Nov. 11--PHOENIX -- The San Francisco Giants won the World Series this year with a rotation that ranked 16th in the majors, beating a Kansas City Royals team whose rotation finished 11th overall.
So why spend over $100 million on a free-agent starter when an average rotation combined with a few shutdown relievers in the seventh, eighth and ninth seemingly works just as well?
David Robertson, Andrew Miller and Sergio Romo are among the free agent relievers in demand at the general managers meetings, and they'll cost far less than Jon Lester or Max Scherzer.
Cubs president Theo Epstein believes the Cub already have a strong bullpen with Justin Grimm, Neil Ramirez and closer Hector Rondon in the late innings, making that area less of a priority this offseason. But Epstein also doesn't see the postseason success of the two World Series teams as an indication you can get by with a stronger bullpen and a slightly above-average rotation.
"One thing I always worry about is looking at the postseason and trying to draw broader conclusions about those teams," Epstein said. "In the postseason, a lockdown bullpen becomes more important because with the off days those guys are available to pitch every day and pitch more than they would during the regular season. And it's a lower run-scoring environment in the postseason.
"So certain things become more important. But also, if you want to have a good back end of the bullpen, getting a lot of innings out of starting pitching takes the burden off those relievers, and means your best relievers are available to pitch more often and stay healthy.
"I think this was a postseason where maybe the bullpens took center stage more than the starting pitchers, but if you look at what (Madison) Bumgarner did, it also emphasizes just how impactful a true No. 1 on a roll can be in October.
"I just think next year, a (World Series) team may not generate much offense except hit a bunch of home runs, and everyone will say, 'The long ball is king these days because no one has power.' You have to be a little careful."
Epstein said he doesn't know if the Cubs will change the mix.
"We do have some nice arms on the next level down that are probably going to start the year at Triple-A and be available to us," he said.
Cuban right-hander Armando Rivero, who posted a combined 2.22 earned-run average and 1.09 WHIP at Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, should be one of the first call-ups if he continues to pitch well.
