MLB teams were required to submit their initial rosters to MLB by 3 PM yesterday, and the Cubs announced theirs last night having 50 out of a possible 60 players on their roster.
Most notably the roster does include both Anthony Rizzo and Jon Lester, both of them would have been considered at-risk due to their previous battles with cancer and could've chosen not to play and would've received their full salary.
On the positional player size there isn't any surprises. P.J. Higgins and Josh Phegley are still in the catching mix but are unlikely to win a backup job with Victor Caratini on the roster and Willson Contreras entrenched as the everyday starter.
The infield competition is likely going to be between Nico Hoerner, Daniel Descalso, and Jason Kipnis for the final spot. Descalso and Kipnis are likely to have the edge thanks to their big league experience and Hoerner still a little bit away from being fully big league ready.
The outfield is mostly set, but there figures to be a competition between Ian Miller and Steven Souza Jr for the final spot. Miller was brought in on a minor league deal, while Souza signed a one-year major league contract after a devastating knee injury wiped out his 2019.
The summer roster includes 22 pitchers competing for only 13-14 spots. The starting rotation is mostly set with Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester. and Jose Quintana locked in with the fifth starter spot likely still between Alec Mills and Tyler Chatwood.
The bullpen has several locked in players including Craig Kimbrel, Rowan Wick, and Kyle Ryan, but will also have guys like Casey Sadler, Trevor Megill, and James Norwood who will have to earn their way onto the big league roster.
The South Bend portion of the roster includes top prospects Brailyn Marquez, Brennen Davis, and Miguel Amaya who will look to get some valuable development time in a very unusual set of circumstances.
It's interesting that the Cubs have left some roster spaces open, we'll have to see if they choose to add more players.
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