The Sun-Times believes the 2016 Cubs roster is already set in stone:
Starting pitchers: RHP Jake Arrieta, LHP Jon Lester, RHP John Lackey, RHP Jason Hammel, RHP Kyle Hendricks.
Bullpen: RHP Hector Rondon, RHP Pedro Strop, RHP
Justin Grimm, RHP Adam Warren, RHP Trevor Cahill, LHP Travis Wood, LHP
Clayton Richard, RHP Neil Ramirez.
Catchers: Miguel Montero, David Ross, Kyle Schwarber (also LF).
Infielders: 1B Anthony Rizzo, 2B Ben Zobrist, 3B Kris Bryant, SS Addison Russell, 2B/3B Tommy La Stella, IF/OF Javy Baez.
Outfielders: RF Jason Heyward, CF Dexter Fowler, LF/RF Jorge Soler.
The Cubs carrying 13 pitchers seems to be the plan, but half of the bullpen will be stretched out/spot starters with SP#6 being Warren, followed by Cahill, Richard and Wood. It really puts more pressure on Grimm and Ramirez to man the 6th and 7th innings.
Joe Maddon likes La Stella, really mostly for his PH abilities, but I have not been impressed by him. On a short bench, La Stella does not have the end game power or the most versatility in an emergency.
Arismendy Alcantara hit 10 HRs in 70 games in 2014 as the Cubs utility infielder/outfielder. He has a bettering fielding percentage at third (almost 100 points better) than La Stella. Alcantara has played CF so he could be the natural back up to Fowler.
It really depends on how much Baez will play as the super sub. The first weeks of the season should be hard to get regular starts for Baez because Maddon will not want to rest Bryant or Russell. It has been several seasons since Zobrist has played a full time position, so that is where Baez has the best chance of playing on a regular basis. In close games, it will be a judgment call to see if Baez would be a defensive replacement for either Zobrist or Bryant.
What is interesting about this roster is that the Cubs front office was active in the off-season. They were not complacent with their 97 victories in 2015. That is usually how teams regress quickly: sitting back on their heels thinking the past will repeat itself.
But looking at the final roster, there are2 new pitchers and 3 new fielders or a 20% roster turnover. It is only a 15% roster turnover on the pitching side of the equation. Whether that is enough new blood to keep moving forward should be seen early on in the season.
Maddon preaches about line up "protection." By batting Heyward in the comfortable #2 hole (and keeping him in his natural spot RF), he protects Fowler as well as helps set the table for Bryant and Rizzo down the line. On paper, the Cubs have a solid one through five, top-of-the-order.
