MESA, Ariz. – The Cubs envision Trevor Cahill becoming the Ben Zobrist in their bullpen – a job description so broad that he might wind up closing out games.
Zobrist’s name became synonymous with flexibility while playing for Joe Maddon’s Tampa Bay Rays, a super-utility guy valuable enough to make two All-Star teams.
Don’t pay much attention to the Cactus League numbers. The Cubs don’t have a closer controversy after Hector Rondon’s 30-save season. But if Rondon feels tired or the matchups line up a certain way or injuries mess with the late-game alignment, you could see Cahill working the ninth inning in front of 40,000 at Wrigley Field.
“He can do that,” Maddon said Saturday at Sloan Park. “Part of it is just the psychology that I want him to know that he can.”
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In the same way that Zobrist had to prove himself as a player coming out of Olivet Nazarene University and Dallas Baptist University, Maddon admitted Cahill is “probably a little bit more malleable” after all the ups and downs.
Cahill made at least 30 starts in every season between 2009 and 2012, earning an All-Star selection in 2010. He got traded from the Oakland A’s to the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2011, seven months after he signed a five-year, $30.5 million extension.
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The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers released Cahill last summer. He signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs, excelling down the stretch (1-0, 2.12 ERA in 17 innings) and becoming a trusted reliever in the playoffs.
“It’s communication and acceptance,” Maddon said. “Because physically he’s able to do all those different things. He’s got a rubber arm. He’s got great stuff. He gets out righties and lefties. He can put the ball on the ground. There’s a lot of things he does well.
“This guy is so versatile. It’s kind of like having a Zobrist in your bullpen or on your pitching staff.”
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Cahill turned down a promised starting spot with the Pittsburgh Pirates and decided to sign a one-year, $4.25 million contract where he already felt comfortable.
The Cubs couldn’t compete dollar-for-dollar with the Boston Red Sox for David Price ($217 million guaranteed) – and didn’t like the price of trading for a young starter this winter – so they stocked up on swingmen like Cahill, Adam Warren, Clayton Richard and Travis Wood.
“They’re all cut from that same cloth,” Maddon said. “They’re all capable of doing different things. But they’ve accepted these roles – which I also believe for the player individually can lengthen their careers – and it definitely makes us better.”