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The Chicago Cubs‘ future is bright, but spring training has produced mixed results in 2014. They have seen performances they didn’t expect on opposite ends of the spectrum. Some players have been better than expected, while others have flopped and lowered expectations. 

Realistically, the Cubs will hope to be competing for a playoff spot in 2015, and some flashes they’ve seen from certain players this season have given them no reason to second-guess that timetable. However, a few performances by other players must have them worried about how quickly they hope to be competing. 

In the end, it’s only spring training, and the results should be taken with a grain of salt, but results can be indicative of underlying issues with players. Additionally, spring training is everyone’s first chance to see players play who they wouldn’t normally see. Naturally, people will race to judgment on guys who aren’t performing well right away. This list of disappointing players isn’t aimed at saying they will all fail in the big leagues. It is only to say that they have to pick up their performance if they want to make an impact anytime soon.

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Coming into spring training this MLB season, the Chicago Cubs have some decisions to make regarding roster spots. They also have some decisions to make regarding where to start their young prospects when the season begins. Many of those decisions will be made based on performances in spring training and so far, the Cubs have gotten strong performances from a handful of players. While many players have played well, five have shined brighter than the rest.

These five players include prospects the Cubs are counting on in the future, guys who hope to make a name for themselves and recent acquisitions by the team. No matter where they end up in the team’s future plans, these five players have majorly impressed in the first two weeks of spring training.

For a complete list of Chicago Cubs’ spring training stats used in this article, click here.

Jacob Kornhauser is a Chicago Cubs Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @KornSports or add him to your Google+ network. 

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Spring training is like a great awakening across Arizona and Florida as teams build hope and expectations for the year to come. Luckily, the Cubs aren’t trying to fool anyone into thinking they’ll contend this year. 

However, for Cubs fans, there are still several things to look forward to this spring training. This is such a vital development time for young and talented players, something the Cubs have a lot of, and to see that development firsthand is pretty exciting. 

Everyone has their own opinion of what they are most looking forward to in spring training whether it be position battles, talented players or just players signing autographs. For the smart and attentive Cubs fan, though, there are several interesting things to look for this spring. Here are five of them.

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Every spring training defined storylines are set. However, as it progresses, some unexpected developments take place and change everything fans had assumed. Breakout stars emerge and other “sure things” disappoint.

This year will be no different, and the Cubs have as much uncertainty at the major league level as any team in baseball. That’s why this spring training could be so interesting for the North Siders. Some unexpected contributors could crack the Opening Day roster and some role players could end up with bigger roles than expected.

While there are plenty of moving pieces as the Cubs try to figure out their long-term plans, here are five players that could break out this spring training.

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Whenever prospects get hyped up enough without reaching their ceiling or realizing their potential yet, people will want to compare them to current or former major league players. While it’s not an exact science, having someone who is in the middle of or has completed their MLB career as a comparison can sometimes give fans a better idea of the type of player that prospect may become.

Before getting into the current and former players the Chicago Cubs’ plethora of hitting talent resembles, it’s important to remember that just because they are similar to a player doesn’t mean their careers will turn out the same way. So much of baseball is mental, and that certainly can make or break a career.

These comparisons are simply based on skill set and the play style of the players involved. With that said, here’s a look at some of the Cubs’ top hitting prospects and some players they may resemble when they get called up.

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There’s no doubt that the bold move of luring Theo Epstein away from the Boston Red Sox to become the Chicago Cubs‘ president of baseball operations changed the culture of baseball on the north side of Chicago. Instantly, there was a change in organizational philosophy and for the first time in seemingly forever, the Cubs were preparing to undergo a rebuild.

Gone were the days when noncompetitive Cubs teams tried to rebuild through signing free agents to overpriced multi-year deals. Looking back over the first two-plus years of the Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer regime, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. Here’s how the Cubs got to this point. 

October 13, 2011: The Cubs hire Theo Epstein as their president of baseball operations.

In order to make this deal possible, Epstein had to resign as the GM of the Boston Red Sox because he had a year left on his deal in Boston. With the hire, the Cubs made it clear that they wanted to head in a completely new direction. One could say that Epstein has a record of reversing curses, and the Cubs were clearly hopeful that he could continue that trend. As part of the deal, the league also announced that the Cubs would have to provide the Red Sox with compensation. 

October 26, 2011: The Cubs hire Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod from the San Diego Padres organization. 

They name Hoyer as the team’s general manager and McLeod as the director of scouting and player development. These two helped Epstein build a championship team in Boston in 2004. With these hires, the top of the Cubs’ new front office was effectively set. 

November 2, 2011: The Cubs fire manager Mike Quade. 

As can usually be expected when there’s a regime change in the front office, there’s a regime change in the dugout, as well. While Quade didn’t have much to work with, the team still evidently felt that going in a new direction at manager as well was the right move for the team going forward. 

November 17, 2011: The Cubs hire manager Dale Sveum.

