Byline: Paul Sullivan
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. _ Strengthening the bullpen was general manager Jim Hendry's priority last winter, but deciding who fills out the pen is manager Dusty Baker's most pressing task this spring.
With Mike Remlinger out until mid-April at the earliest, the Cubs have two bullpen spots available. But there could be as many as four staff vacancies if Kent Mercker's back acts up and Mark Prior goes on the disabled list to start the season.
Though Mercker could see action in a Cactus League game in the next week, Prior's status is still uncertain due to his sore Achilles' tendon.
Baker declined to name the favorites for the openings Sunday, preferring to wait until everyone gets in a few more innings.
"I'm looking for a late-emerging person, a surprise person," Baker said. "There are quite a few guys in the mix. I don't care to state (names) because you end up forgetting somebody and then they think they're not in it, or you (mention) someone and then someone stops working."
The Cubs are likely to stay in-house rather than seek help via a trade, Baker said.
"Everybody is looking for pitching, particularly left-handed pitchers," he said. "We have some fine left-handers here. Some of them might not be quite ready."
While Baker won't name names, here are some of the candidates he'll have to choose from:
Todd Wellemeyer: Looking like a shoo-in to capture one vacancy. Wellemeyer has been the most impressive reliever in camp, with seven scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts. He changes speed well and looked very poised in limited action with the Cubs last summer. Wellemeyer had four separate stints with the Cubs in 2003, posting a 2.25 earned-run average on the road and an 8.66 ERA at Wrigley Field.
Sergio Mitre: The Cubs like his stuff and love his work ethic. He had a cup of coffee with the Cubs last year and struggled against the Braves in a spot start for Prior. Mitre could get another chance to spot start for Prior, and also could survive as long man in the bullpen if things continue to fall into place. "He's impressing me," Baker said. "This guy works hard. He's one of the last guys to leave the weight room."
Juan Cruz: When camp opened, the last bullpen spot was probably Cruz's to lose. He may be losing it, however, after giving up eight runs on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings in his last outing.
Jimmy Anderson: The once portly left-hander with 96 major-league starts under his belt _ and a 5.43 ERA _ was signed to a minor-league contract in December. He lost weight over the winter and is throwing well this spring. With three scoreless innings against Colorado on Sunday, Anderson has a 1.00 ERA in four appearances.
Gary Glover: The former starter-reliever with the White Sox limited right-handed hitters to a .219 average in 2002, ranking eighth among American League pitchers. After three scoreless relief outings, he started against Colorado on Sunday, allowing four earned runs in three innings. "If I can make it, spend the year in the bullpen, that'd be great,' Glover said. "It would be something for me to look back on my career one day and say I was on such a great staff."
Francis Beltran: The 24-year-old right-handed middle reliever was 6-2 with a 2.96 ERA at Triple-A Iowa in 31 appearances, and was the Caribbean World Series MVP after playing for the Dominican Republic this winter. But Beltran has struggled this spring, allowing eight runs on 12 hits in five innings. "It could be just a matter of confidence," Baker said.
Felix Sanchez: The lefty has only 64 innings of Double-A experience and served up a grand slam to J.D. Drew on Sept. 3 in his major-league debut. Sanchez also has fared poorly this spring with a 14.73 ERA in three outings.
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