Seven months is not a long time. When the Cub convention last winter ran its course, the new front office pieced together a projected pre-spring training opening day roster which went something like this:
C: Soto
C: Castillo
1B: LaHair
2B: Barney
3B: Stewart
SS: Castro
IN: Baker
IN: DeWitt
LF: Soriano
CF: Byrd
RF: DeJesus
OF: R. Johnson
OF: Campana or Sappelt
SP: Garza
SP: Dempster
SP:Maholm
SP: T. Wood
SP: R. Wells or Volstad
CL: Marmol
SU: K. Wood
RP: Russell
RP: Maine
RP: Samardzija
RP: Corpas
27 players assigned to the opening day roster 25 spots. A mostly veteran group. Most conventioneers were more excited by the re-signing of Kerry Wood than speculating about floundering with a 100 loss season. So what happened to the 2012 Cubs?
C: Soto, traded away after having another dismal season
C: Castillo, spent time in minors and platooning with Clevenger
1B: LaHair, All-Star first half, Titanic collapse in second half now splinter collecting on bench
2B: Barney, playing good defense but having bad offensive season
3B: Stewart, a Bust
SS: Castro, All-Star first half, semi-focus issues in second half but rewarded with contract extension
IN: Baker, gone
IN: DeWitt, long gone
LF: Soriano, having better than expected season dragging dead money contract to LF daily
CF: Byrd, traded and PED suspended
RF: DeJesus, turned into Fukudome
OF: R. Johnson, traded to Atlanta for an injured prospect
OF: Campana or Sappelt, both scraping in the minors
SP: Garza, injured before trading deadline; tarnished asset going forward
SP: Dempster, traded then not; then traded for real for a third base prospect
SP:Maholm, traded to Atlanta for an injured prospect
SP: T. Wood, started slow, then went good, then okay, still in rotation
SP: R. Wells or Volstad, Wells never effective and got injured in AAA; Volstad has Bust label, too
CL: Marmol, a bad closer on a bad team so what can go wrong?
SU: K. Wood, bad from the gate and retired
RP: Russell, only consistent relief pitcher on the staff
RP: Maine, just designated for assignment
RP: Samardzija, the lone pitching surprise as he finally bloomed into a starter
RP: Corpas, dead meat in a uniform
Only 9 players have a chance to return in 2013: Castillo, Barney, Castro, Soriano, DeJesus, Garza, T. Wood, Russell and Samardzija. Castillo, Barney and DeJesus roster spots are suspect over the winter as being needed to be upgraded via promotion or free agency. The team as constructed before spring training was poor, and the current Cubs record confirms that fact.
