Now that Matt Garza is signed for $9.5-$10 million and not traded, the crop of baseball players on the 40 man roster and spring training invitees are basically set:
From this diseased and wilted Field of Dreams, an Opening Day roster of 25 men will emerge.
(Insert sign of the cross here)
Note: (*) are players signed by the new regime.
The non-roster invitees are:
Nine pitchers - righthanders Marco Carrillo, Manuel Corpas (*), Jay Jackson, Rodrigo Lopez (*), Trey McNutt, Blake Parker and Dae-Eun Rhee and lefthanders Trever Miller (*) and Chris Rusin
Three catchers - Michael Brenly, Jason Jaramillo (*) and Blake Lalli.
Five infielders - Alfredo Amezaga (*), Edgar Gonzalez (*), Jonathan Mota, Bobby Scales (*) and Matt Tolbert (*)
Four outfielders - Jim Adduci, Jae-Hoon Ha, Brett Jackson and Joe Mather (*)
Cubs current 40 man roster:
Pitchers
Jeff Beliveau, left handed reliever
Alberto Cabrera, right handed reliever
Chris Carpenter, right handed reliever
Lendy Castillo, right handed reliever (*)
Casey Coleman, right handed starter
Ryan Dempster, right handed starter
Rafael Dolis, right handed reliever
Matt Garza, right handed starter
John Gaub, left handed reliever
Paul Maholm, left handed starter (*)
Scott Maine, left handed reliever
Carlos Marmol, closer
Marcos Mateo, right handed reliever
James Russell, left handed reliever
Jeff Samardzija, right handed reliever
Andy Sonnanstine, right handed starter (*)
Chris Volstad, right handed starter (*)
Casey Weathers, right handed reliever (*)
Randy Wells, right handed starter
Kerry Wood, right handed reliever (*)
Travis Wood, left handed starter (*)
Catchers
Welington Castillo
Steve Clevenger
Geovany Soto
Infielders
Jeff Baker
Darwin Barney
Starlin Castro
Blake DeWitt
Bryan LaHair
Junior Lake
Anthony Rizzo (*)
Ian Stewart (*)
Josh Vitters
Outfielders
Marlon Byrd
Tony Campana
David DeJesus (*)
Reed Johnson (*)
Dave Sappelt (*)
Alfonso Soriano
Matthew Szczur
The non-roster invitees serve two purposes. First and foremost, to spell time from the regular roster players during multiple spring training games. Second, a chance to impress the Cub bosses and make the team like Tyler Colvin did a few years back. Longshots are always part of the underdog spring training wire copy; hope springs eternal.
The 9 pitchers invited to camp are there mostly to eat innings, and possibily work toward one open bullpen spot. The three catchers are in camp to be available to work with the pitching staff on drills, and to spot catch during exhibitions. Of the three, only Jaramillo has major league experience. Sensing the lack of confidence in the current minor league system, Hoyer may ship Jaramillo north with the club and keep Wellington and Clevenger in Iowa. It may not be a prudent move to do that, but it would not be surprising.
As indicated in earlier posts, the infielders invited to camp all can play second base. Second base is a upgrade need area (along with starting pitching). Mota, 24, combined to hit .270 (76-for-281) with 19 doubles, seven home runs and 38 RBI in 98 games between Tennessee and Iowa last year. He can play 3b, ss and 2b. He may be a utility infielder of the future. There has been little indication that the new regime is comfortable with DeWitt or Baker as bench/role players, except for the default that Baker is the team's back up first baseman behind LaHair. Amezaga, 34, is a career .247 hitter (348-for-1,408) in all or part of nine major league seasons with the Angels (2002-04), Rockies (2005, 2011), Pirates (2005) and Marlins (2006-09, 2011) covering 584 games. The versatile switch-hitter has seen big league time at every position but pitcher and catcher, with his most appearances at shortstop (117 games), second base (76), third base (73) and center field (256). Amezaga batted .182 (14-for-77) in 40 major league games last year.
If Epstein and Hoyer are going to force feed their change immediately, "their guys" roster selections would be:
Pitchers: Castillo, Maholm, Sonnanstine, Volstad, Weathers, T. Wood, K. Wood
Infielders: Rizzo, Stewart
Outfielders: DeJesus, Johnson, Sappelt
We already know Maholm, Volstad and T. Wood are starters. K. Wood is the set up man in the pen.
