Sunday, as you know, the Cubs made their first Spring Training roster cuts. There are now 53 players remaining in camp, and that number’s likely to remain fairly large until the World Baseball Classic ends. There are still eight members of the Cubs’ 40-man roster off at the WBC, as well as several minor leaguers.
With the Cubs not playing Monday, one of two scheduled off days this spring, I thought it would be another good time to take a look at who will line up on the third-base line March 26 at Wrigley
Field before the Cubs open the 2026 season against the Washington Nationals.
Catchers (2)
Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly
There aren’t really any questions here.
Designated hitter (1)
Moisés Ballesteros
I’m listing Ballesteros as a DH because, well, that’s what he’s going to be most of the time. I would expect him to DH against all right-handed pitchers, some left-handers, and maybe catch once in a great while. He’s getting valuable time catching while Amaya is playing for Panama in the WBC, and as has been noted a couple of times, he’s pretty good at ABS challenges.
He can also hit. In a small sample size he’s batting .357/.400/.429 this spring, 5-for-14, with a double, a walk and six RBI.
Infielders (5)
Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, Matt Shaw
I’m listing Shaw as an infielder here even though he’s played mostly outfield this spring. The Cubs are trying to turn him into a super-sub, and it might just work.
Otherwise this infield could be one of the best defensive infields the Cubs have ever had.
Outfielders (5)
Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Dylan Carlson, Michael Conforto
Last week I asked you who you thought would make the team out of the three non-roster outfielders, Carlson, Conforto and Chas McCormick. A plurality said Carlson and Conforto and this is how I see it as well. Carlson is batting .400/.571/.500 (8-for-20) this spring with two doubles and six walks. The Cubs do need someone who can play center field occasionally to give PCA a rest and Carlson appears to be a guy who could do that. If he can recover even some of his rookie-year promise, this could be a great signing.
Same for Conforto, who was once a very good MLB hitter. There are plenty of guys who can go on the 60-day injured list to make room for those two NRIs.
Starting pitchers (5)
Cade Horton, Shōta Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon
With the addition of Cabrera, this is a very good rotation, especially if the Cubs can get the 2024 version of Imanaga back.
Craig Counsell hasn’t announced an Opening Day starter yet, but I suspect it will be Horton. I’ve listed these five in the order I think Counsell will put them, though of course that could change.
Relief pitchers (8)
Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, Caleb Thielbar, Colin Rea, Hunter Harvey, Gavin Hollowell
It was reported Sunday by Meghan Montemurro in the Tribune that Porter Hodge and Jordan Wicks would start the year on the injured list. Hodge, in particular, had a rough spring and hasn’t pitched since Feb. 27:
Hodge will start the season on the injured list because of a flexor tendon strain. He is shut down from throwing for a couple of weeks, is scheduled to be reevaluated in two weeks and then start plyos at the end of March.
Hodge has talent and I think could still become a good MLB reliever.
This opens a spot, and opportunity, for Hollowell, who’s looked really good this spring: Four innings, two hits, no walks, one run, has struck out eight of the 14 batters he’s faced. Yes, small sample size and some are minor-league hitters. Still, Jed Hoyer has had good luck getting good relievers off the scrap heap and Hollowell could be another one of those.
Ben Brown likely heads to Triple-A Iowa. Whether that’s to start or relieve is an open question. Javier Assad also likely starts at Iowa, stretched out to start. The Cubs have several other relievers on the 40-man roster with options: Ethan Roberts, Jack Neely, Luke Little, Ryan Rolison and Riley Martin. All of them are likely to see time in Chicago this year.
Rea is the swingman in the bullpen, as he was last year. He can go multiple innings in relief, or start when needed. He and Thielbar are the only ones of those eight who were in last year’s Opening Day bullpen, and of the eight, four were not even in the Cubs organization last year.
That’s how I see it with 17 days until the season opener. What do you think?
