Chicago Cubs Spring Standout 'In the Mix' for Opening Day Roster

The Chicago Cubs have a roster crunch ahead of them, but one of their standout pitchers this spring very well could make the Opening Day roster.

The Chicago Cubs have a good problem on their hands. The club has too many promising pitchers knocking down the door than they do roster spots for them on the 26-man.

It's an excellent issue for manager David Ross to be in as MLB Opening Day rapidly approaches and is just 10 days away.

One player who has been an absolute revelation this spring is pitcher Javier Assad. Coming into MLB Spring Training, Assad was a bit of an after thought when it came to the fifth rotation spot competition.

And while Hayden Wesneski has all but run away with that spot, Assad has impressed enough that Ross may be forced to place him on the roster. His performance this spring for Chicago and for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic has been eye opening, to say the least.

For the Cubs this spring he has thrown 4.0 innings of hitless baseball. For Mexico, he has given up zero runs in 5.2 innings pitched. He has looked incredible and Ross now has a decision on his hands.

"He's in the mix. He's in the mix for being on the team," said Ross. "I think that's all that matters to him. It doesn't matter whether it's starting or relieving. When he's pitching like that he can really help us. So long as he continues to do that, he's setting himself up to make really tough decisions for us. The more tough ones we have, that's a good thing."

Assad very well could be a force out of the bullpen, act as a spot starter, or if the Cubs really wanted to get crazy, he could act as a sixth starter once every two or three turns through the rotation.

Either way, Assad makes this Chicago squad better and that's exactly what they need if they hope to contend this season in a tough National League Central division.

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