Spring training is only a few weeks away. All the hard work of the off-season will be on display (or in some quarters, dismay). The Cubs are in full re-build mode, but Ricketts cannot afford too long before the turnover is complete. Let us project ahead to the 2014 spring training, which will be the final transition year of the old regime and the focal point of Epstein's new beginning.
Based upon the contracts (years of "control" is a critical mantra by Epstein and Hoyer) and players in the system today, this list are the players who would be in Mesa in February, 2014:
2014 Cubs:
Position Players:
DeJesus rf
Castro ss
Soriano lf
Stewart 3b
Barney 2b
Castillo c
DeWitt inf
Campana of
Rizzo 1b
Lake inf
M. Gonzales ss
B. Jackson cf
Szcur of
Sappelt of
Starting Pitchers:
T. Wood sp
Volstad sp
McNutt sp
Maples sp
Rhee sp
Relief Pitchers:
Carpenter closer
Dolis rp
Cates rp
Maine rp
Russell rp
L. Castillo rp
B. Wells rp
The projected opening day line up would be:
1. DeJesus rf
2. Castro ss
3. Jackson cf
4. Rizzo 1b
5. Szcur lf
6. W. Castillo c
7. J. Lake 2b
8. Stewart 3b
9. T. Wood sp
