25-Man Roster Update

AZ Phil's Cubs Depth Chart | Cubs Reserve List (40-man Roster)

Let's take a revised look at what we might expect the Cubs Opening Day Roster to look like after the recent series of moves.


Starters

C - Geovany Soto

1B - Derrek Lee

2B - *Mike Fontenot

3B - Aramis Ramirez

SS - Ryan Theriot

LF - Alfonso Soriano

CF - *Kosuke Fukudome

RF - #Milton Bradley

Bench

C - *Paul Bako

OF - Reed Johnson

OF - *Joey Gathright

INF - #Aaron Miles

INF/OF - *Micah Hoffpauir

Starting Pitching

#1 - Carlos Zambrano

#2 - Ryan Dempster

#3 - *Ted Lilly
#4 - Rich Harden
#5 - Aaron Heilman

Bullpen

#1 (Closer) - Carlos Marmol

#2 (Set-Up) - Kevin Gregg

#3 - Luis Vizcaino

#4 - *Neal Cotts

#5 - Chad Gaudin

#6 - Angel Guzman

#7 - *Sean Marshall

Moving Wuertz opens up a spot in the bullpen for the loser of the 5th starter job and sometime during spring training, Lou is going to say he wants two lefties in the pen. Hoffpauir gets the final bench spot at the moment, that is until they sign Rich Aurilia, Nomar Garciaparra or Kevin Millar. If Harden starts the year on the disabled list, then I'd expect Marshall in the rotation and Jeff Samardzija or an NRI invitee to take the final bullpen spot. Of course, Samardzija may end up with a starter's job and Heilman and/or Marshall will end up in the pen. 

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Cubs Roster
Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 12:16pm
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Comments

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 12:38pm

I know scouts suck and all, not when someone has a 10.5 WARPWARWINSHREPECOTA score and I can rub it in your face from the safety of my Internet connection (end rant), but Gary Hughes inducted into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090203&c...

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 12:52pm

what do you get with that? a gold plated watch and a handshake?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 12:53pm

and a steak dinner....

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:03pm

"And a Fish Sandwich" - Leon Phelps

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:10pm

phew...that pen is gonna walk some guys.

and hopefully guzman wont give up 1000000 homers.

Submitted by CPH2133
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:27pm

Biggest problem with letting Wood walk is now you take your top "Come in in a bind and strike out three clowns" guy and move him from being flexible to being labeled "The Closer"...now he only pitches in the 9th, so we'll bring in Gregg/Vizciano/Scrub and they'll give up the runs and will make having Marmol available in the 9th a moot point. The pen screams mediocrity and that isn't good for a contending team.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:30pm

For all we know, Gregg will be the closer for the reasons you mentioned above....

Submitted by CPH2133
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:32pm

Well someone needs to figure that out now. Fantasy drafts are around the corner (I'll end up drafting Marmol regardless if he's the closer or not, those Ks are filthy)

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:52pm

Lou gives less than a shit about your fantasy team.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:57pm

what about mine?

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:58pm

He hates your team.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:59pm

it could use a certain Grady Sizemore...

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 2:07pm

He's the reason Lou loves my team. You got Pujols for him - no complaining.

Submitted by JD
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 2:28pm

You both need to blow up your teams. Make it challenging.

Submitted by CPH2133
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 2:16pm

"Lou gives less than a shit about your fantasy team."

Sorry The Joe, not everyone can be TCR Keeper Champion/Runner-Up like you. Some of us are still in the little leagues playing public leagues over at Yahoo. One day I aspire to be like the man, the myth, and the legendary fantasy baseball player that is The Joe.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 3:03pm

I didn't mean that to be antagonistic.

Besides, JD is the real man around here. He just doesn't feel the need to gloat about it like I do.

Submitted by CPH2133
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 3:38pm

Tongue and cheek my friend, tongue and cheek.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 3:49pm

I figured so...but you never know for sure on the internets.

Submitted by kmokeefe
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:24pm

Can somebody explain to me why Hoffpauir will be on the outside looking in? To my knowledge he's done nothing but hit the cover off the ball at the major league level, and he's not really at an age where time in the minors will help him anymore.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:28pm

let me preface this as it's not my idea...

But Hoffpauir does have options and might be better suited to start off in Iowa in case of an injury, plus he's a one position player - 1B. The Cubs seem to have soured on the lefty pinch-hitter with power since they got a little more left-handed now and they might be worried that Hoffpauir will struggle with very limited at-bats.

Submitted by CPH2133
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:31pm

"The Cubs seem to have soured on the lefty pinch-hitter with power" since Ward hit .216 and had more Ks (24) than hits (22).

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:39pm

if you broke down any hitter by how they did 100-150 PA's at a time, I'm sure a lot had lines that looked like Daryle Ward. Counting on a pinch-hitter to repeat his performance year-to-year is foolish...

He had good AB's, walked a lot as no one wanted to pitch to him, which probably set up Soriano and the top of the order for more opportunities than they should have expected.

Submitted by CPH2133
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:45pm

"He had good AB's, walked a lot as no one wanted to pitch to him, which probably set up Soriano and the top of the order for more opportunities than they should have expected."

They walked Ward so they could throw two curveballs in the dirt and an eye high fastball to Soriano to get out of the inning...