The former Brewers hitting coach is tabbed as the next manager of the Cubs after the team interviewed several candidates, including Mike Maddux (who later withdrew his name from consideration) and Sandy Alomar Jr. 

January 6, 2012: The Cubs trade pitcher Andrew Cashner to the Padres for pitcher Zach Cates and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. 

After missing out on Prince Fielder in free agency, making a move like this gave the Cubs what they believed to be their first baseman of the future in Anthony Rizzo. Whether he turns out the way that management envisioned remains to be seen, but this move majorly changed the direction of the club long-term. 

January 11, 2012: The Cubs sign pitcher Paul Maholm to a one-year deal. 

This signing of former division rival Maholm normally wouldn’t seem like a big deal in terms of the organization’s future, but what he got them at the trade deadline made his signing an important one. A signing like this was also a indication of things to come in the Epstein/Hoyer regime; signing mid-level players to one-year deals and hoping to trade them at the deadline for prospects has become a successful trend for the Cubs’ front office. 

February 21, 2012: The Cubs send pitcher Chris Carpenter to the Red Sox as compensation for Theo Epstein coming to the Cubs before his deal with Boston expired. 

No, this wasn’t the Cardinals‘ former ace Chris Carpenter, but this was significant because Carpenter was one of the Cubs’ better pitching prospects. One of the biggest problems facing the Cubs right now is their lack of pitching depth in the minor leagues, so this move could prove significant even though Carpenter hasn’t panned out on the big league level as of yet.

June 12, 2012: The Cubs fire hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. 

Once thought of as the savior for the Cubs lineup after coming over from Texas, the lack of offensive production forced the Cubs’ front office to move in a new direction. With this move, most remaining top front office members and coaching staff were selected by Epstein and Hoyer. 

June 26, 2012: The Cubs recall 1B Anthony Rizzo from Triple-A Iowa. 

After trading for him in January, the Cubs decide that it was time for Rizzo to play first base in a Chicago Cubs uniform. He didn’t disappoint in his first prolonged big league action, hitting 15 home runs and driving in 48 while batting .285 in 87 games. His season was highlighted by a walk-off two-run homer against the rival Cardinals on July 29th. 

June 30, 2012: The Cubs and OF Jorge Soler agree to a nine-year deal. 

Cuban defector Soler boasts more raw power than many youngsters in baseball. This signing is the first major move of the Epstein and Hoyer regime that shifted focus to the future, when the team should be competing in the playoffs. 

July 11, 2012: The Cubs sign OF Albert Almora to a minor league contract after drafting him sixth overall in the June draft. 

Following this pick, the Cubs believed that they had found their leadoff man of the future. Coming out of high school, Almora still had to grow quite a bit, and again the forward-thinking front office knew that when his time came, it would also likely be the Cubs’ time to compete. 

July 30, 2012: The Cubs trade pitcher Paul Maholm and OF Reed Johnson to the Braves for pitchers Jaye Chapman and Arodys Vizcaino. 

Since they signed Maholm to a one-year deal in the offseason, the Cubs basically scooped up Chapman and Vizcaino for the price of Maholm‘s contract from April through July. Vizcaino was coming off of Tommy John surgery at the time of the deal and he suffered a setback in 2013, but he seems ready to make an impact from the bullpen in the 2014 season.

August 15, 2012: Cubs fire vice president of player personnel Oneri Fleita. 

This came as somewhat of a surprise after Fleita signed a four-year extension the previous offseason, but again Epstein and Hoyer evidently felt that putting their own guys in place at the top was the right way to go. Fleita had been with the organization in various capacities since 1995. 

August 28, 2012: The Cubs and SS Starlin Castro agree to a seven-year contract extension. 

In an interesting deal, both sides were taking a risk. By signing the budding star to a seven-year, $60 million contract, the Cubs are saying that they believe he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. If he turns out to be a superstar, then it’s a good deal for the Cubs and a bad deal for Castro. Should he completely flop, then it’s the other way around. Just a year-and-a-half into the extension, it’s unclear who the winner of this contract is right now. 

August 29, 2012: The Cubs hire Brandon Hyde as director of player development. 

This move meant that Hyde would now be in charge of running the Cubs’ farm system and making sure that players at all levels were progressing the way they were supposed to be. Effectively, Hyde was the replacement for Fleita after he was fired two weeks before. Recently, Hyde was moved to the dugout to be the Cubs’ bench coach for the 2014 season. 

November 27, 2012: The Cubs and pitcher Scott Feldman agree to terms on a one-year deal. 

Like the Maholm signing, this didn’t seem like big news at the time, but the group of players that he brought in return made this signing a big deal. It also established a trend that the front office would like to continue: signing players in the same fashion that they signed Maholm the year before. 

December 7, 2012: The Cubs and pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa agree to terms on a two-year deal. 

