The Cubs 2015 Opening Day roster had a few surprises.
Spring
training pick ups Jason Motte and Phil Coke took spots away from Felix
Doubront (released), Zac Rosscup and/or Blake Parker. It was also
surprising that Edwin Jackson made the roster as a reliever. With so
many teams having pitchers going down with Tommy John issues, there
should have been a trade market for Jackson, if the Cubs were willing to
eat most of his contract. Jackson now fills the role of mop-up long
relief or spot starter, something he has not done in his career.
The
other major surprise was the Cubs keeping three catchers on the roster.
Welington Castillo was the odd man out with the Cubs bringing in Jon
Lester's personal catcher David Ross and trading for Miguel Montero.
Castillo is capable of being a starter catcher on most clubs (example,
Geo Soto started yesterday's the White Sox road opener against the
Royals.) Most people predicted that Castillo would be traded this spring
since there is a major league catching shortage. But apparently, the
Cubs were asking too much for Castillo.
The Cubs also
went against normal perception by keeping only four pure outfielders
(Chris Coghlan, Dexter Fowler, Jorge Soler and Matt Szczur.) Instead,
the Cubs decided to keep more utility players like Arismendy Alcantara
(who can play CF) and Tommy LaStella and Jonathan Herrera in the
infield. Herrera is a 30 year old, replacement level (6 years, 1.6
career WAR) journeyman who can play 3B, SS and 2B.
The
starters were foregone conclusion before camp broke: 1) Lester, 2) Jake
Arrieta, 3) Jason Hammel, 4) Travis Wood, and 5) Kyle Hendricks.
The
bullpen holdovers were also a given: closer Hector Rondon, set-up man
Pedro Strop, late inning relievers Jason Grimm and Neil Ramirez. Coke is
the only left hander in the bullpen.
The Cubs kept 12 pitchers and 3 catchers on the roster which puts a strain on Joe Maddon's bench options.
