{"id":159611,"date":"2026-03-04T11:33:03","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T11:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611"},"modified":"2026-03-04T11:33:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T11:33:03","slug":"%f0%9f%94%a5-exclusive-chicago-cubs-opening-day-roster-revealed-but-will-bullpen-and-bench-spots-be-claimed-tension-builds-as-competition-heats-up-for-those-coveted-positions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster Revealed \u2013 But Will Bullpen and Bench Spots Be Claimed? Tension builds as competition heats up for those coveted positions!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"172\" data-end=\"623\"><strong data-start=\"172\" data-end=\"302\">MESA, Ariz. \u2014 The Chicago Cubs enter spring training with high hopes, aiming to get through the season as healthy as possible.<\/strong><br data-start=\"302\" data-end=\"305\" \/>For a team that returns the majority of last season&#8217;s <strong data-start=\"359\" data-end=\"375\">92-win squad<\/strong>, expectations are high. With most of their key players back, the Cubs have the necessary pieces to replicate another playoff appearance. However, there are still a few open spots on the roster that will keep things interesting in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"172\" data-end=\"623\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/krQOjEvyYvg7v_hOVw56ug--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTQyNztjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/chicago_tribune_local_801\/018988a500f44803ef215003c4f7ed51\" alt=\"Chicago Cubs opening day roster projection: Bullpen and bench spots up for  grabs - Yahoo Sports\" \/><\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"625\" data-end=\"628\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"630\" data-end=\"658\"><strong data-start=\"630\" data-end=\"656\">STARTING PITCHERS (5):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"659\" data-end=\"788\">\n<li data-start=\"659\" data-end=\"683\">\n<p data-start=\"661\" data-end=\"683\"><strong data-start=\"661\" data-end=\"681\">LHP Matthew Boyd<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"684\" data-end=\"710\">\n<p data-start=\"686\" data-end=\"710\"><strong data-start=\"686\" data-end=\"708\">RHP Edward Cabrera<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"711\" data-end=\"734\">\n<p data-start=\"713\" data-end=\"734\"><strong data-start=\"713\" data-end=\"732\">RHP Cade Horton<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"735\" data-end=\"760\">\n<p data-start=\"737\" data-end=\"760\"><strong data-start=\"737\" data-end=\"758\">LHP Shota Imanaga<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"761\" data-end=\"788\">\n<p data-start=\"763\" data-end=\"788\"><strong data-start=\"763\" data-end=\"786\">RHP Jameson Taillon<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"790\" data-end=\"1131\">The Cubs\u2019 starting pitching is in a strong position heading into the new season. Despite left-hander <strong data-start=\"891\" data-end=\"908\">Justin Steele<\/strong> being sidelined due to recovery from elbow surgery, he is on track to return by <strong data-start=\"989\" data-end=\"1004\">May or June<\/strong>. This creates a positive outlook for the team as they prioritize long-term health and depth, aiming for a deep postseason run.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1133\" data-end=\"1723\">Each pitcher in the current rotation has something to prove. <strong data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1205\">Cabrera<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1207\" data-end=\"1217\">Horton<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"1223\" data-end=\"1231\">Boyd<\/strong> are focused on health and durability. Meanwhile, <strong data-start=\"1281\" data-end=\"1292\">Imanaga<\/strong> looks to bounce back from previous struggles, and <strong data-start=\"1343\" data-end=\"1354\">Taillon<\/strong> hopes to build upon a strong finish to the <strong data-start=\"1398\" data-end=\"1413\">2025 season<\/strong>. If injuries arise, the Cubs have depth options, such as <strong data-start=\"1471\" data-end=\"1484\">Ben Brown<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1486\" data-end=\"1502\">Javier Assad<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"1504\" data-end=\"1517\">Colin Rea<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1539\">Jordan Wicks<\/strong>. Keep an eye on <strong data-start=\"1556\" data-end=\"1573\">Jaxon Wiggins<\/strong>, the top pitching prospect, as he may impact the roster in the second half of the season, especially if he continues to develop at <strong data-start=\"1705\" data-end=\"1722\">Triple-A Iowa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"1725\" data-end=\"1728\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"1730\" data-end=\"1750\"><strong data-start=\"1730\" data-end=\"1748\">RELIEVERS (8):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1949\">\n<li data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1778\">\n<p data-start=\"1753\" data-end=\"1778\"><strong data-start=\"1753\" data-end=\"1776\">RHP Daniel Palencia<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1779\" data-end=\"1804\">\n<p data-start=\"1781\" data-end=\"1804\"><strong data-start=\"1781\" data-end=\"1802\">RHP Hunter Harvey<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1805\" data-end=\"1827\">\n<p data-start=\"1807\" data-end=\"1827\"><strong data-start=\"1807\" data-end=\"1825\">RHP