At the time, it seemed like Fujikawa would be the setup man to closer Carlos Marmol. However, injuries made him ineffective and eventually ended his season extremely prematurely. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in June, he is expected back at some point toward the middle of the 2014 season. As of right now, this move isn’t significant, but he could be a wild card in the bullpen if he stays healthy and can be effective in 2014. 

December 21, 2012: The Cubs and OF Nate Schierholtz agree to terms on a one-year deal. 

This move was reminiscent of the sort that Epstein and Hoyer have liked making in the past. Take a player that was marginally productive as a role player and throw him into the everyday starting lineup and see how he does.

This strategy worked out really well for the Cubs and Schierholtz, as the lefty ended up hitting 21 home runs in 2013, which was more than double his previous career high. Moving forward, Schierholtz could be a very interesting trade piece in 2014 if the Cubs decide to go that route since they have so many young outfielders waiting in the minor leagues. 

January 3, 2013: The Cubs and Edwin Jackson agree to terms on a four-year deal.

Giving $48 million ($52 million including a signing bonus) to a player that has never seemed to stick in one city seemed risky at the time. For a guy who can eat up innings and be a workhorse, the deal didn’t seem atrocious, but 2013 proved to be a major down year for Jackson. He lost 18 games and had an ERA just below 5.00.

He showed a glimpse of why he got the contract he did when he went 3-1 with a 1.84 ERA in July. Since he gets behind in counts often, Jackson will never have a low ERA, but if he can consistently work late into games and keep the Cubs in it, he can be a solid contributor as a third starter. 

April 3, 2013: The Cubs and Ryan Sweeney agree to terms on a minor league contract. 

This was a low-risk proposition for the Cubs, who snatched up Sweeney on the chance that he could eventually be productive at the major league level again. The signing proved to be a smart one as Sweeney ended up totaling six home runs and 19 RBI in limited action.

He was injured often in 2013, but after receiving another contract from the Cubs in the 2013 offseason, he projects as a starter until some of the club’s young talent starts making its way to Wrigley Field.

May 13, 2013: The Cubs and 1B Anthony Rizzo agree to terms on a seven-year contract extension. 

Following suit from the extension they gave Castro, the Cubs again gave Rizzo more money than he was worth up front in hopes that he would eventually be worth far more in the future. For a left-handed hitter with the power to hit more than 30 home runs a year, it seemed like a relatively safe risk for the organization. 

July 2, 2013: The Cubs trade C Steve Clevenger and pitcher Scott Feldman to the Orioles for starting pitcher Jake Arrieta and reliever Pedro Strop. 

When it’s all said and done, this may be one of the biggest steals that the Cubs have pulled off in a while. While Clevenger was showing promise, he was never going to be the Cubs’ everyday catcher. Feldman was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason with the goal of getting a return for him exactly like this. 

What the Cubs received in return was two promising pitchers whose teams essentially gave up on them. Arrieta was a former top prospect, and after performing well down the stretch for the Cubs, he projects into the No. 4 or 5 slot in the Cubs’ 2014 starting rotation. 

Strop pitched extremely well for the Orioles in 2012, going 5-2 with a 2.44 ERA in the setup role. However, things seemed to fall apart early in the 2013 season for Strop, and the Orioles lost trust in him. There was a period of two weeks between May and June that Strop wasn’t used once in Baltimore. Once he came to the Cubs, though, management informed him that he was tipping his slider, and once he corrected that, it was smooth sailing for the righty. 

After arriving in Chicago, Strop posted a 2.83 ERA while going 2-2. Without the signing of Jose Veras in the 2013 offseason, Strop would have had a great chance at being the team’s 2014 closer. That being said, he still looks like the setup man or closer of the future. 

July 12, 2013: The Cubs and 3B Kris Bryant agree to terms on a minor league contract. 

After drafting him second overall in the June draft, the Cubs were able to sign the player that was far and away the best hitter in the draft. In college at San Diego, Bryant clubbed 31 home runs, which was 10 more than the next closest player. 

He continued his dominance in the minor leagues and is now on the fast track to Chicago. 

July 19, 2013: The Cubs recall OF Junior Lake from Tripla-A Iowa. 

Originally a shortstop and third base prospect, Lake is plugged into the Cubs outfield because the organization evidently projects him getting more playing time there. For a player who wasn’t necessarily a top-flight prospect, Lake performed extremely well. 

The fleet-footed Lake hit six homers to go along with 16 RBI and batted .284 in 236 at-bats. That performance, as well as his room to grow, have him on track to be a starting outfielder for the Cubs in 2014 and possibly beyond depending on his sustained performance. 

July 23, 2013: The Cubs trade pitcher Matt Garza to the Rangers for 3B Mike Olt and pitchers C.J. Edwards and Justin Grimm. 

While the Feldman trade may have been the Cubs’ biggest trade steal, this was the Cubs’ biggest trade yield. The Cubs received Mike Olt, who was a top prospect in the Rangers organization, and after battling through vision issues a year ago he is primed to make a run at the starting third base job this spring training. 

