Chicago Cubs Roster Heading into Spring Training

The Chicago Cubs are starting spring training today with pitchers and catchers reporting. I figured I would preview the roster on how it looks now to see which positions are still open and which players need to make an impression this spring to have a chance to make the roster.

The Cubs have not added many players this off-season. They only added two players of significance in center fielder Marlon Byrd and 4th outfielder (possible platoon partner with Fukudome is he struggles again) Xavier Nady. Then they signed Chad Tracy and Kevin Millar to minor leagues deals with invitations to spring training. I liked the Tracey signing to replace Hoffpauir’s role as a left handed bat off the bench, but he has more flexibility than Hoffpauir if he can play third base and be the primary back-up for Ramirez. On Wednesday Piniella announced that Andres Blanco and Sam Fuld will make the team. This announcement made it clear how the position players look heading into the season, and pretty much was bad news for Tracy, Millar, and Hoffpauir who now have a slim chance to make the team unless there is an injury.

Position Players
1.Derek Lee-1st base, Lee figures to bat three for the Cubs and continue his gold glove defense.
2.Jeff Baker-2nd base, Baker will battle with Fontenot for the second base job. We may see a platoon between the two of them all year unless one thrives while the other struggles. Last year at the end of the season Baker performed well while Fontenot struggled. If that happens this year then Baker would have a good chance to be the everyday second basemen.
3.Ryan Theriot-SS, Theriot needs to continue to do well and take his game to an all new level with Starlin Castro waiting in the wings. Theriot seems to start strong and tail off towards the end of every season; He needs to be consistent the whole year. Theriot plans to be at the top of the order for the Cubs this year batting two or leading off. If that is the case he needs to revert back to his form from two years ago, and not last year where his walks decreased and his strikeouts increased.
4.Aramis Ramirez-3rd base, He needs to stay healthy and he is the most consistent run producer on the team. The key with him is health.
5.Geovany Soto-Catcher, Soto came into spring training loosing a lot of weight and in great shape. Lets hope that helps him revert back to his rookie campaign and not last year’s very disappointing sophomore slump.
6.Alfonso Soriano-LF, Soriano needs to play more than 117 games for the Cubs this year and accept his new role as a run producer, not a leadoff hitter. Last year after he was demoted from the leadoff spot he was moved to batting 5th. This year Byrd figures to bat 5th, so Soriano needs to accept batting 6th without problems and prove he deserves to bat higher.
7.Marlon Byrd-CF, He has a good bat, but seems big and not smooth for a center fielder.
8.Kosuke Fukudome-RF, Fukudome has started strong the past two years and then stops hitting and become a non factor. This year the Cubs have some depth in Nady if he struggles.
9.Mike Fontenot-2nd base, Fontenot has to prove he is an everyday player and challenge Baker for second base. The Cubs need him to perform like he did in 2008 and not last year.
10.Andres Blanco-2nd base & SS, Blanco is a defensive wizard who can’t hit. Hopefully the new hitting coach will help him with his swing.
11.Koyie Hill-Catcher, A strong defensive back-up catcher who calls a good game.
12.Xavier Nady- We need Nady to play right field everyday if Fukudome continues to struggle like the past two year.
13.Sam Fuld- A light hitting good defensive center fielder who plays with heart.

On the Bubble
The position players seem locked unless someone gets injured. Here are the three players who seem on the outside looking in, but you never know.
•Chad Tracy- A veteran they signed to a minor league deal. He is a left handed hitter who can play thirdbase, first base, and some corner outfield if needed.
•Kevin Millar- A veteran they signed to a minor league deal. He can provide some pop. He can play first and corner outfield.
•Micah Hoffpauir– He had a great cup of coffee with the Cubs in 2008finally making it to the Majors. Last year he had a chance to be a left handed pinch hitter of the bench and he did’t perform well. He seems destinated to be headed back to the minors with Tracy in camp who is the same type of player and can play more positions.

Pitching Staff
14.Carlos Zambrano-SP, He lost weight and needs to show he is the ace of the staff we paid him to be.
15.Ted Lilly-SP, He may start the season injured but is trying to be ready for opening day. He is nicknamed the “Bull Dog” for a reason.
16.Ryan Dempster-SP, He needs to pitch like he did in 2008 and be an innings eater for this pitching staff.
17.Randy Wells-SP, Wells needs to continue to take strides in his second season in the majors. Last year he made the team because of injuries and ran away with the job. This year the Cubs are counting on him to be the 4th starter, or 3rd starter until Lilly is ready.
18.Tom Gorzelanny-SP, the leading candidate to be the 5th start until Lilly is healthy.
19.Carlos Silva-SP,He came over in the Bradley deal and we will have to see if he can contribute.
20.Carlos Marmol-Closer, Marmol needs to drastically improve on walking less people and be the dominant closer he can be.
21.Angel Guzman-RP, Last spring training Guzman looked liked he would get cut because he was out of options. He turned out to be the most consistent pitcher out of the bullpen last year. This year he is counted on to be a setup man.
22.John Grabow-LHP, Why did we pay so much to re-sign him?
23.Sean Marshall-LHP, The Cubs best left-handed option out of the bullpen.
24.Jeff Samardzija-RHP, He will have a chance to start, but will be in the bullpen unless he continues to struggle.

On the Bubble
There are some questions marks about Silva and Samardzija, so if they struggle in spring training then one of these pitchers could have a chance.
•Jeff Stevens- He could be a good reliever for the Cubs and I think he is ready now. He came over in the DeRosa trade.
•Justin Berg- He has a chance to make the team as a reliever, but he needs to continue to develop.
•Mitch Atkins- He has a chance to make the team as a reliever, but he needs to continue to develop.
•Esmailin Caridad- A starting pitcher who still needs to develop.
•David Patton- A rule 5 guy who can now go back to the minors and try to put it together. A impressive spring may remind the Cubs why they took him.

Summary
As you see there is one open roster spot. A position player like Tracey or Millar could grab it, or one of the relievers could get it. We will have to see what happens in spring training…………………………………………………