The Cubs own web site reveals the current team depth chart:
LEFT FIELD
J. Lake
CENTER FIELD
J. Ruggiano
J. Lake
R. Sweeney
RIGHT FIELD
N. Schierholtz
SHORTSTOP
S. Castro
D. Barney
D. Murphy
2ND BASE
D. Barney
L. Watkins
1ST BASE
A. Rizzo
3RD BASE
D. Murphy
L. Valbuena
CATCHER
W. Castillo
G. Kottaras
ROTATION
1. T. Wood
2. E. Jackson
3. J. Samardzija
4. C. Rusin
5. J. Arrieta
BULLPEN
J. Veras (CL)
J. Russell
K. Fujikawa
A. Vizcaino
B. Parker
P. Strop
H. Rondon
C. Villanueva
A. Cabrera
J. Grimm
B. Raley
Z. Rosscup
The outfield seems pretty well set with Lake, Ruggs, and Schierholtz as starters with Sweeney as the back up. The Cubs failed to "upgrade" any of those positions, even though Lake still may have some upside potential.
The infield seems set as well, with Murphy/Valbuena platoon at third, Castro at short, Barney at second and Rizzo at first. Again, the Cubs failed to upgrade any of those positions.
At catcher, Castillo is the starter (barring injury) and Kottaras is the new back-up, which is a downgrade from Navarro.
The depth chart for the rotation is probably out of order, with Samardzija the default #1, Wood #2 and Jackson #3. Rusin gets a promotion to the #4 starter and Arrieta gets a chance at the 5th spot. Overall, the rotation seems slightly weaker than last season (Feldman was a consistent starter). Villaneuva could be a dark horse candidate to take the 5th starter role.
The bullpen has several names who will not make the 25 man roster, such as Vizcaino (injury rehab), Cabrera, Raley and Grimm (AAA). Veras takes over fro Gregg as closer, which may be a slight upgrade. Strop will be the set up man, again a slight upgrade. Fujikawa could be an improvement for the 7th if he is healthy since he was originally signed to be the closer. Parker was adequate in middle relief. Russell may have been overused and burned out. Overall, the bullpen could be a tad better but not much.
The Cubs have not done much to improve their major league roster during this off-season.