C.J. Edwards is an undersized, yet extremely impressive young pitcher. He needs to fill out his 6’2″, 155-pound frame, but the production people have seen from Edwards in the lower levels of the minor leagues is already enough to call him one of two top pitching prospects in the Cubs organization. 

Grimm is not as highly touted a prospect as Edwards, but he produced at the major league level a season ago and will be battling for one of the final projected bullpen spots this spring training. 

July 26, 2013: The Cubs trade OF Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees for pitcher Corey Black. 

Ridding themselves of the last bad contract from the Jim Hendry era, the Cubs were actually able to get a decent return. Black isn’t nearly major league-ready, but the fact that the Cubs got a player who can project into their rotation at some point in the future was solid given Soriano’s remaining contract. 

While he didn’t perform poorly, Soriano never lived up to the giant contract that he signed with the Cubs. This move was symbolic of a franchise shifting directions and looking toward the future as it developed an entirely new brand of Cubs baseball. 

September 30, 2013: The Cubs fire manager Dale Sveum. 

It seemed obvious from the moment they hired him that Sveum wasn’t going to be the Cubs’ manager when they were competing for championships, but his departure came a season or two earlier than most likely expected. 

Like Quade, he wasn’t given much to work with, but his smug demeanor didn’t play out well with the team losing as many games as it did. He did help groom some players like Castro and Rizzo, but his tenure was a forgettable one from the Cubs’ perspective. 

November 7, 2013: The Cubs hire Rick Renteria as manager. 

After missing out on coming to an agreement with former Cubs catcher Joe Girardi, the club decided to hire Padres bench coach Rick Renteria. The club made it a point to add more Spanish-speaking managerial staff due to its plethora of Spanish-speaking talent in the minor leagues, and Renteria fit the bill in that respect and others. 

Renteria is seemingly in a gray area as manager of this team. When Sveum took the job two years before, it seemed apparent that he wouldn’t be coaching the team when it was contending. Now, though, Renteria will be coaching a team that is still at least a year, and maybe two, away from competing. How he performs as manager may directly affect if he’s around when the club’s competing or not. 

December 12, 2013: The Cubs trade OF Brian Bogusevic to the Marlins for OF Justin Ruggiano. 

Acquiring Ruggiano gives the Cubs more versatility on their bench. He figures to be a fourth outfielder and an often-utilized pinch hitter. He hit 18 home runs last season while not playing every day, so the move provides the Cubs with more depth on their bench. 

December 16, 2013: The Cubs and reliever Wesley Wright agree to a one-year deal. 

What this deal did more than anything is give the team more flexibility in the bullpen. Now Wright joins James Russell as the two lefties in the Cubs’ ‘pen. Being able to use multiple lefties is invaluable to a team whose bullpen underachieved a season ago.

December 27, 2013: The Cubs and reliever Jose Veras agree to terms on a one-year deal.

This signing adds even more depth to a drastically improved Cubs bullpen. It allows the Cubs to have a proven closer at the ready while pitchers like Pedro Strop and Arodys Vizcaino develop into the possible closers of the future.

January 13, 2014: The Cubs announce that “Clark” will be the first mascot in team history. 

In possibly the worst-timed mascot announcement of all time, the Cubs managed to discourage a fanbase even further. 

Conclusions: 

The first two years of the rebuild have been a roller-coaster ride, as expected. What will be more indicative of the progress of the rebuild will be how the next two years go. How they go could determine the future of a franchise rooted in futility. Fortunately, Epstein and Hoyer are hoping that they can make lightning strike twice.

For a full list of Cubs transactions over the past two-plus seasons, click here. 

As always, if you want to hear more or just want to talk Cubs baseball with me, follow me and/or message me on Twitter @KornSports. 

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Several players have their roster spots already locked up in Chicago, while others will be fighting hard in spring training to join the Cubs in Pittsburgh on Opening Day. Here’s a look at some of the obvious and not-so-obvious roster selections to look for.

Starting Rotation

Jeff Samardzija: Clearly, Samardzija will make the Cubs team. He will be the team’s Opening Day starter, according to president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, per The SportsXchange.

Travis Wood: Despite all of the noise surrounding Samardzija, Wood was actually the Cubs’ most effective pitcher in 2013, posting a 3.11 ERA. He was also the Cubs’ only All-Star a season ago.

Edwin Jackson: Even with his woes a season ago, Jackson figures to slide into the third starter spot because he still has good stuff and eats up innings. However, the journeyman will have to improve drastically to justify his $12 million annual salary.

Jake Arrieta: Once a promising young star for the Orioles, Arrieta‘s struggles in Baltimore pushed them to trade him and Pedro Strop to the Cubs last season for pitcher Scott Feldman. In nine games in Chicago, Arrieta went 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Still young, he could prove to be a steal in that trade and fits nicely as a fourth starter.

