Opening Day Roster Predictions: 1-22-12

Throughout the offseason, I project what the Cubs Opening Day roster would look like without any additions transactions at very checkpoints. Click here for more last predictions on Dec. 26. A lot has changed in the last month. Here are my updated predictions, with new players to the roster listed in italics and *= a switch in role.

Starting Rotation
1. Matt Garza
2. Ryan Dempster
3. Chris Volstad
4. Travis Wood
5. Randy Wells*
Odd Man Out- Paul Maholm will probably end up in the rotation. At this point, he's the number six starter but the Cubs will most likely move Matt Garza or maybe Randy Wells before the start of Spring Training. However, I don't see a reason to insert him into the rotation in place of younger guys like Wood and Volstad.

Bullpen
Closer- Carlos Marmol
RH Setup Man- Kerry Wood
LH Setup Man- James Russell
RH Middle Relief- Jeff Samardzija*
LH Middle Relief- Scott Maine
Long Relief- Rodrigo Lopez
Long Relief- Chris Carpenter*
Also in the mix- Sonnanstine, Corpes, Beliveau, Mateo, Coleman, Gaub, Weathers

Starting Lineup
C- Geovany Soto
1B- Bryan LaHair
2B- Darwin Barney
SS- Starlin Castro
3B- Ian Stewart
LF- Alfonso Soriano
RF- David DeJesus
CF- Marlon Byrd

Bench
Welington Castillo
Dave Sappelt
Blake DeWitt
Reed Johnson
Jeff Baker
Also in the mix: Jason Jaramillo, Matt Tolbert, Alfredo Amezaga, Joe Mather, Edgar Gonzalez, Matt Szczur, Tony Campana, Brett Jackson, Josh Vitters, Steve Clevenger and Junior Lake

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted!

Opening Day Roster Predictions: 12-26-11

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! The Cubs have been very active as of late. Today, they added several new players. RHP Andy Sonnanstine has signed a non-guaranteed, split contract for 2012. The deal signed by Manny Corpas last week is also believed to be non-guaranteed. In addition, the Cubs are believed to be close to signing switch hitting catcher Jason Jaramillo to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. Jaramillo will compete with Welington Castillo for the backup catcher's job.

At the start of the offseason, I made my Opening Day Roster predictions- click here to check them out! With the Cubs flurry of moves over the last two months, here are my updated predictions. If the season started tomorrow, this is what I think the roster would look like! I will continue to post updates throughout the rest of the winter as the Cubs continue to make moves. New to roster from my last prediction= italics, change in role= *

Starting Rotation
1. Matt Garza
2. Ryan Dempster
3. Randy Wells
4. Travis Wood
5. Carlos Zambrano
Also in the mix: Andrew Cashner, Casey Coleman, Jeff Samardzija and Chris Carpenter

Bullpen
Closer- Carlos Marmol
LH Setup Man- James Russell*
RH Setup Man- Jeff Samardzija
LH Middle Relief- Scott Maine
RH Middle Relief- Chris Carpenter
Long Relief- Manny Corpes
Long Relief- Andy Sonnanstine
Also in the mix- Coleman, Marcos Mateo, John Gaub, Casey Weathers and Jeff Beliveau

Starting Lineup
C- Geovany Soto
1B- Bryan LaHair
2B- Darwin Barney
SS- Starlin Castro
3B- Ian Stewart
LF- Alfonso Soriano
CF- Marlon Byrd
RF- David DeJesus

Bench
Welington Castillo
Jeff Baker
Blake DeWitt
Dave Sappelt
Reed Johnson
Also in the mix: Jason Jaramillo, Matt Szczur, Tony Campana, Brett Jackson, Lou Montanez, Jeff Bianchi, Josh Vitters and Junior Lake

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted!

Opening Day Roster Predictions: 10-31-11

Happy Halloween Cubs fans! The big news in the National League Central Division today is the retirement of Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa. It will be odd next year when the Cubs/Cards rivalry no longer includes Tony. Congrats to LaRussa on the World Championship and on an outstanding career.

Aramis Ramirez declined his end of the mutual option for 2012. He will test free agency and still could return to the Cubs, but the team is no longer on the hook for the $16 million option or $2 million buyout. Ramirez is looking for a three or four year deal for about $15 million per year.

Each year I make and update my opening day roster predictions for the following season throughout the offseason. The purpose of these predictions is to tell what I think would be the roster if the season started tomorrow. I do not use any players in the predictions that are not currently under control of the club. These predictions give us an idea of how many moves need to be made in order for the Cubs to have a decent roster. It also helps highlight which areas need improvement.

Starting Rotation
1. Matt Garza
2. Ryan Dempster
3. Randy Wells
4. Andrew Cashner
5. Carlos Zambrano

Bullpen
Closer- Carlos Marmol
LH Setup- Sean Marshall
RH Setup- Jeff Samardzija
LH Middle Relief- James Russell
RH Middle Relief- Chris Carpenter
Long Relief- Casey Coleman
Long Relief- Marcos Mateo

Starting Position Players
C- Geovany Soto
1B- Bryan LaHair
2B- Darwin Barney
SS- Starlin Castro
3B- DJ LeMahieu
LF- Alfonso Soriano
CF- Marlon Byrd
RF- Tyler Colvin

Bench
Koyie Hill
Jeff Baker
Blake DeWitt
Tony Campana
Lou Montanez

Cubs that are Free Agents
Kerry Wood
Aramis Ramirez
Carlos Pena
Reed Johnson
Rodrigo Lopez
Ramon Ortiz
John Grabow

I'll post more projections as the Cubs make moves this offseason!

