Kevin Alcantara and Pete Crow-Armstrong, from Marquee

An Early Attempt at Guessing the 2024 Cubs Opening Day Roster

In Commentary And Analysis, Uncategorized by Rice Cube72 Comments

This stems partly from the news that has trickled in between practice games and this post by Berselius way back in the ancient times a couple blogs ago:

berselius: I don’t think the Cubs do anything else major (though A+ to Jed for patience), so here’s a stab at the lineup and roster 2B Hoerner LF Happ (S) SS Swanson CF Bellinger (L) RF Suzuki DH Morel 1B Busch (L) C Gomes 3B Madrigal And 26 man Catchers Gomes Amaya IF Busch Hoerner Swanson Madrigal Morel Mastrobuoni OF Happ Bellinger Suzuki Tauchman PCA or Canario? Pitchers Steele Imanaga Taillon Cyle Wicks Assad Alzolay Neris Merryweather Cuas Leiter Smyly Almonte

Sorry for the bad formatting as I’m on my phone and too lazy to fire up my computer, but for the most part I think B is on the money. This is especially true due to the reports that Craig Counsell has pretty much told Mike Tauchman he’s made the roster, and Miles Mastrobuoni is suddenly spring training Barry Bonds. It also doesn’t help that Ian Happ has a “let’s take it easy” hamstring tweak, which means they definitely could use Tauchman anyway and also could give some run time for a guy like Alexander Canario.

I won’t do a lineup just yet, but when healthy, it seemed like Happ was going to lead off, and Seiya Suzuki has been hitting second a bunch, so we will explore that again in a week or so when they’ve had more run time. I feel like Counsell thinks his guys need some kind of routine but is flexible enough to move guys around for matchups if necessary, so I guess we should set the over/under of different lineups used at 79.5, for which I might actually take the under but I’m usually wrong.

Anyway here’s my locks and bubble guys for the Opening Day 26-man roster, which echoes most of what Berselius already suggested with some minor tweaks…let’s do locks first

Catchers (2)

Yan Gomes

Miguel Amaya (who should graduate to getting most of the starts as Gomes rides off into the sunset)

Infielders (6)

Michael Busch

Nico Hoerner

Dansby Swanson

Christopher Morel

Nick Madrigal

Miles Mastrobuoni

Per Cubs statements and some of Arizona Phil’s musings, it seems the team is set on Busch playing primarily first base and Morel playing third base, which he’s done comfortably in his handful of chances so far so that I’m no longer concerned about any craziness. Barring injury, which might be inevitable for our hero, Nick Madrigal can back up two positions, Mastrobuoni can play all over as it appears is the experiment thus far in Cactus League play, and

Outfielders (4)

Ian Happ

Cody Bellinger

Seiya Suzuki

Mike Tauchman

Starting Pitchers (4)

Justin Steele

Shota Imanaga

Jameson Taillon

Kyle Hendricks

Relievers (6)

Adbert Alzolay

Hector Neris

Julian Merryweather

Javier Assad

Drew Smyly

Jose Cuas

This takes care of 22 of the 26 spots, and since the Cubs are most likely carrying the full allowed complement of 13 pitchers, we’re looking at a final bench spot and three additional pitchers.

For that final bench spot, it’s probably a dead heat between Patrick Wisdom (who has the inside track), Alexander Canario (who is at least already on the roster), and non-roster invitee Garrett Cooper, who would serve as a Wisdom replacement. If Happ needs injured list time to start the season, it’s probably Canario. Given the random off days sprinkled in to start the season, they might go with an extra bench guy, maybe, so that could mean Canario and one of Wisdom/Cooper gets a week to make their case to stick around after Happ returns. The Bellinger signing does make it very very unlikely that Pete Crow-Armstrong breaks camp with the MLB club, but if he makes it, I won’t complain.