Rizzo will start in Iowa while Stewart will start at third and DeJesus in right field. Johnson is the 4th OF.
We also know that these players are locked into a roster spot by contract/no trade clauses:
Pitchers: Garza, Dempster, Marmol, Samardzija
Outfielders: Soriano, Byrd
That equals thirteen (13) players guaranteed to make the team.
That leaves twelve (12) players fighting for spots.
We don't know Hoyer's philosophy on the number of pitchers will make the team. Most teams take eleven (11) but the Cubs in the past have had (12). A weaker a pitching staff as a whole means taking an extra pitcher on board (usually a long reliever). What we do know is that Epstein traded away the best set up man (Marshall) and potential closer (Cashner). So K. Wood and Samardzija have to take those roles. Also, the club needs at least one left handed reliever from Russell, Maine, Gaub, or Beliveau. Most likely, Russell will make the team, with Maine or Gaub with secondary chances if T. Miller or Rusin do not dazzle.
We know Castro is the shortstop, LaHair is the first baseman, and Soto is starting catcher. The Cubs will only carry one back up catcher. Castillo looked good in his limited major league experience. Scouts think Clevenger has more upside potential. Either would be an upgrade over Koy Hill.
Second base is a crowded interstate highway pile up: Barney, DeWitt, Baker and the salvage crew of Amezaga, Gonzalez, Mota, Scales and Tolbert. If anyone sneaks into a bench role from this group it would be Gonzalez or Tolbert, not because of their bats but just under the guise of change.
There appears only one outfield slot open between Mather, Adduci, Campana, Sappelt, Ha, and Brett Jackson.
Jackson will not make the club unless Byrd is traded to open up centerfield for him. The organization would rather have Jackson play every day in Iowa than sit on the bench in Chicago.
Campana and Sappelt are basically the same player; 5'8" speedsters with average to below average tools. The Cubs can't afford to have a designated pinch runner in Campana on the bench, so Sappelt has an edge on that score. Ha, 21, combined to hit .279 (145-for-520) with 31 doubles, 11 homers, 72 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 132 games with Single-A Daytona and Tennessee, reaching Double-A at the age of 20. He will probably be promoted to Iowa (AAA) and be part of the real mix in 2013.
Mather, 29, has spent part of three seasons in the majors with St. Louis (2008, 2010) and Atlanta (2011), batting .228 (61-for-268) with nine home runs and 30 RBI in 126 big league games. Adduci, 26, a left-handed batter hit .308 (73-for-237) with 13 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 20 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 71 games at Double-A Tennessee last season.
There are not a lot of confident MUST HAVES to fill out the 25 man Opening Day roster. But we must reap what has been sown. This our best GUESSIMATE of what Epstein and Hoyer decisions will be:
Starting Rotation:
1. Garza, RHP
2. Maholm LHP (*)
3. Dempster, RHP
4. T. Wood, LHP (*)
5. Volstad, RHP (*)
Bullpen:
6. Marmol, RHP, closer
7. K. Wood, RHP, set up man (*)
8. Samardzija, RHP
9. Russell, LHP
10. Carpenter, RHP
11. Corpas, RHP (*)
12. T. Miller, LHP (*)
Starting Position Players:
13. Soto, catcher
14. LaHair, first base (L)
15. Barney, second base
16. Castro, shortstop
17. Stewart, third base (L)
18. Soriano, left field
19. Byrd, center field
20. DeJesus, right field (L)
Bench:
21. Jaramillo, catcher (*) (SH)
22. R. Johnson, outfielder (*)
23. Baker, infield-outfield
24. Gonzalez, infield-outfield (*)
25. Amezaga, infielder (*) (SH)
If four non-roster players make the team, four players must be removed (Mateo, Dolis, Campana, and Gaub - - - all Hendry picks). Under this scheme, the new Cubs management would have placed 10 signees on the 25 man roster, or 40%.
I would rather have 11) Maine LHP and 12) Dolis relief pitchers and 21) Castillo as back up catcher, 25) DeWitt infielder-outfielder. The only reason to have Gonzalez, Castillo and DeWitt on the bench is the potential for some spot power (HR).
