Zac Rosscup

Rosscup's 2017 campaign was quite the roller coaster. He began the year in the Cubs' organization, but he was placed on waivers in June despite posting a 2.60 ERA and 39:8 K:BB at Triple-A. This stat line caught the Rockies' eye and they plucked him off waivers. He wound up shuttling between the majors and minors a few times over the course of the summer, with the results staying mostly the same. Although his final ERA with the Rockies sat at an unspectacular 5.14 mark, he allowed runs in just two of his nine outings. The southpaw also continued missing bats, producing a 10:0 K:BB in seven innings for Colorado. That said, Mike Dunn's presence in the Rockies' bullpen limits Rosscup's upside in terms of role, and the home park gives him a lot of downside in terms of performance.

Rosscup spent much of 2016 sidelined with a shoulder injury. After showing promise in the Cubs' bullpen during 2015, Rosscup didn't pitch in spring training and underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery in May that kept him on the disabled list for the rest of the season. However, the 28-year-old is expected to be fully healthy by 2017 spring training. Prior to getting hurt in 2016, Rosscup showed flashes in an up-and-down year for the Cubs two seasons ago. In 2015, Rosscup posted a 4.39 ERA in 33 appearances. He also turned in an encouraging 9.79 strikeouts per nine innings. Additionally, Rosscup was effective as a lefty specialist, holding lefties to a .154 batting average while righties hit .303. Assuming Rosscup is able regain the same stuff he had prior to having shoulder surgery, the left-hander will have a good chance to challenge for a spot as lefty-specialist in Chicago's bullpen next season.

Rosscup always seems to be around, ready to receive the call if the Cubs need him. He was up and down from Triple-A Iowa a few times last year and also missed a couple of months with a shoulder injury. The strikeout rate has always been good - just a hair under 11 per nine innings in his big-league career - but walks and home runs have been a problem for him, and last year was no exception, as he walked 13 and gave up five home runs in just 26.2 innings. His minor league numbers (32:6 K:BB and one home run in 15.2 innings last year) give a glimpse of the kind of pitcher he could become if he puts it all together, but so far big-league success has eluded him. Expect him to be on the Iowa-to-Chicago shuttle again this year.

First the good news: Rosscup struck out 21 in 13.1 innings for the Cubs last year and has consistently had high strikeout rates during his time in the minors. The bad news, of course, is that he walks way too many hitters to be a reliable reliever, as he's walked 19 in 20 big-league innings. Rosscup was a bit unlucky last year (.420 BABIP and 50% strand rate), but it's easy to see what kind of disaster comes when a little bad luck accompanies a bad walk rate. The 26-year-old lefty probably will be back at Triple-A Iowa in 2015 until he improves his control.