The Cubs really need some relievers to step up in the bullpen in 2012. Rodrigo Lopez and Andy Sonnanstine are going to compete for jobs in the starting rotation, but if they lose out, they will likely try to help bolster the Cubs’ pen in 2012. Here is a look at the Cubs’ bullpen for 2012 as of right now:

Closer: Carlos Marmol: It’s brutal being a Cubs’ fan sometimes when 29-year old righty Carlos Marmol is on the hill. He has outstanding and dominant stuff, but he sometimes has no control….which gets him in a lot of pickles. Marmol pitched in 75 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 2-6 with 34 saves, a 4.01 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He has now pitched in 391 games (13 starts) in his first six years with the Cubs and he is 18-25 with 95 saves, a 3.37 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Marmol has only given up 289 hits while whiffing 599 batters in his first 459 1/3 innings, as he is outright dominating at times, but he has also walked 300 batters and that is way too many. Look for Marmol to keep games interesting in the 9th inning for the Cubs once again in 2012.

Set-Up Man: Kerry Wood: 34-year old righty Kerry Wood re-signed with Cubs for 2012. He will likely serve as the Cubs’ set-up man this year. Wood pitched in 55 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 3-5 with 1 save, a 3.35 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Wood has now pitched in 331 games (178 starts) in his first 11 years with the Cubbies and he is 80-66 with 35 saves, a 3.63 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Wood has now pitched in 436 games (178 starts) in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 86-73 with 63 saves, a 3.64 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Wood is going to do a good job for the 2012 as long as he can stay healthy.

Righties: Jeff Samardzija: 27-year old Jeff Samardzija had a breakout year for the Cubs in 2011. He pitched in 75 games (0 starts) for the Cubs in 2011 and he was 8-4 with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Samardzija has now pitched in 128 games (5 starts) in his first five years with the Cubs and he is 12-9 with 1 save, a 4.40 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Cubs hope that 2011 wasn’t a mirage but a sign of things to come for Jeff Samardzija.

Marcos Mateo: 27-year old Marcos Mateo pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 1-2 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He has now pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Cubs and he is 1-3 with a 5.04 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Mateo will likely make the Cubs’ bullpen out of spring training, but, he’s going to have to pitch much better than he did last year to keep the job.

Chris Carpenter: 26-year old Chris Carpenter pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-0 with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP. Carpenter also pitched in 32 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 3-4 with 2 saves, a 5.91 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Chris Carpenter is going to have to pitch really well this spring if he’s going to win a job in the Cubs’ pen in 2012.

Manny Corpas: 29-year old Manny Corpas missed all of last season while he was recovering from Tommy John Surgery. He last pitched in the majors back in 2010 with the Rockies. Corpas has pitched in 280 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 12-16 with 34 saves, a 3.93 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. If Corpas is healthy, he is not only going to make the Cubs’ bullpen, but he will likely be pitching late in games.

Casey Weathers: 26-year old Casey Weathers came to the Cubs in a deal with the Rockies over the winter. He pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in AA-ball and he was 2-2 with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. He has now pitched in 132 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 4-5 with 8 saves, a 4.20 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Weathers is a longshot to make the Cubs’ pen this spring.

Lefties: Trever Miller: 38-year old Trever Miller is a situational lefty and little more. He pitched in 48 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Cardinals last year and he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 3.80 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Miller has now pitched in 694 games (5 starts) in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 18-17 with 11 saves, a 4.18 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He is very likely to be in the Cubs’ bullpen when the 2012 season begins.

James Russell: 26-year old James Russell finally started to show some improvement last year. He pitched in 64 games (5 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 1-6 with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Russell has now pitched in 121 games (5 starts) in his first two years with the Cubs and he is 2-7 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. The Cubs hope that Russell improves in 2012.

Scott Maine: 27-year old Scott Maine had a rough time last year for the Cubs. He pitched in 7 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-0 with a 10.29 ERA and a 2.29 WHIP. Maine has now pitched in 20 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Cubs and he is 0-0 with a 4.95 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Maine will likely start the 2012 season in AAA.

John Gaub: 26-year old Jon Gaub pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He also pitched in 50 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 4-4 with 7 saves, a 3.42 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Gaub will also likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball for the Cubs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: C-