Chicago Cubs: 3 current players to keep and build around

P Adbert Alzolay

This guy may be a stretch in terms of being a true building block, but I’m all in on Adbert Alzolay.

There are things to be concerned about especially when talking about consistency in this early part of his career, but the 26-year-old pitcher has some solid stuff in his arsenal.

The movement on his pitches is quite unique, specifically in his slider, and the velocity on his fastball is nothing to turn your nose up at (hovering in the 94-95 mph range).

He struck out 29 in 21.1 innings of work this season, allowing one big fly and improving his ERA to 2.95 in his second go-round in the big leagues.

(Pitch framing by Caratini in that video, in case you missed it.)

As the roster reforms and develops, Alzolay could be shifted from a starting role to being a trusted arm in the bullpen if that is what is needed.

If he gets consistent work next season, there is potential for Adbert to be a middle-of-the-rotation guy, and be a starting point for a potential Cubs pitching turnover.

He is another one that could possibly be traded in a larger deal, but keeping Alzolay around would be helpful in the Cubs’ impending rebuild.