Doesn't Sound Like The Cubs Will Lean On Young Lefties To Save Bullpen In 2020

The Cubs' bullpen doesn't need as much saving as we thought after the first couple weeks of the 2020 season, but it would still be great to at least get one more reliever in the mix who David Ross could trust to get out left-handed hitters.

That's just one of the needs the Cubs are looking to address as we approach the Aug. 31, trade deadline, but what about those young lefties training in South Bend?

The Cubs drafted Burl Carraway back in June with their second round pick and the consensus seemed to be that the hard-throwing lefty would be the first in the 2020 class to reach the majors. Some experts even thought Carraway could make his MLB debut this season.

In 2019, Brailyn Marquez had a breakout season that shot him up prospect rankings, as the lefty had a 3.13 ERA in 22 starts in two minor league levels. However, at 21-years-old, Marquez has only thrown 26.1 above low A-Ball, coming in five impressive starts with Myrtle Beach to end last season.

Carraway, 21, threw a total of 51.1 innings in three seasons at Dallas Baptist, including just 9.1 innings this year before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down college sports.

Are Marquez, who's come up as a starting pitcher, or Carraway, who doesn't have much experience under is belt, legitimate options for the 2020 bullpen? It doesn't sound like either of them are.

Via Patrick Mooney in The Athletic.

The Cubs do not view Brailyn Marquez and Burl Carraway as realistic options to help the major-league team this season. Marquez is 21 years old and has never pitched above the A-ball level. Carraway is 21 years old and threw 51 1/3 innings across three seasons at Dallas Baptist University before getting drafted two months ago. The Cubs have been patient with those talented lefties at the South Bend training site, focusing on player development and their long-term growth as pitchers instead of letting them loose.

Sorry to burst your bubble Cubs fans, seems like we'll have to wait until at least 2021 to see one of these two electric left-handers.

I can't really blame the Cubs for not wanting to let one of these guys loose this year because who knows just how much each guy has been affected by the circumstances of 2020. You had the start back in spring then sudden stop with the coronavirus and then a quick ramp up period once again in July. We've seen so many pitching injuries, so I do see how that could definitely be a factor into not rushing either of them.

It seems like a simple solution because the Cubs desperately need a shutdown lefty and you don't have to trade anyone to get one if they go with Carraway or Marquez, but things aren't always as simple as we make them out to be.

This is definitely another case where not having a minor league season this year stinks. I'm sure guys are still developing and getting work in, but it's just not the same.