As expected, the Cubs announced the latest round of roster cuts on Friday morning. The Cubs optioned James Adduci, Jeff Gray, John Gaub and Marcos Mateo … and assigned Darwin Barney, Robinson Chirinos and Bobby Scales to minor league camp.
Updated – 11:41am CDT – According to a report from the Sun-Times, James Russell will break camp with the Chicago Cubs. Russell will have to be added to the 40-man roster.
With Russell in the pen, the Cubs 12-man pitching staff to begin the season will include: Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Randy Wells, Carlos Silva, Tom Gorzelanny, Carlos Marmol, John Grabow, Esmailin Caridad, Justin Berg, Jeff Samardzija, Sean Marshall and James Russell.
Updated – 12:17 pm CDT – The Cubs made the official announcement that Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny will join Zambrano, Dempster and Wells in the rotation. Jeff Samardzija and Sean Marshall will begin the season in the pen. The latest round of roster cuts reduces the Cubs spring roster to 33 players … included in that list are Ted Lilly and Angel Guzman. The Cubs have 31 healthy players still in camp.
Updated – 11:41am CDT – With the addition of James Russell, the Cubs will offer Mike Parisi back to the St. Louis Cardinals … and will be removed from the 40-man roster.
Stay Tuned …