Phil Maton<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1828\" data-end=\"1849\">\n<p data-start=\"1830\" data-end=\"1849\"><strong data-start=\"1830\" data-end=\"1847\">RHP Colin Rea<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1850\" data-end=\"1873\">\n<p data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"1873\"><strong data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"1871\">LHP Hoby Milner<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1874\" data-end=\"1900\">\n<p data-start=\"1876\" data-end=\"1900\"><strong data-start=\"1876\" data-end=\"1898\">LHP Caleb Thielbar<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1901\" data-end=\"1923\">\n<p data-start=\"1903\" data-end=\"1923\"><strong data-start=\"1903\" data-end=\"1921\">RHP Jacob Webb<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1924\" data-end=\"1949\">\n<p data-start=\"1926\" data-end=\"1949\"><strong data-start=\"1926\" data-end=\"1947\">RHP Ethan Roberts<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1951\" data-end=\"2324\">The Cubs made a significant investment in their bullpen during the offseason, as most of last year\u2019s high-leverage arms are no longer with the team. As a result, there are still some open bullpen spots up for grabs. <strong data-start=\"2167\" data-end=\"2177\">Harvey<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"2179\" data-end=\"2188\">Maton<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"2190\" data-end=\"2200\">Milner<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"2202\" data-end=\"2214\">Thielbar<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"2216\" data-end=\"2224\">Webb<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"2230\" data-end=\"2242\">Palencia<\/strong> are all expected to be key contributors, with <strong data-start=\"2289\" data-end=\"2301\">Palencia<\/strong> opening as the closer.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1951\" data-end=\"2324\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagotribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ctc-l-cubs-spring-training-0217-81_259587592.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Chicago Cubs opening day roster projection\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2326\" data-end=\"2879\">Currently, <strong data-start=\"2337\" data-end=\"2344\">Rea<\/strong> is poised to be a long reliever. The Cubs have one bullpen spot still up for grabs, and whoever secures it will likely have minor-league options remaining, offering manager <strong data-start=\"2518\" data-end=\"2536\">Craig Counsell<\/strong> and the Cubs flexibility. <strong data-start=\"2563\" data-end=\"2576\">Ben Brown<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"2578\" data-end=\"2594\">Javier Assad<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"2600\" data-end=\"2616\">Porter Hodge<\/strong> are likely to start the year at <strong data-start=\"2649\" data-end=\"2666\">Triple-A Iowa<\/strong> to maintain their starting pitching depth. Keep an eye on <strong data-start=\"2725\" data-end=\"2742\">Ethan Roberts<\/strong>, whose spring performances have been promising, along with <strong data-start=\"2802\" data-end=\"2813\">Rolison<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"2815\" data-end=\"2828\">Hollowell<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"2834\" data-end=\"2843\">Hodge<\/strong>, all of whom have <strong data-start=\"2862\" data-end=\"2878\">MiLB options<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"2881\" data-end=\"2884\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"2886\" data-end=\"2905\"><strong data-start=\"2886\" data-end=\"2903\">CATCHERS (3):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2906\" data-end=\"2974\">\n<li data-start=\"2906\" data-end=\"2926\">\n<p data-start=\"2908\" data-end=\"2926\"><strong data-start=\"2908\" data-end=\"2924\">Carson Kelly<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2927\" data-end=\"2947\">\n<p data-start=\"2929\" data-end=\"2947\"><strong data-start=\"2929\" data-end=\"2945\">Miguel Amaya<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2948\" data-end=\"2974\">\n<p data-start=\"2950\" data-end=\"2974\"><strong data-start=\"2950\" data-end=\"2972\">Mois\u00e9s Ballesteros<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2976\" data-end=\"3300\">While the Cubs\u2019 catching group seems largely settled, <strong data-start=\"3030\" data-end=\"3045\">Ballesteros<\/strong> presents an interesting case. The 22-year-old is an impressive hitter, but the Cubs have to decide whether to keep him on the roster in a primarily <strong data-start=\"3194\" data-end=\"3215\">designated hitter<\/strong> role or allow him to continue developing at <strong data-start=\"3260\" data-end=\"3277\">Triple-A Iowa<\/strong> as a regular catcher.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3302\" data-end=\"3724\">The Cubs remain high on <strong data-start=\"3326\" data-end=\"3346\">Ballesteros\u2019 bat<\/strong>, having carried him on the postseason roster last year and using him as a key <strong data-start=\"3425\" data-end=\"3453\">left-handed pinch hitter<\/strong>. However, they are mindful of not sacrificing his development behind the plate. <strong data-start=\"3534\" data-end=\"3549\">Ballesteros<\/strong> might earn a place on the opening-day roster, but if he does, expect a weekly start behind the plate to help his defensive growth while keeping <strong data-start=\"3694\" data-end=\"3703\">Kelly<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"3708\" data-end=\"3717\">Amaya<\/strong> fresh.