As the Cubs embark on a new campaign with a new manager (Craig Counsell) at the helm, we answer 24 of the most pressing questions for the 2024 season.

MESA, Ariz. — Craig Counsell doesn’t necessarily want to lock every pitcher into an exact role.

And he definitely doesn’t want to do that early in Spring Training.

The way Counsell views it, he has a collection of 13 pitchers on his roster that are “out-getters.” Their job is to go and get outs — whether that comes in the 1st inning or the 9th inning.

We do know some players will be in specific roles — veterans Kyle Hendricks and Jameson Taillon have spent their entire careers as starters and that won’t change now. Justin Steele emerged as the team’s ace and Shota Imanaga was signed to be a member of the rotation. Héctor Neris and Adbert Alzolay will pitch at the back end of games.

Beyond that, the fifth starter spot is up for grabs and several pitchers could wind up filling that role or moving to the bullpen.

That’s exactly where Drew Smyly lands — in sort of the purgatory between the rotation and bullpen. He is being stretched out as a starter but his best fit to the team on Opening Day may be as a reliever.

The next few weeks will ultimately tell the story, but Counsell is also taking a big-picture view on Smyly’s role.

“I think that he can do both and some willingness to do both is [good],” Counsell said. “There’s definitely points of the year that are gonna make that really important. And I’m sure Drew is probably, at points of the year, going to do both roles.”

“Part of it is a mindset thing to do well at [both roles] is you have to accept that and just go get outs. Pitchers’ jobs are just to get outs — that’s their job whenever inning, whatever role, whatever time in the game is get outs.

“I think Drew’s put himself in that spot and that’s a step in the right direction for success.”

Smyly is open to pitching wherever the team needs him.

“I want to throw zeros,” he said. “I want to be an impactful pitcher on the team. But in terms of starting or relieving, it’s not important to me. I think I can do both. I don’t feel like I’m a bad starter. Either way, I’m just working on myself, trying to be the best pitcher I can be.”

Smyly has succeeded in both roles throughout his career. He has 179 starts under his belt and 101 relief appearances throughout his 10-year big-league career.

Last season, he had a 5.62 ERA as a starter (23 games) and a 2.51 ERA as a reliever (18 games).

Combine that with the fact that the Cubs have several other pitchers vying for the Opening Day rotation and only a select few left-handed relief options and it seems like Smyly could well be ticketed for the bullpen to open the year.

Rookie Jordan Wicks could earn the final rotation spot but if he doesn’t, he would head to Triple-A Iowa to stay stretched out in the rotation. The Cubs also have young right-handers Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski that pitched as both starters and relievers last season and could fill either role to start the year.

The Cubs only have one left-handed reliever on the 40-man roster — rookie Luke Little. They feel confident in a pair of righties that can get left-handed hitters out (Mark Leiter Jr. and Neris) but it would also be a valuable weapon to have a veteran southpaw like Smyly available to Counsell out of the bullpen.

The 5th starter battle will work itself out as spring moves along but Counsell and the Cubs also understand they are going to need to rely on more than 5 starters this season. So even if Smyly begins the year in the bullpen, he very likely will make some starts throughout the 2024 campaign.

24 for ’24 series

What are the Cubs expecting from Kyle Hendricks in 2024 and beyond?
What role will Drew Smyly fill on the 2024 Cubs?
How will Jameson Taillon fare in Year 2 with Cubs?
How will Shota Imanaga handle the adjustment to MLB?
Who will DH for the Cubs?
Who is the Cubs’ fifth starter?
Will defense once again be the Cubs’ strength?
Can Seiya Suzuki pick up where he left off? 
What are the Cubs’ long-term plans at first base?
Have the Cubs done enough to address their left-handed hitting?
Will Justin Steele replicate his stellar 2023 season?