Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer met with reporters Monday morning in Mesa and delivered this bit of bad news:
Adbert Alzolay was expected to be in the mix for the Cubs starting rotation this year after some very good outings late in the 2021 season. To have Hoyer say Alzolay’s IL stint will not be “a minimum stay” is bad news for the 27-year-old righthander and for the Cubs, who were counting on him to be at least in the mix for the rotation.
This gives Justin Steele, who also made some good starts toward the end of 2021, a good chance to be the Cubs’ fifth starter.