Of the three pitchers, one has to be the fifth starter so that’s probably Jordan Wicks as B suggested, and he hasn’t done anything to suggest he doesn’t deserve it. They could even try to carry an extra spot starter to ease in Imanaga in the early going. The other two are relegated to the bullpen, and right now I think they keep Hayden Wesneski down in Iowa to figure himself out, and the other two spots should go to lefty neutralizers that aren’t Drew Smyly, who’s only here because he makes too much to just dump, and Smyly could still be effective in non-starting doses. I’m guessing if Mark Leiter Jr finds his splitter again, one of the spots is his, though it is possible they also give it to a guy like former World Series hero Carl Edwards Jr (currently just the NRI), though we must note that Leiter has no options remaining. The other is probably an actual lefty, among the NRI group that includes Richard Lovelady, Edwin Escobar, Thomas Pannone, and actual roster guy Yency Almonte. Almonte has no options remaining, so it is conceivable that the Cubs maximize their flexibility and try to convince some of these guys to stick around until their opt out dates or an inevitable injury, and that means the inside track is like B suggested with Leiter and Almonte. Nice to have a taxi squad anyway, though I guess not as many guys are optionable as I had thought.

I feel like some of the NRI relievers haven’t pitched yet, and Cody Bellinger himself doesn’t get into a game until Wednesday since he signed late, so of course all this could change pretty rapidly and that’s why they take their time with these decisions. Still a fun thing to do while we wait for Opening Day.

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  5. berselius

    Just saw someone refer to the Belli and Chapman contracts as body pillow contracts since they’re a little bit longer (dying laughing)

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  8. berselius

    Perkins,

    Another guy in the long line of “the Cubs would never have developed him into a big leaguer anyway” trade chips, along with Chris Archer and Dylan Cease (dying laughing)

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  9. Author
    Rice Cube

    Morel @ 3B did a traditional 5-3 and another 5-4-3, would try to find video but too lazy…

    Madrigal out before batting in the third, wonder what happened there

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  15. Perkins

    Couldn’t avoid a couple obvious ones, but also surprised Sosa was so popular.

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  20. Author
    Rice Cube

    Cubs out of options per MLBTR

    Yency Almonte, RP
    Adbert Alzolay, RP
    Miguel Amaya, C
    Mark Leiter Jr., RP
    Julian Merryweather, RP
    Justin Steele, SP
    Mike Tauchman, CF

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  24. andcounting

    Those A’s renderings are hilarious and unpossible. The inside looks like it was designed by the AI version of M. C. Escher. (dying laughing)

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  25. andcounting

    The plan, according to all drawings and descriptions, is to rely on shade to make summer day games in Las Vegas playable, as there is no roof, HVAC, or lights. Truly astounding.

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  28. Author
    Rice Cube

    I’m unsure which way the stadium is pointing (I assume you can find out based on where the fake skyline is) but I imagine if they don’t do it right the sun is going to fry all the players’ retinas as they attempt to field or hit the ball, and cast those icky shadows you might see in Milwaukee or the like.

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  29. andcounting

    Rice Cube,

    In the story (which seems like a glorified press release) they say the site isn’t big enough for a retractable roof. The drawings certainly make it appear as though the “Jumbotron” doesn’t even face most of the crowd.

    I have to imagine whoever designed this crap doesn’t even know what baseball is, which certainly points to Rob Manfred.

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  32. andcounting

    Rice Cube,

    The average daytime high in Vegas in July is 104, and the average low is 80. Shade won’t mean shit. You can’t play day baseball there. Nothing resembling that drawing will ever be constructed in Las Vegas.

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  33. andcounting

    Rice Cube: that entire arch seems to be an LED screen a la the Sphere…so maybe they’ll figure it out

    This could conceivably happen in another setting, it’s the collective concept that turns to absolute nonsense when you put it all together. Not a soul involved in this process has done due diligence on coming up with a viable design. It’s a -7 WAR concept.

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  34. Author
    Rice Cube

    andcounting,

    I won’t argue with you there, the renderings do invite all the jokes, plus everything the A’s have done has been terrible ever since they decided to go to Vegas so it’s not like they deserve the benefit of the devil’s advocacy.

