Phew!

The Cubs escaped another potential Kevin Gregg situation when Matt Capps signed with the Nationals last night.  However, the rumblings out there are that the Cubs are still looking for some veteran bullpen help.  Let's take a look at what we've currently got in the pen and what help might be available (and attractive) at this point.

Here are the bullpen pitchers on the 40 man roster:

• C. Marmol (CL)
• J. Grabow
• A. Guzman
• S. Marshall
• T. Gorzelanny
• D. Patton
• J. Samardzija
• M. Atkins
• J. Berg
• E. Caridad
• R. Dolis
• J. Gaub
• J. Gray
• M. Mateo
• M. Parisi
• B. Parker
• J. Stevens

The back end of the pen at this point is likely to be Marmol, Grabow and Guzman.  One of Marshall and Gorzelanny will be the LOOGY.  So...that's four spots out of seven. There are some very good arms in the rest of the list to fill out those three open spots, but very little experience. Caridad did a great job at the end of last year, posting a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 innings with a 17/3 K/BB ratio.  He probably has the inside track on one of those three spots.  Nobody else on the list has impressed at the major league level enough to be considered to be in the lead heading into camp.

It's understandable why Hendry and Lou are nervous about the pen and want to add one more "reliable" arm. I'm glad it wasn't Matt Capps, but who else is left? Here is ESPN's free agent tracker to see who is left on the market.  From that list there is only one name that is really intriguing to me.

I'd go after is Kiko Calero. Not only did Calero have an outstanding 2009 season, but he has been a very solid reliever throughout his career. Injuries have been the only thing that ever held him down, but he was fully healthy last year.  Across his career, he's been a guy that can come in and get out of tough situations via the strikeout, as he's managed 324 in only 302.2 innings pitched.  He's also got reasonable control for a power reliever, with only 126 walks to those 324 strikeouts.  He's also allowed only 24 HR in those 300+ innings.  Since he does not have a closer label on him and has an injury history, I'm hoping he could be signed to a reasonable deal.

There are also a few guys on the list that are interesting rehab targets.  Of those, I like one particular guy.  Jose Arredondo was non-tendered by the Angels after needing surgery in 2009.  But he's a high upside arm that is still just 25. He pitched injured in 2009 and his stats showed it, but he has been very strong through his young career and is a very high-upside reliever that could be on the team for years to come.

If the Cubs want to get another lefty for the pen, there are a couple of former Cubs on the market in Ron Mahay and Will Ohman.  Mahay has been a reliable option in the pen for years now and might not be a bad pickup if he'd take a one year deal at a reasonable price.  That would free up Marshall / Gorzelanny to be the long man or even have both in the rotation if necessary.