Jason Hammel: As long as he stays healthy, Hammel‘s decent track record should be enough to earn him the fifth starter spot. That being said, if he struggles in spring training, then youngster Chris Rusin could sweep the job out from under his feet.

Bullpen

Hector Rondon: This may be Rondon‘s best chance to prove to the Cubs that he belongs at the big league level. As a 25-year-old rookie, he posted a 4.77 ERA in 2013. He is very much on the bubble, but the fact that the club needs to see what they have in him long term may help his cause.

Justin Grimm: Pitching in just nine innings for the Cubs last season after being sent over from the Rangers, Grimm made an impression that he belongs in the bullpen. At just 25 years old, he is intriguing as a long-term solution in the pen.

Blake Parker: One of the more pleasant surprises for the Cubs last season was Parker, who pitched effectively out of the bullpen. He posted an impressive 2.72 ERA across 46.1 innings.

Arodys Vizcaino: A relatively unknown player to the average fan, Vizcaino has the chance to be a surprise at Wrigley Field this season. Before undergoing Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2012, he was the Braves’ No. 2 prospect and was dealt to the Cubs in the Paul Maholm trade at the 2012 trade deadline. Vizcaino throws gas; his fastball averages 96 mph.

James Russell: One of the most dependable bullpen arms that the Cubs have had over the last few years, this lefty is a lock to make the team. He should continue to be effective throughout this season.

Wesley Wright: Signed as a free agent this offseason, Wright figures to make a major contribution to the Cubs bullpen this season. He gives the pen more flexibility, as he and Russell provide a one-two punch of lefties. 

Pedro Strop (Setup Man): Acquired from the Orioles in the same trade that netted Arrieta, Strop proved to be a beneficiary of a change of scenery last year. He was so impressive a season ago that if the team hadn’t signed Jose Veras, it’s likely that Strop would have been the team’s closer this season.

Jose Veras (Closer): A relatively surprising free-agent signing, Veras makes the Cubs bullpen appear 10 times better going into 2014 than last season. His experience in the closer role gives him the advantage over a young Strop.

Starting Lineup

Welington Castillo (Catcher): Even though he batted just .272 a season ago, Castillo got on base more often than most Cubs did. Despite his average, he had an on-base percentage of .349. While he will never be a superstar in the major leagues, he projects as a very solid backstop for years to come, especially as his defense improves.

Anthony Rizzo (First Base): Along with Starlin Castro, Rizzo is a cornerstone of the Cubs as they move forward with their youth movement. While he struggled at times a season ago, he has 30-plus home run ability and will be in a Chicago uniform long term.

Darwin Barney (Second Base): If second base prospect Arismendy Alcantara really impresses in spring training, this could get interesting. Despite his stellar fielding, Barney hit just .208 a season ago, and the Cubs know they need an upgrade offensively at the position. Alcantara may be able to provide that; he hit 15 home runs, drove in 69 and stole 31 bases last year in Double-A.

Mike Olt (Third Base): Olt has the inside track at the starting third base job this season for a couple of reasons. First of all, he has major league experience, so management shouldn’t be worried that he’s being rushed. Second, the Cubs don’t have much time to wait and see what they have in him. With infielders like Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Alcantara coming up through the minor leagues, the team needs to have a clearer picture of what the roster will look like in 2015 and beyond.

Starlin Castro (Shortstop): His struggles last season were well-documented, but as young as he is, Castro gets a pass on one bad season. It was essentially the first season of his professional career that he could classify as a failure, and he will be better for it in the long run. Going back to his old hitting approach should help him have a bounce-back season.

Junior Lake (Left Field): As a prospect who came up a little bit earlier than the rest, Lake impressed in more than a third of a season at the big league level in 2013. He batted .284 and showed flashes of power, clubbing six home runs and driving in 16 runs. Even though he has above-average speed, he stole just four bases in 2013, so look for that number to jump this season.

Ryan Sweeney (Center Field): While it seems like he’s been around the league forever, Sweeney is just 28 years old. His performance a season ago and his veteran presence are enough to keep him in the fold in 2014. In the future, he can either mentor Chicago’s many young outfielders or move forward as a bench player.

Nate Schierholtz (Right Field): Previously in his career, Schierholtz hadn’t had the opportunity to be a full-time starter. Last season, he got that opportunity in Chicago and took full advantage of it. He hit 21 home runs and drove in 68 runs while also totaling 32 doubles. With several top prospects on track to make their debuts soon, he appears like he could be dangled in front of teams at the trade deadline.

Bench

Luis Valbuena (2B/3B): Since joining the Cubs, Valbuena has been a solid contributor, but his days as a starter may be over. As long as Olt plays well in spring training, Valbuena figures to be a solid utility man for the Cubs this season at either second or third base.

