A projected opening day 26-man roster with two pitching spots unclear
MESA, Ariz. — On the heels of their last off day in spring training, the Chicago Cubs are not ready to start finalizing their opening day roster with one week left in camp.
The Cubs still have 42 players in big-league camp, including 11 nonroster invitees, ahead of their season opener March 28 in Arlington, Texas. Manager Craig Counsell isn’t tipping his hand on any looming roster decisions.
“That’s just the nature of this time of year,” Counsell said. “We’ve got to play for a seven-month season here and not make decisions for one day — and that’s how we’ll think about it.
“We’re just kind of biding time a little bit because of things that can happen. You don’t make decisions for that reason because something can happen today, tomorrow, the next day. … It’s a tough week for these guys because it feels really close and it is really close, but we’ve also got a week of baseball games left.”
With one week of spring exhibition games left, wrapping up with two games against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday and Tuesday, here is the Cubs’ projected opening day 26-man roster.
Outfielders (4) CF Cody Bellinger, LF Ian Happ, RF Seiya Suzuki, OF Mike Tauchman
The Cubs’ starting outfield trio is set with Ian Happ (left hamstring strain) on track to be ready for opening day barring any setbacks over the final week. Seiya Suzuki is poised for a standout season after his final two months of 2023 and looking locked in all spring. Cody Bellinger’s ability to play first base gives Counsell some flexibility if needed. Counsell told Mike Tauchman at the beginning of camp he would be on the team and needed to earn playing time. Happ could slot into the leadoff spot as the top half of the Cubs’ batting order gets a revamped look under Counsell.
If the Cubs want to carry another outfielder on the bench, the righthanded hitting Alexander Canario can play all three positions, gives them more slug and has shown he is ready to get a shot in the majors.
Infielders (7) SS Dansby Swanson, 2B Nico Hoerner, 3B Christopher Morel, 1B Michael Busch, IF Miles Mastrobuoni, 1B Garrett Cooper
Anchored up the middle by the reigning National League Gold Glove award winners, the Cubs’ starting infield could be defined by the offensive potential at the corner positions with Christopher Morel and Michael Busch expected to get an extended chance to hold on to the everyday role.
Patrick Wisdom’s back tightness might force him to start on the injured list. He was scratched from Tuesday night’s lineup when his back stiffened up while ramping up that afternoon. Wisdom, who has not played since March 13, was getting checked out by a doctor Tuesday. Counsell isn’t sure what Wisdom’s next step is “but obviously it’s concerning that we had to stop today.” Opening day could be in jeopardy for Wisdom.
The Cubs likely will know in the next day or two if Wisdom will be ready for the March 28 opener. If he can’t avoid the IL, his absence creates a more obvious path for nonroster invitee Garrett Cooper to make the team, especially if Wisdom requires more than minimum time on the IL. That might squeeze out first baseman Dom Smith despite his lefty power bat should the Cubs want to minimize how many 40-man roster spots they want to open. Canario could also become a beneficiary among internal 40-man position player choices should the Cubs take Cooper over Smith.
Catchers (2) Yan Gomes, Miguel Amaya
Counsell made clear at the onset of camp that Yan Gomes and Miguel Amaya would be the Cubs’ catching tandem. Gomes, who turns 37 in July, is coming off a strong offensive season in which he slugged 20 doubles and 10 home runs while driving in 63 runs — his most since a career-high 74 in 2014 with Cleveland — and was again lauded for his work with the pitching staff.
Amaya, 25, will have an opportunity to earn more playing time.
Pitchers often gushed about Amaya’s pregame work and steady presence behind the plate. Catchers tend to need more time to develop, but the Cubs love Amaya’s potential.
Pitchers (13) LHP Justin Steele, LHP Shota Imanaga, RHP Kyle Hendricks, LHP Drew Smyly, RHP Adbert Alzolay, RHP Héctor Neris, RHP Julian Merryweather, RHP Mark Leiter Jr., RHP Javier Assad, LHP Jordan Wicks, RHP Yency Almonte, RHP Carl Edwards Jr., RHP José Cuas
The Cubs are looking at the pitching staff as a collective puzzle to put together with two rotation spots still unclear. They aren’t ruling out the rotation opening with four left-handers in which Drew Smyly and Jordan Wicks join Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga as starters as the Cubs navigate being without Jameson Taillon for at least the first 10 games. Righthander Javier Assad shouldn’t be overlooked and could give Counsell a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.
Four relief spots are already locked in — Héctor Neris, Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, Mark Leiter Jr. — and José Cuas’ sidearm delivery provides a unique look. The Cubs must decide if they want to fit an NRI on the 40-man roster for the bullpen and whether they need a true lefty in the ’pen. Among the NRI relievers still in camp, right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. and left-hander Edwin Escobar make the most sense, with Edwards’ track record when healthy and his history with the organization potentially giving him an inside edge. Left-hander Luke Little’s stellar spring has not gone unnoticed. Little and righthander Daniel Palencia will help the big-league team at some point this season.
Counsell explained Tuesday the importance of being direct with the pitchers on the 40-man who have minor-league options.
“Just tell them whether you make the team or not, you will pitch for the Cubs this year and you will probably be optioned because that’s the reality of where they’re at,” Counsell said. “Now their job is to say, I’m pitching so good you can’t option me. … Because that pitching group is so connected and they protect each other that using those guys as the versatile pieces, they help the other players and that’s an important part of getting through a season.
“They’re going to play a part in it. They’re probably going to spend some time in Iowa as well.”
Injured list (3) RHP Jameson Taillon, IF Nick Madrigal, RHP Caleb Kilian
Jameson Taillon (lower back tightness) threw a light touchand-feel off the mound Tuesday as he remains hopeful he will only require a minimum stint on the injured list before he can rejoin the rotation.
Nick Madrigal (right hamstring strain) has started taking live batting practice and is targeting minor-league game action by the end of the weekend or early next week. Counsell said Tuesday that Madrigal has a chance to be ready for opening day, “but it’d be pushing it.” The Cubs might take a more cautious approach with Madrigal given his history of soft tissue injuries.
Caleb Kilian’s teres major shoulder strain will sideline him until around the All-Star break. Putting him on the 60-day IL opens a 40-man roster spot for an NRI.