January Cubs Updated Roster Predictions

Everyone winter, I predict who will make the Cubs Opening Day roster and update it about once a month as the offseason moves along. With the Cubs latest moves, here is the third update this winter. Changes from the last post, which was in mid-December, are in italics.

Starting Rotation
1. Ryan Dempster
2. Carlos Zambrano
3. Matt Garza
4. Andrew Cashner
5. Randy Wells

Others in the Rotation Mix in Spring Training
Casey Coleman
Jeff Samardzija
Andrew Cashner
Carlos Silva (moved out of rotation with recent moves)

Bullpen
Closer- Carlos Marmol
LH Setup Man- Sean Marshall
RH Setup Man- Kerry Wood (Move Cashner to rotation)
LH Middle Relief- John Grabow
RH Middle Relief- Jeff Samardzija
Long Relief- Casey Coleman
Long Relief-James Russell (with Gorzo being traded, he has a better shot)

Others in the Bullpen Mix in Spring Training
Justing Berg
Thomas Diamond
Scott Maine
John Gaub
Esmalin Caridad
Angel Guzman
Silva

Starting Position Players
Catcher- Geovany Soto
1B- Carlos Pena
2B- Blake DeWitt
SS- Starlin Castro
3B- Aramis Ramirez
LF- Alfonso Soriano
CF- Marlon Byrd
RF- Tyler Colvin

Bench
Koyie Hill
Jeff Baker
Darwin Barney
Reed Johnson (Replacing Sam Fuld, will have to compete with Perez)
Kosuke

Others in the Mix
Welington Castillo
Scott Moore
Bryan LaHair
Fernando Perez

Thoughts?

Updated Cubs Roster Prediction

A few weeks ago, I posted my prediction as to who would make the Cubs roster if the season started that day. Similar to what I did last year, I plan to update my prediction as the Cubs make moves all offseason long. Here is the updated roster with the signing of Carlos Pena. Changes are in italics.

Starting Rotation
1. Ryan Dempster
2. Carlos Zambrano
3. Randy Wells
4. Carlos Silva
5. Tom Gorzelanny

Others in the Rotation Mix in Spring Training
Casey Coleman
Jeff Samardzija
Andrew Cashner

Bullpen
Closer- Carlos Marmol
LH Setup Man- Sean Marshall
RH Setup Man- Andrew Cashner
LH Middle Relief- John Grabow
RH Middle Relief- Jeff Samardzija
Long Relief- Casey Coleman
Long Relief-Justin Berg

Others in the Bullpen Mix in Spring Training
Chris Archer
Thomas Diamond
Scott Maine
John Gaub
Esmalin Caridad
Angel Guzman
Brian Schlitter

Starting Position Players
Catcher- Geovany Soto
1B- Carlos Pena
2B- Blake DeWitt
SS- Starlin Castro
3B- Aramis Ramirez
LF- Alfonso Soriano
CF- Marlon Byrd
RF- Tyler Colvin

Bench
Koyie Hill
Jeff Baker
Darwin Barney
Sam Fuld
Kosuke

Others in the Mix
Welington Castillo
Brandon Guyer
Robinson Chirinos
Scott Moore
Bryan LaHair (cut from bench)

Updated Early Roster Prediction

If Opening Day was tomorrow, and the Cubs had the team that they have today, what would the 25-man roster look like? Let's take a look:

The Cubs have made a few moves, so I've updates my roster predictions once again. Changes and in italics. Updated after Nady signing.

Rotation
Carlos Zambrano
Ryan Dempster
Randy Wells
Tom Gorzelanny
Jeff Samardzija
Ted Lilly (DL)

Bullpen
Carlos Marmol
John Grabow
Sean Marshall
Angel Guzman
Jeff Gray
Esmalin Caridad
Carlos Silva

Starting Lineup (In batting order)
SS- Ryan Theriot
RF- Kosuke
1B- Derrek Lee
3B- Aramis Ramirez
CF- Marlon Byrd
LF- Alfonso Soriano
C- Geovany Soto
2B- Jeff Baker

Bench
Koyie Hill
Mike Fontenot
Andres Blanco
Chad Tracy
Xavier Nady

Left Off
Justin Berg
David Patton
John Gaub
Welington Castillo
Mike Parisi
Armismendy Mota
Sam Fuld
Micah Hoffpauir

I will update my projected Opening Day roster throughout the offseason as the Cubs make moves.

Capps & Calero on the Cubs Radar

We've added another new poll to our blog! Be sure to vote on the right sidebar on the blog's mainpage. Our "Cubs All Decade Team" voting continues, as we move on the hot corner, third base. Please vote only once, and consider the players' contributions as a Chicago Cub in the 2000s only as always. If there's anyone you'd like to vote for that was not listed as a choice, email me at cubsblogmailbag@aol.com.

Check out my updated early roster predictions.

Now for today's Cubs news and notes:

• Paul Sullivan says the Cubs are interested in pitcher Matt Capps, who was non-tendered by the Pirates yesterday. The Cubs are not looking for a closer, but Capps could fill the right handed veteran set-up man role.
• There's no news on the Milton Bradley front this weekend. Rays VP Andrew Friedman says there's a chance that this is the team the Rays are going to Spring Training with, according to Sully.
• Kiki Calero, free agent right hander, could also be on the Cubs' radar. He was 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA with the Marlins in 2009.
• Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus gives Mike Parisi, who was drafted in the Rule 5, an 18-1 chance of staying with the Cubs.

I think that Capps and Calero would both be worth it. The bullpen needs a little improvement, and at this point so does the bench. We'll see what the Cubs do to address those areas... according to many sources the next 10 days leading up to Christmas will be full of Cubs news. Let's hope so!