There was once a time where Hector Rondon was the Chicago Cubs’ fireman. He excelled in the role, too, nailing down 59 saves between the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Last summer, though, Theo Epstein dealt for southpaw Aroldis Chapman and Rondon was promptly relegated to a middle-relief role.
If you’re Rondon, you can’t help but be frustrated. Because, as Epstein himself admitted to CSN Chicago this winter, it’s through no fault of his that he lost the closer’s job.
“It’s been Aroldis Chapman and Wade Davis,” Epstein said. “There’s fewer than 10 people, maybe, on the planet that you would move Rondon out of the closer’s role for, in my opinion.