I think it is also a roster crunch. To add anybody to the bullpen they need to get rid of Kintzler, Duensing or Chatwood. ..
Last year Maddon went with 8-man pen, and had 9 for a while. I think you're envisioning a 7-man pen this spring?
Roster (with Russell) could look like:
Players 13:
8 starters (including Russell)
5 subs: Caratini, Zobrist Descalzo, Happ, Bote
Next man up: Zagunis type guy?
Pitchers 12
5 starters
7 relievers: Strop, Edwards, Cishek, Montomery (4 locks) Kintzler, Duensing, Chatwood (3 bubbly guys)
DL: Morrow (for a while)
Next man up: Rosario, Maples, Norwood, Underwood, Tseng, guys released from other team's 40-man rosters
Obviously to start both Russell and Morrow will not be available. So that would put roster at 12+12, with guys like Zagunis, Rosario, and Maples hoping to snag the last spot.
Suppose after a month Morrow comes back, as Theo hoped on Saturday; and Russell too. That would then put roster at 13+13, perhaps "crunched"? At this stage, I'm not sure who would get cut. Or, if you signed somebody, who would get cut?
Couple thoughts:
1. Bote has options, I'd have no problem sending him down if need be.
2. The odds that no pitcher or player need to go on the DL by the time MOrrow and Russell come back seem slim.
3. One view might be that the Morrow DL would give an extra month to sift through Kintzler/Duensing/Chatwood?