George Kottaras (Catcher): He was signed as a free agent this season after hitting .180 in limited action a season ago in Kansas City. Kottaras surely wasn’t brought in for his offensive prowess, but he will provide a veteran presence in the clubhouse and a day off every now and then for starter Castillo. 

Donnie Murphy (Utility): A season ago, Murphy randomly broke out for the Cubs. In just 129 at-bats, he clubbed 11 home runs. While it’s unlikely he will duplicate that production over the course of an entire season, having some power on the bench in pinch-hitting situations never hurts. The fact that he can move around the infield defensively also makes him valuable as a role player off the bench.

Justin Ruggiano (Outfield): After agreeing to a one-year, $2 million deal with the Cubs, Ruggiano better be on the big league squad when they break camp in April. While he will never hit for a high average, his 18 home runs in 424 at-bats a season ago exemplify the power value that he provides off the bench. Expect him to contribute both as a fourth outfielder and as the club’s go-to pinch hitter.

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It’s no secret that the only hope that exists for the Chicago Cubs is in their farm system. Top to bottom, they’re one of the best in baseball; they were ranked No 4, according to Keith Law of ESPN Insider (subscription required).

Names like Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Albert Almora and Jorge Soler have become commonplace in Chicago as optimistic fans look past this season and into 2015 and beyond. However, the entire farm system doesn’t consist of elite prospects who are sure to make an impact at the major league level. 

There are always players who burst onto the scene that nobody sees coming. Hopefully for the Cubs faithful, most of their top prospects will pan out. If they don’t, here are three players who could take over or be vital role players in years to come.

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After Mark Gonzalez of the Chicago Tribune reported earlier today that the Chicago Cubs had reached agreements with three of their arbitration eligible players, five players were left for the Cubs to negotiate with before arbitration hearings begin on February 1. 

According to the report, the Cubs have reached agreements with Nate Schierholtz, whose salary jumped from $2.25 million to $5 million, James Russell on a one-year, $1.775 million deal and Luis Valbuena on a one-year, $1.71 million deal. That leaves starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Travis Wood, reliever Pedro Strop, second baseman Darwin Barney and outfielder Justin Ruggiano as arbitration-eligible players who have yet to reach agreements. 

Based on their performances last season and the market for players of their caliber, here is how the Cubs’ arbitration process figures to pan out. 

RHP Jeff Samardzija

Samardzija has been one of the better pitchers in the Cubs rotation for a couple of years now and he’s in for a raise. How much of a raise he receives remains to be seen. However, how his value is seen by his camp and how it is seen by the Cubs is likely to be different. That means that an arbitration hearing is very possible. 

What the Cubs will argue is that Samardzija is too inconsistent to demand whatever figure his camp requests. Additionally, his 4.34 ERA doesn’t look great when arguing for a second-tier salary. 

Samardzija’s camp will argue that his basic stats don’t do him justice and that advanced sabermetrics show that he’s more valuable than perceived. Also, the fact that Samardzija has eaten up innings over the past two seasons will help his case. 

Dan Haren, who had worse statistics than Samardzija last season (10-14, 4.67 ERA and 169.2 IP) will be making $13 million this season. However, Haren’s track record of success helped him get a more lucrative deal than most with those stats. 

Last season, Samardzija made $2.64 million and he is sure to get more than that this coming season. MLB Trade Rumors projects that Samardzija’s base salary this season will rise to $4.9 million. However, trying to keep a good relationship with their current ace as contract extension talks go forward, the Cubs may offer more than that. 

The projection: $5.5-7M contract this season.

LHP Travis Wood

The Cubs’ current No. 2 starter had a breakout year last season and actually produced at a higher level than the higher profile Samardzija. Wood posted a 3.11 ERA last year and pitched exactly 200 innings. 

The fact that Wood made just $527.5 thousand last season puts him in line to receive the biggest raise of any Cub this offseason. Since he’s a lefty, he ate up innings last year and posted a very solid ERA, he’s earned the raise. 

While the arbitration process isn’t necessarily about the long term when negotiating, Wood is also entering his prime. All of these factors have led to MLB Trade Rumors projecting that Wood will jump to a $3.6 million base salary in 2014. 

Since he’s still in his mid-to-late 20s, is a lefty and is just hitting his prime, Wood deserves every penny of that if not more. 

The projection: $4-5M contract this season. 

2B Darwin Barney

It’s no secret that the Cubs’ second baseman had a brutal year at the plate last season, but Barney’s fielding still makes him a valuable player. Add to that the fact that the Gold Glove winner made only $562 thousand a year ago and Barney is in for a raise even after hitting .208 in 2013. 

Unless he turns around his woes at the plate, Barney doesn’t figure into the Cubs’ future plans. This really is Barney’s last chance to prove himself and remain a Cub in the future. With plenty of infielders coming up through the minor leagues, Barney’s fate may already be sealed. 

