have some arms that can help us.”

Hoyer said Assad emerged as the best choice for the rotation, in part because they wanted left-hander Drew Smyly settle into a relief role. The Cubs felt it made more sense to have Smyly transition to the bullpen now instead of bouncing him from the rotation at some point, likely for Jameson Taillon when he would be ready to come off the injured list.

“He’s really proved himself very valuable and it’s nice to have some depth, knock on wood,” Hoyer said of Assad. “I think it’s important with our young players to give them opportunities and (Wicks) has earned that opportunity and hopefully we can see what we saw from him at the end of last year.”

Counsell informed Wicks a few days ago he would be part of the rotation.

“It’s not to be mistaken: this isn’t the final goal. It’s a step in the process,” Wicks said Thursday. “So while it is a big honor to be a part of an opening-day roster — it’s something I don’t take lightly — I know that the work’s not done here.”

Smyly initially had been slated to start Thursday’s Cactus League game against the Rockies but instead pitched two innings in relief. Counsell expects Smyly to make starts at some point and touted his willingness to do whatever the Cubs need from him, a mindset the manager said is important to success. Smyly thrived out of the bullpen last season, posting a 2.51 ERA with 13 walks and 39 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings (18 games).

Smyly believes a more attacking mentality he can employ out of the pen will help him pitch to his strengths.

“It is something that I’m honestly pretty excited about,” Smyly said. “I think maybe right now my game plays better as a reliever. I don’t think it’s something where I’m sad I’m not starting. I started 10 years in this league and I don’t think I’m closing the door on that. I feel like this is an opportunity to go out and working with Counsell I can provide a lot of value in the bullpen.”

Although right-hander Hayden Wesneski won’t be part of the rotation to open the season, he is still in the mix for the bullpen. If not, he will be at Triple-A Iowa ready to help the Cubs in either capacity. The Cubs expect their starting pitching depth to be a strength, with Hoyer stating the goal is to be “nimble” if they need a spot start or to give someone extra days of rest.

“We’re happy we can do that,” Hoyer said. “It’s a long season. The longer I do this I realize we’re in a six-month marathon playing almost every day. The more good arms you can have in the bullpen, the more for the rotation the better, especially in a world where you’re not going to get 900 innings out of your starters. You’re going to have to rely on a lot of guys and hopefully we’ve built up the depth to do that.”

With Wicks, Assad and Smyly’s roles established, the pitching staff is starting to take shape ahead of camp breaking Tuesday. Counsell has spoken highly of lefty reliever Luke Little all spring, and with Smyly in the bullpen, Counsell said, “I don’t know that Drew affects our thought process to carry another lefty.”

In the coming days, the Cubs will have to make decisions on nonroster invitees who have opt-outs, which include reliever Carl Edwards Jr. and first basemen Garrett Cooper and Dom Smith. They will have one 40-man roster spot open when Caleb Kilian goes on the 60-day injured list. Hard decisions await, however, if the Cubs decide they want to add more than one NRI.