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"3726\" data-end=\"3729\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"3731\" data-end=\"3752\"><strong data-start=\"3731\" data-end=\"3750\">INFIELDERS (5):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3753\" data-end=\"3857\">\n<li data-start=\"3753\" data-end=\"3774\">\n<p data-start=\"3755\" data-end=\"3774\"><strong data-start=\"3755\" data-end=\"3772\">Michael Busch<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3775\" data-end=\"3795\">\n<p data-start=\"3777\" data-end=\"3795\"><strong data-start=\"3777\" data-end=\"3793\">Nico Hoerner<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3796\" data-end=\"3818\">\n<p data-start=\"3798\" data-end=\"3818\"><strong data-start=\"3798\" data-end=\"3816\">Dansby Swanson<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3819\" data-end=\"3839\">\n<p data-start=\"3821\" data-end=\"3839\"><strong data-start=\"3821\" data-end=\"3837\">Alex Bregman<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3840\" data-end=\"3857\">\n<p data-start=\"3842\" data-end=\"3857\"><strong data-start=\"3842\" data-end=\"3855\">Matt Shaw<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3859\" data-end=\"4291\">The Cubs boast one of the strongest infields in baseball, and there&#8217;s little uncertainty about how the starting infield will look. The only question is how <strong data-start=\"4015\" data-end=\"4028\">Matt Shaw<\/strong> will be integrated into the lineup and what role he will play. Beyond that, the Cubs have <strong data-start=\"4119\" data-end=\"4136\">Jonathon Long<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"4141\" data-end=\"4158\">Scott Kingery<\/strong> as depth options. Long, however, is dealing with a left elbow sprain and has been absent from Cactus League games since <strong data-start=\"4279\" data-end=\"4290\">Feb. 21<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"4293\" data-end=\"4296\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"4298\" data-end=\"4320\"><strong data-start=\"4298\" data-end=\"4318\">OUTFIELDERS (5):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"4321\" data-end=\"4433\">\n<li data-start=\"4321\" data-end=\"4341\">\n<p data-start=\"4323\" data-end=\"4341\"><strong data-start=\"4323\" data-end=\"4339\">Seiya Suzuki<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4342\" data-end=\"4369\">\n<p data-start=\"4344\" data-end=\"4369\"><strong data-start=\"4344\" data-end=\"4367\">Pete Crow-Armstrong<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4370\" data-end=\"4386\">\n<p data-start=\"4372\" data-end=\"4386\"><strong data-start=\"4372\" data-end=\"4384\">Ian Happ<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4387\" data-end=\"4411\">\n<p data-start=\"4389\" data-end=\"4411\"><strong data-start=\"4389\" data-end=\"4409\">Michael Conforto<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4412\" data-end=\"4433\">\n<p data-start=\"4414\" data-end=\"4433\"><strong data-start=\"4414\" data-end=\"4431\">Dylan Carlson<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"4435\" data-end=\"4914\">A major change occurred with <strong data-start=\"4464\" data-end=\"4495\">Tyler Austin\u2019s knee surgery<\/strong>, creating a vacancy in the bench. The Cubs now have <strong data-start=\"4548\" data-end=\"4560\">Conforto<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"4562\" data-end=\"4573\">Carlson<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"4579\" data-end=\"4592\">McCormick<\/strong> fighting for <strong data-start=\"4606\" data-end=\"4628\">two outfield spots<\/strong>. <strong data-start=\"4630\" data-end=\"4642\">Conforto<\/strong> brings a strong track record despite a rough <strong data-start=\"4688\" data-end=\"4703\">2025 season<\/strong> with the <strong data-start=\"4713\" data-end=\"4736\">Los Angeles Dodgers<\/strong>. On the other hand, <strong data-start=\"4757\" data-end=\"4785\">Carlson\u2019s switch-hitting<\/strong> offers flexibility, and his <strong data-start=\"4814\" data-end=\"4837\">spring performances<\/strong> (7-for-13, two doubles, five walks, three strikeouts) have been encouraging.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4435\" data-end=\"4914\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagotribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ctc-l-cubs-spring-training-0218-64_259638532.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Chicago Cubs opening day roster projection\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4916\" data-end=\"5186\">The Cubs are considering how <strong data-start=\"4945\" data-end=\"4975\">minor-league option status<\/strong> could affect roster decisions, which means <strong data-start=\"5019\" data-end=\"5030\">Carlson<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"5035\" data-end=\"5048\">Alc\u00e1ntara<\/strong> could start the season in Iowa. <strong data-start=\"5081\" data-end=\"5094\">McCormick<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"5099\" data-end=\"5110\">Carlson<\/strong> can both play all three outfield positions, offering plenty of versatility.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"5188\" data-end=\"5191\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"5193\" data-end=\"5775\" data-is-only-node=\"\"><strong data-start=\"5193\" data-end=\"5211\">IN CONCLUSION:<\/strong><br data-start=\"5211\" data-end=\"5214\" \/>With <strong data-start=\"5219\" data-end=\"5234\">Opening Day<\/strong> just a few weeks away, the Cubs\u2019 roster is beginning to take shape. Many spots are already locked in, but several key battles, especially in the bullpen and bench, will define how the Cubs set up their 26-man roster.