I kid I kid, I understand with a small sample size it's hard to take averages for what they're worth (shit Fukudome was batting .500 at one point least season)

Just seems to me that they're looking for a bit more versatility out of that last roster spot than The Hoff...for whatever its worth.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 2:16pm

Not your idea?

I remember when you first said it, the first time Aurilia's name surfaced. You may have started the rumor that there was an open spot on the roster, temporarily filled by Hoffpauir.

You had me scared for a while, but then Uribe signed a minor-league contract with somebody else, and I just figured the Cubs were looking for someone to stash in Iowa in case Ramirez got injured.

Anyway, on a different subject, let me toss this out concerning Vizcaino.

A guy who makes upwards of $4 million is automatically on the major-league roster. Normally. But Vizcaino may be different. It may be that the Cubs don't like him much, but were given these two options by the Rockies: pay half of Marquis' salary, or pay one million and then also pay Vizcaino. They would have shelled out the same amount either way. They opted for the warm body. That doesn't mean he's in their plans.

They do have to try to make Vizcaino attractive for a few months (so they can pay only $2 million for someone else to take him), so maybe he has to be on the 25-man. I just don't think they necessarily like him at all.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 2:27pm

Not your idea?

I remember when you first said it, the first time Aurilia's name
surfaced. You may have started the rumor that there was an open spot on
the roster, temporarily filled by Hoffpauir.

Reality is calling, please pick up....

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1000/blog?id=3738908&post=3872312

The Cubs are still looking for a right-handed hitting infielder/1B-3B backup. Names that have come up for the Cubs are Kevin Millar and Rich Aurilia. The team had shown early interest in Nomar Garciaparra, but were told that he was looking for more of a full-time position. The team also inquired about the availability of former White Sox SS Juan Uribe before he signed a deal with the San Francisco Giants.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 5:16pm

The ESPN link is dated 1/30. I was referring to something you wrote on the 15th.

"The Cubs have spoken to Rich Aurilia's agent and may offer Aurilia a one-year deal to take Cedeno's spot and back up Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee."

Whose spot was Cedeno going to take though? I'm starting to wonder if Micah Hoffpauir is on the outside looking in at a roster spot.

Nothing wrong with connecting the dots, I just said you were the first to connect Aurilia et al. to Hoffpauir.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:46pm

In a recent thread somebody raised the point that "Lou hates pitchers". I'm not sure of that, but I do think he hates relievers who walk guys. Hence reliance on HR Howry last year.

#5 starter comes down to Heilman or Gaudin, with whomever shows better control actually going to the bullpen. I guess Heilman. I think Marshall will get the least look for the #5 starter, since Lou has talked about liking him in the swing role.

I also think by the time it shakes out it will be Samrdizja--Marmol-Gregg to finish games.

So either Vizcaino goes somewhere (I assume with the Cubs paying part of his salary) or Guzman goes.

I also think Hoffpauir starts the year at AAA to stay sharp. His primary value to the Cubs (at least in management's mind) is as a regular fill-in for D Lee if he gets hurt, rather than as a 24th man. Better to play at Iowa and be only a phone call away.

Submitted by Seamhead
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 2:13pm

Ramirez is now on the wrong side of 30, and has averaged 140 games a year for the past five seasons. Miles is the only backup 3B on the roster, and is best suited for 2B-SS.

We need a guy who can backup both 3B and 1B and provide a litle PH thump off the bench. Hoffpauir simply can't fill that role.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 2:44pm

Nomahhh

Provide of course that he signs 1 yr cheap/incentive laden contract and understands his role is that of backup/roleplayer/cheerleader

Submitted by Seamhead
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 3:11pm

Doug Mientkiewicz is another fallback option, as he can play both 1B and 3B and offers another LH bat.

Submitted by spongebob
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 3:32pm

Speaking of Fantasy Baseball....we should have a Cubs Report fantasy league! Thoughts on that guys?

Submitted by JD
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 3:33pm

That's a pretty good idea.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 3:35pm

you have to get our name right first....

Submitted by Adam
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 3:45pm

FAIL

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 3:52pm

You're so vain. You probably think that post was about you.

But we should start a fantasy league!

dibs on Hanley.

Submitted by JD
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 3:56pm

I call all the infielders that have OF-eligibility and relievers that are 'SP' eligible!

Submitted by spongebob
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 8:47pm

Sorry Rob G (Cub Reporter)....didn't mean to hurt your feelings....let's do it! We should get 10 people who write in to join! Thoughts?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 9:00pm

well, if you look at the 2 signatures above you, you'll notice there are a few around already. I think Transmission runs some as well. We had 2 leagues going on mlb.com last year, that were low maintenance, so might bring that up again.

I'm a bit stretched thin, so I probably won't be starting anything new up this year. Others are welcome to schill their leagues in the comments though or start a new one.

Submitted by Andrew
on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 5:02am

Is Transmission still alive? I thought he was involved in a Fatal Attraction type thing in Arkansas?

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 4:38pm

Doug Mientkiewicz is another fallback option
----
he also an anagram for Samardzija in Belarus, nyet?

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 12:36pm

Concern: If Marshall swings to the rotation, is Cotts the only lefty option in the pen?

Beimel never sounded so adequate.

Submitted by The Joe
on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 12:51pm

Fear not. Mike Stanton to the rescue!

Also a few other non-roster invites.

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