The Cubs’ long and eventful off-season officially comes to an end today as pitchers and catchers report to the team’s facility in Mesa. And the coaching staff and players will start preparing for the most anticipated season this decade.
To say a lot has changed since the Cubs topped the Brewers on Sept. 28 to wrap up the 2014 season would be an understatement.
Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer made wholesale changes to the roster after hiring Joe Maddon to run the team. The Cubs made significant changes to the coaching staff with the hiring of John Mallee as the team’s fourth hitting coach in four years. Eric Hinske turned down opportunities with other organizations and is the Cubs’ new assistant hitting coach after a season as the team’s first base and outfield coach.
Dave Martinez returns to the Cubs after being passed over for the managerial position in Tampa when Maddon left and he will be Maddon’s right-hand man in the dugout as his bench coach. Brandon Hyde moved out of the dugout after a year as Rick Renteria’s bench coach and takes over first base coach duties. Gary Jones stayed on and for the second season will be the Cubs’ third base coach.
The Cubs were able to keep the pitching infrastructure together under Joe Maddon. Chris Bosio begins his fourth season as the team’s pitching coach. Lester Strode (bullpen coach) and Mike Borzello (catching coach) were also retained while former Cubs’ catcher Henry Blanco left Arizona to take a job on Maddon’s staff as quality assurance coach.
The front office made numerous additions to the roster via free agency and multiple trades this winter headlined by signing free agent LHP Jon Lester to a six-year, $155 million contract. RHP Jason Hammel re-signed with the Cubs, a two-year, $20 million deal. Right-handed reliever Jason Motte inked a one-year, $4.5 million contract, LHP Tsuyoshi Wada re-signed for one-year and $4 million. And the Cubs added two lefty relievers on waiver claims in Joseph Ortiz and Drake Britton.
The Cubs upgraded defensively behind the plate by trading for Miguel Montero and signing veteran catcher David Ross to a two-year, $5 million contract.
Epstein and Hoyer traded for OF Dexter Fowler to hit at the top of the lineup and patrol center field. And the front office traded for 2B/3B Tommy La Stella and signed OF Chris Denorfia (one-year, $2.6 million).
Shortly after the last season ended, Epstein and Hoyer said they wanted to add veteran leadership to the young roster with players in the starting rotation, bullpen and both starting and backup roles. Now it’s up to Joe Maddon and his staff to take players the front office has assembled and mold them into a team that provides results on the field.
The expectations are rather high for the Chicago Cubs, both inside and outside the clubhouse, and hopefully the players will practice what their manager preaches … Don’t ever permit the pressure exceed the pleasure.
The Cubs have 60 players on its first Spring Training roster, including INF/OF Logan Watkins, who is out for the season. Here’s a full list of players that will be in camp along with their numbers.
40-Man Roster
Pitchers
- Jake Arrieta, RHP (49)
- Dallas Beeler, RHP (32)
- Drake Britton, LHP (66)
- Felix Doubront, LHP (22)
- C.J. Edwards, RHP (79)
- Justin Grimm, RHP (52)
- Jason Hammel, RHP (39)
- Kyle Hendricks, RHP (28)
- Edwin Jackson, RHP (36)
- Eric Jokisch, LHP (43)
- Jon Lester, LHP (34)
- Jason Motte, RHP (30)
- Joseph Ortiz, LHP (60)
- Blake Parker, RHP (50)
- Neil Ramirez, RHP (54)
- Hector Rondon, RHP (56)
- Zac Rosscup, LHP (59)
- Brian Schlitter, RHP (63)
- Pedro Strop, RHP (46)
- Jacob Turner, RHP (38)
- Tsuyoshi Wada, LHP (18)
- Travis Wood, LHP (37)
Catchers
- Welington Castillo (5)
- Rafael Lopez (51)
- Miguel Montero (47)
- David Ross (3)
Infielders
- Arismendy Alcantara (7)
- Javier Baez (9)
- Starlin Castro (13)
- Tommy La Stella (11)
- Mike Olt (20)
- Anthony Rizzo (44)
- Christian Villanueva (61)
Outfielders
- Chris Coghlan (8)
- Chris Denorfia (15)
- Dexter Fowler (24)
- Junior Lake (21)
- Jorge Soler (68)
- Ryan Sweeney (6)
- Matt Szczur (41)
Non-Roster Invitees
Pitchers
- Daniel Bard, RHP (55)
- Corey Black, RHP (82)
- Francisley Bueno, LHP (48)
- Anthony Carter, RHP (73)
- Hunter Cervenka, LHP (71)
- Jorge De Leon, RHP (72)
- Gonzalez Germen, RHP (-)
- Pierce Johnson, RHP (80)
- Armando Rivero, RHP (81)
- Donn Roach, RHP (62)
Catchers
- Kyle Schwarber (74)
- Taylor Teagarden (12)
Infielders
- Kris Bryant (76)
- Jonathan Herrera (19)
- Addison Russell (75)
- Chris Valaika (16)
- Logan Watkins (45) (injured)
Outfielders
- Albert Almora (78)
- Mike Baxter (33)
- Adron Chambers (40)
The first on-field workout is scheduled for Friday. A majority of the position players are in Mesa taking batting practice and getting their work in. Position players have to be in camp by Tuesday, Feb. 24 and the first full-squad workout is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25. The Cubs open Cactus League play on Thursday, March 5 with a pair of games against the Athletics (Sloan Park, Mesa) and Giants (Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale).
2015 Cubs Spring Training Previews
Spring Training previews will continue this week, and the annual Cubs Storylines of the Spring reports will be posted leading up to the first full squad workout next Wednesday. Before long, Pat Hughes will be saying, “Cubs Baseball is on the air.”