However, for the 2014 season Barney is more valuable than his current base salary. That’s why MLB Trade Rumors projects that Barney will make $2.1 million in 2014. That seems pretty fair as Barney’s struggles at the plate and exploits in the field cancel each other out and make him a very average player. 

The projection: $1.5-2.5M contract this season. 

RHP Pedro Strop

Acquiring Strop from the Orioles last season may have been the Cubs’ biggest trade steal in a while. For Baltimore last season Strop posted a 7.25 ERA. After arriving in Chicago, Strop lowered his ERA to a sterling 2.83. While pitching nearly twice as many innings for the Cubs, Strop gave up less hits and runs than he did for the Orioles. 

While pitching for the Orioles Strop was tipping his slider and as soon as he came to Chicago, they corrected that problem and Strop was nearly lights out from the bullpen. As it stands right now, Strop should be the team’s setup man coming out of spring training. 

With an increased role comes an increased salary. Strop should figure into the Cubs’ future plans and in 2014 at least, he will get a slight raise. MLB Trade Rumors projects Strop’s base salary of $502 thousand to rise to $1 million this year. Depending on how he does this season, that figure could continue to rise in years to come. 

The projection: $1-2M contract this season. 

OF Justin Ruggiano

The former Marlins outfielder hasn’t played a single game for the Cubs yet, but he is still arbitration eligible. Even though he swings and misses with the best of them, he also provides some power upside. Last season, Ruggiano hit .222 with 18 home runs and 50 runs batted in for Miami. 

Ruggiano is likely to be a fourth outfielder and a frequently used pinch hitter this season and that will give him a sizable jump in base salary. His raw power alone will earn him far more than the $494.5 thousand that he made a season ago. 

As a role player, Ruggiano won’t make top dollar, but his ability to put the ball out of the ballpark will get him more money than most in his position. According to MLB Trade Rumors, his power is good enough to earn him $1.8 million. Given the fact that Cubs management hasn’t dealt with him firsthand yet, he may make a tick below that. 

The projection: $1.5-2M contract this season.

If you want to talk Cubs baseball, follow me on Twitter @KornSports.  

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It’s no secret that the Chicago Cubs have been in a rebuild for the past couple of seasons, and the effort has resulted in several top prospects working their way through the organization. Some top prospects are still at least a year away from playing at Wrigley Field, while others could be making their way to the Friendly Confines within the calendar year.

Unlike in years past, the Cubs have more than one “can’t-miss” prospect, and in fact, they nearly have a “can’t-miss” prospect at every position. While some prospects are bound to fail and some to succeed, here’s the list of the Cubs’ top prospects at every position heading into 2014.

Pitcher: C.J. Edwards

Fellow pitching prospect Pierce Johnson is more major league ready than C.J. Edwards is, but Edwards has a much higher ceiling in the long run. Edwards was the steal of the Matt Garza trade a season ago, which also landed the Cubs Mike Olt.

When he was shipped to Chicago, Edwards was 8-2 with a 1.83 ERA for Class A Hickory. After being sent to the Cubs, he continued to have a stellar 1.96 ERA in six games.

Edwards projects as a power arm that can miss bats with the best of them. Last season, he had a stellar 12 K/9. While High-A Daytona is the highest level that he’s played at so far, Edwards’ arm strength isn’t going away barring injury.

When it’s all said and done, Edwards projects as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter in a major league rotation as someone who can eat up innings and strike batters out.

One key concern for Edwards is that he is extremely lanky. Standing 6’2″, he weighs just 155 pounds. Clearly, he will have to add to his size to stay durable at the major league level.

He’s only spent two years in the minors, so Edwards has plenty of time to add size before he’s pitching for the Cubs. At only 22 years old, he’s primed to be a key contributor in the major league rotation in the next couple of years.

ETA: 2015

Catcher: Willson Contreras

If there’s one position that the Cubs’ farm system is lacking, it’s catching. Since they have Welington Castillo set to be the everyday catcher for the foreseeable future, they can continue to sign cheap veteran backups.

Nonetheless, the best catching prospect in the Cubs’ organization is Willson Contreras. He began playing in the Cubs organization when he was just 17 years old, and as of last season, he had worked his way up to Class A ball in Kane County.

While he provides some power upside, Contreras has difficulty getting on base. According to FanGraphs, his strikeout percentage of 19.1 is almost triple his walk percentage of 7.5 from a year ago, which is staggering. He will have to majorly improve his eye at the plate if he hopes to end up in the majors in the near future.

An encouraging sign is that in 310 at-bats, he slugged 11 home runs and drove in 46 runs while stealing eight bases last season. However, Contreras’ .248 batting average and .310 on-base percentage will have to improve drastically for him to take the next step in his professional development.

ETA: 2016

First Baseman: Dan Vogelbach

Standing 6′ and weighing 250 pounds, there’s no question that first base prospect Dan Vogelbach is all about power. However, Vogelbach isn’t a traditional power hitter.

