The Cubs active 40 man roster as of the New Year is probably what will be in spring training (with current projected status), with two exceptions:
Pitchers:
Scott Baker, SP, currently rehabbing from injury, may not be ready by opening day.
Michael Bowden, RP, borderline bullpen long reliever
Alberto Cabrera, RP, borderline bullpen reliever, probable AAA season start
Shawn Camp, RP, re-signed to be set up man
Lendy Castillo, RP who probably will start season in AA
Rafael Dolis, RP, has a chance to make squad or continue work in AAA
Scott Feldman, SP, was told he'd be in the rotation
K. Fujikawa, RP, signed to be late inning reliever
Matt Garza, SP, currently rehabbing from injury, may not be ready by opening day.
Edwin Jackson, SP, in rotation
Carlos Marmol, RP, starts season as closer
Trey McNutt, P, will be assigned to minors
Brooks Raley, P, will be assigned to AAA
Hector Rondon, RP, Rule 5 draftee must stay on 25 man roster, will be hid in the pen
Chris Rusin, P, will be assigned to AAA
James Russell, RP, will be the lefty specialist in the pen
Jeff Samardzija, SP, in the rotation
A. Vizcaino, SP, currently rehabbing from injury, will not be ready on opening day
Robert Whitenack, P, will be assigned to the minors
Travis Wood, SP, will start the season as swing starter
Catchers:
Wellington Castillo, will make the squad and platoon
Steve Clevenger, will start season at AAA
Dioner Navarro, will push to be main starter
Infielders:
Darwin Barney, 2B, starter
Starlin Castro, SS, starter
Junior Lake, INF will be assigned to the minors, possible move to outfield
Anthony Rizzo, 1B, starter
Ian Stewart, 3B, starter rehabbing from wrist surgery; health questionable
Luis Valbuena, IN, on team as reserved infielder
Christian Villanueva, 3B, will start in the minors, probably AA
Josh Vitters, 3B, will probably start in AAA
Logan Watkins, 2B, will probably start in AA
Outfielders:
Tony Campana, reserve outfielder, pinch runner if makes squad
David Dejesus, CF, starter
Brett Jackson, will start in AAA
Dave Sappelt, reserve outfielder
Nate Schierholtz, RF, starter by default
Jorge Soler, will be assigned to minors, if on fast track to AA
Alfonso Soriano, LF, starter
Matt Szczur, will be assigned to minors, probably AAA
Carlos Villanueva and Hisanori Takahashi have been announced as Cub signees, with Takashashi signed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Villanueva has not "officially" signed yet, so there will be at least one roster move ahead (expect McNutt or Whitenack to be designated). Villanueva will audition for a starter role, but may be assigned to the bullpen in the end. Takahashi has a good chance at another bullpen slot.
Starters look fairly set from this group of Baker (injured), Garza (rehab), Samardzija, Feldman, T. Wood, E. Jackson.
Bullpen is trending towards Marmol, Russell, Camp, Fujikawa, Villanueva, Rondon, and Hakahashi making the team.
The bench continues to be weak with Campana, Sappelt and Valbuena. The Cubs need to find another reserve infielder (preferably with some power).
The off-season is all about upgrading positions. So far, how have the Cubs done?
New rotation (player replaced):
E. Jackson (Dempster), Baker (Maholm), Garza, Samardzija, T. Wood, Feldman (Volstad)
New infield (player replaced):
I. Stewart, Castro, Barney, Rizzo (LaHair), W. Castillo (Soto)
New outfield:
Soriano, DeJesus, Schierholtz (Byrd)
Bench:
Campana (Mather), Sappelt (R. Johnson), Navarro (Clevenger), Baker (Valbuena) , _____ (DeWitt),
Bullpen:
Marmol, Camp, Russell, Fujikawa (K.Wood), Rondon (L. Castilo), Villanueva ( Dolis), Hakahashi (R. Lopez)
