Cubs cut five pitchers

The Cubs trimmed their relief corps and dropped their Spring Training roster to 39 when they cut five pitchers today.

The only player that was cut that had a shot at making the roster was RHP James Norwood, but after getting roughed up in the Spring with a 6.75 ERA in six appearances with six strikeouts to four walks, he was optioned to AAA.

Norwood has always had good stuff with a fastball that averaged 96.3 MPH, but he has struggled to throw strikes consistently including eight walks in nine and a third innings pitched at the big league level last year. He will most likely see big league action at some point in the season, but as of now he will try and throw strikes consistently out of the Iowa bullpen.

Danny Hultzen was a nice story for the Cubs last season after finally making his major league debut eight years after he was drafted due to his injury history. He responded well by not allowing a run in six appearances. The 30-year old lefty will most likely try to build a case for the big league bullpen in Iowa and very well could play a role at the MLB level this year.

RHP Ben Taylor and his beautiful mustache was brought in on a minor league deal and although he pitched well in his four Spring appearances with a 2.25 ERA and five strikeouts in four innings, he was never considered a serious threat to make the big league roster. The 27-year does have some big league experience with a 5.40 ERA in 20 games in parts of two seasons with the Red Sox and Indians. He could be a good depth piece, but pitchers like him are generally a dime a dozen.

Dakota Mekkes was at one point considered the Cubs best relief prospect, but his stock has taken a hit after a rough season in the hitter-inflated PCL. He didn't help his case in Spring Training either as he allowed five earned runs in five and a third innings with eight strikeouts to six walks. His issue with walks has always been known as he walked 34 in 49.1 innings for Iowa, he still has some work to do but he can absolutely be an asset for the big league bullpen if he can throw more strikes.

LHP Wyatt Short was never serious threat to win a spot on the big league roster, but it was nice to see him get some exposure to Cubs fans. He pitched well in the Spring allowing just two runs in six innings but walked four while striking out just three. He had an excellent season out of the Tennessee bullpen last year so it's possible he could open the season for Iowa, but that remains to be seen.