MLBTR reported on players who have enough service time to be "out of options," meaning that those players on a team's 40 man protected roster must be put on waivers in order to be sent to the minors.
The Cubs who are out of options:
Michael Bowden, Wellington Castillo, Rafael Dolis, Jeff Samardzija, Luis Valbuena, Travis Wood.
Players who are out of options are more likely to be kept by their current teams. The Cubs front office claims that the minor league system is not full of AAA prospects. So one or more of these players could squeeze out another player, especially a non-roster invitee, from making the 25 man roster.
Clearly, Castillo will make the 25 man opening day roster as the team's projected starting catcher.
Also, Samardzija will be in the rotation, possibly as the opening day starter.
Sveum strongly indicated that Wood would be the fifth stater when the team breaks camp.
Valbuena ended last season as the Cubs third baseman. Ian Stewart is back to try to reclaim the starting role after another injury plagued season. Valbuena is probably going to stay on the roster as a reserve infielder, unless a non-roster invitee like Lillibridge's performance blows away the coaching staff.
So clearly, relief pitchers Bowden and Dolis are on the waiver bubble. Bowden is a Hoyer pick up. Dolis is a hold over from the Hendry era. Dolis has shown a power arm, but has control and injury issues. Bowden had his show case last season, and he did not perform well. So is it more likely than not at this point that both Bowden and Dolis will not make the bullpen so they will have to clear waivers to remain Cub property.