The 21-year-old hits for a decent average and gets on base regularly, something that has grown unusual in the Cubs farm system. Combined between Class A Kane County and High-A Daytona a season ago, Vogelbach hit 19 home runs to go along with 76 RBIs.

More impressive is that Vogelbach hit .284 and got on base at a .375 clip across both levels.

Clearly, the Cubs have Anthony Rizzo firmly entrenched as the first baseman of the future, so Vogelbach may have difficulty coming up through the Cubs’ minor league system. However, he has shown that he has the tools to eventually compete at the next level.

Based on his size and ability to only play first base, Vogelbach projects better as a player in the American League where he can play the majority of his games as a designated hitter.

ETA: 2015

Second Baseman: Arismendy Alcantara

Based on Darwin Barney’s lackluster hitting performance last season, the Cubs would like to add some pop in the lineup from their second baseman. Whether or not they are able to trade Barney before the season starts, Arismendy Alcantara is likely to be with the Cubs at some point this year.

Even though he hit just .271 in AA last season, Alcantara hit 15 home runs and drove in 69 runs while stealing 31 bases. The fleet-footed second baseman presents above-average power for his position, which would be a major upgrade from Barney.

Due to the need for improvement from the second base position and the fact that Alcantara is considered close to major league ready, he’s likely to be in Chicago sooner rather than later this season.

ETA: Summer 2014

Third Baseman: Kris Bryant

After dominating college ball at the University of San Diego, all Kris Bryant did was continue to dominate the minor leagues. Bryant hit 31 home runs in college, 10 more than the next closest player, which helped him become the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft.

Once he arrived in the minor leagues, Bryant moved his way from rookie ball to A to A+ ball in less than half of a season. A reason for his quick movement through the minor leagues is his approach at the plate that he refined in college.

Combined between the three levels, Bryant hit nine home runs and drove 32 runs in while logging just 128 at-bats. By far the most impressive part of Bryant’s game is that he hit .336 across the three levels.

Bryant continued his domination in the Arizona Fall League, where he became the MVP after hitting .346 with six home runs and 17 RBI in just 21 games.

In the near future, Bryant projects as a legit No. 3 hitter in the major leagues because of his approach and ability to “put balls where they ain’t.” Expect to see Bryant putting that approach to the test at Wrigley Field very soon.

ETA: Summer 2014

Shortstop: Javier Baez

The Cubs’ top prospect, Javier Baez, tore apart the minor leagues last season and looks nearly ready to make the jump to the big leagues.

Putting up gaudy numbers as a 20-year-old, Baez smacked 37 home runs and drove in 111 runs across A+ and AA while hitting .282 and stealing 20 bases. Baez is the closest thing to a five-tool player that the Cubs have in their minor league system.

Baez’s unreal bat speed has enabled him to dominate competition in the minors and projects him as one of the next great offensive shortstops in baseball.

With Starlin Castro at shortstop currently, there are several possibilities once Baez gets the call to the major leagues. Baez could move to second or third base, depending on the development of other prospects. Also, Baez could occupy shortstop and move Castro to second or third base.

Whatever the case is, Baez has a good enough bat that the team will find him a position in the field to get him in the lineup.

ETA: Summer 2014

Left Fielder: Junior Lake

It’s hard to call Junior Lake a top prospect given that he played in major leagues for a large chunk of 2013, but the fact that he’s young and figures to contribute in years to come makes him a top outfield prospect in Chicago.

In 64 games in Chicago last season, Lake hit six home runs and drove in 16 runs while batting .284. He’s already faced major league pitching and has shown that he can make adjustments.

While it’s unlikely that he will ever develop into an all-star, Lake is easily capable of being a contributing member of the Cubs as they transition from rebuilders to contenders.

ETA: He’s already arrived.

Center Fielder: Albert Almora

Last year as a 19-year-old, Albert Almora played his entire season at Class A Kane County and flourished. The centerfielder batted .329 in 249 at-bats.

One concern with Almora is that he has played in less than 100 games in the minor leagues over two seasons. His durability will have to improve for him to stay on track for future promotions through the farm system.

As long as he can stay healthy, Almora projects as an above-average leadoff man. In 61 games a season ago, the teenager struck out just 30 times.

The ability to get on base and score runs makes Almora the Cubs center fielder and leadoff man of the future.

ETA: 2015

Right Fielder: Jorge Soler

Cuban defector Jorge Soler could be a lot further along in his development if he could have avoided the injury bug in 2013. Due to injury, Soler only played in 55 games a season ago, but still showed promise.

The right fielder slapped eight home runs in his shortened season and batted a respectable .281. Even though his development has been pushed back, Soler‘s bat speed still has him on track for a promotion to the Cubs in the near future.

With a jumbled group of outfielders coming up through the minor leagues, Soler could get more time in the minors than he otherwise would, but if he continues to grow into his power the way he’s expected to, he could be playing for the Cubs after next season.

ETA: 2015

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