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  41. andcounting

    Overheard from the Marquee broadcast: “Baseball is a lot like life: when the chips are down, you gotta keep trying.”

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  47. Author
    Rice Cube

    NC seems like a good idea though I figured they’d do Charlotte first

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  48. Perkins

    Rice Cube,

    I went to a few Durham Bulls games back when I was stationed there and it was great fun. I’d agree Charlotte seems more likely/logical than the Triangle, though.

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  49. Author
    Rice Cube

    Perkins,

    I know not if you went to the older stadium featured in the movie or the new ballpark that was there when I was in NC for grad school, I did enjoy the games though, lively atmosphere in a fun part of Durham and cheap to get in too.

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  50. Perkins

    Rice Cube,

    I went to the new/current park as this was circa 2010-12. Loved getting in free because I was active duty and drinking cheap and delicious Foothills beer.

    I’ve found Charlotte to be mostly nondescript and pointless when I’ve traveled there for work, but loved the Triangle.

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  51. Author
    Rice Cube

    Perkins,

    Thinking Charlotte has the bigger rep because it’s just a bigger population and has the NBA and NFL clubs, but the Triangle can obviously support a pro sports team since the Hurricanes are there and have been to the Cup finals at least twice I know of.

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  52. berselius

    Perkins,

    Agreed on all counts. Durham is also the park with my first (maybe only?) time that I saw a guy warming up and stopped mid conversation to say “who the hell is that?”.

    (It was aroldis chapman, even I could tell he had crazy stuff)

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  55. Author
    Rice Cube

    berselius,

    There was one I thought could be obstruction on the Cubs last night but the throw led the fielder to block the bag so that was different, if you’re already stationed to block even before the throw it’s apparently a super easy call now

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  58. Perkins

    berselius:
    Perkins,

    Agreed on all counts. Durham is also the park with my first (maybe only?) time that I saw a guy warming up and stopped mid conversation to say “who the hell is that?”.

    (It was aroldis chapman, even I could tell he had crazy stuff)

    I got to see Jeremy Hellickson in 2010 and washed up Miguel Tejada in 2012, so those were fun (dying laughing).

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  60. berselius

    Perkins,

    Chapman came into the game and was wild as hell (dying laughing). IIRC he hit Dioner Navarro in the back with a 103 mph fastball.

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  62. andcounting

    berselius:
    Zaidman on the call, it’s like they dialed this up just for you AC.

    The broadcasts this spring have been somewhat torturous. Last night’s was painful.

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  69. Author
    Rice Cube

    Oooh

    1. Spring Breakout rosters to be announced:

    MLB’s Spring Breakout rosters are set to be announced this morning at 10am CT on MLB Network. The new event will see all 30 clubs participate in a prospect showcase during Spring Training with sixteen seven-inning exhibition games across a four day period from March 14-17. The Reds and Cardinals will each participate in two games, while the other 28 organizations will participate in one each. The exhibition will exclusively feature rookie-eligible players and are also set to showcase the automated ball-strike challenge system in certain games. MLB.com has additional details, including broadcast information for all thirty-two exhibition games.

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  70. Author
    Rice Cube

    Cubs roster for the Spring Breakout:

    PITCHERS:
    Cade Horton, RHP
    Michael Arias, RHP
    Drew Gray, LHP
    Brandon Birdsell, RHP
    Brody McCullough, RHP
    Porter Hodge, RHP
    Kohl Franklin, RHP
    Zac Leigh, RHP
    Riley Martin, LHP
    Frankie Scalzo Jr., RHP

    POSITION PLAYERS
    Moises Ballesteros, C/1B
    Pablo Aliendo, C
    Matt Shaw, SS/2B
    James Triantos, 2B
    Jefferson Rojas, SS
    BJ Murray Jr., 3B/1B
    Haydn McGeary, 1B
    Josh Rivera, SS
    Ed Howard, SS
    Owen Caissie, OF
    Kevin Alcántara, OF
    Brennen Davis, OF
    Christian Franklin, OF

    Looks like mostly the guys who haven’t gotten their cup of coffee yet.

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