<br data-start=\"5451\" data-end=\"5454\" \/>Manager <strong data-start=\"5462\" data-end=\"5480\">Craig Counsell<\/strong> has a tough task ahead, but with the depth and talent the Cubs possess, the team is poised to make another strong push for the postseason. <strong data-start=\"5620\" data-end=\"5632\">March 26<\/strong> against the <strong data-start=\"5645\" data-end=\"5669\">Washington Nationals<\/strong> at <strong data-start=\"5673\" data-end=\"5690\">Wrigley Field<\/strong> will mark the beginning of what promises to be another exciting season for the Cubs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MESA, Ariz. \u2014 The Chicago Cubs enter spring training with high hopes, aiming to get through the season as healthy as possible.For a team that returns the&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":159649,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-159611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster Revealed \u2013 But Will Bullpen and Bench Spots Be Claimed? Tension builds as competition heats up for those coveted positions! - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster Revealed \u2013 But Will Bullpen and Bench Spots Be Claimed? Tension builds as competition heats up for those coveted positions! - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"MESA, Ariz. \u2014 The Chicago Cubs enter spring training with high hopes, aiming to get through the season as healthy as possible.For a team that returns the...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-04T11:33:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/avtnew-39-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MrThanh\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MrThanh\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611\",\"name\":\"\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster Revealed \u2013 But Will Bullpen and Bench Spots Be Claimed? Tension builds as competition heats up for those coveted positions! - NEWS USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/avtnew-39-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-04T11:33:03+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-04T11:33:03+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/avtnew-39-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/avtnew-39-1.jpg\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster Revealed \u2013 But Will Bullpen and Bench Spots Be Claimed? Tension builds as competition heats up for those coveted positions!\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"NEWS USA\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec\",\"name\":\"MrThanh\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MrThanh\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=6\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster Revealed \u2013 But Will Bullpen and Bench Spots Be Claimed? Tension builds as competition heats up for those coveted positions! - NEWS USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster Revealed \u2013 But Will Bullpen and Bench Spots Be Claimed? Tension builds as competition heats up for those coveted positions! - NEWS USA","og_description":"MESA, Ariz. \u2014 The Chicago Cubs enter spring training with high hopes, aiming to get through the season as healthy as possible.For a team that returns the...","og_url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611","og_site_name":"NEWS USA","article_published_time":"2026-03-04T11:33:03+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/avtnew-39-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"MrThanh","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MrThanh","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611","name":"\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster Revealed \u2013 But Will Bullpen and Bench Spots Be Claimed? Tension builds as competition heats up for those coveted positions! - NEWS USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/avtnew-39-1.jpg","datePublished":"2026-03-04T11:33:03+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-04T11:33:03+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/avtnew-39-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/avtnew-39-1.jpg","width":1080,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159611#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster Revealed \u2013 But Will Bullpen and Bench Spots Be Claimed? Tension builds as competition heats up for those coveted positions!"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/","name":"NEWS USA","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec","name":"MrThanh","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MrThanh"},"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=6"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=159611"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159611\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":159650,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159611\/revisions\/159650"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/159649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=159611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=159611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=159611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}