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The 2014 Chicago Cubs broke camp in Mesa, Ariz. this week with several unanswered questions in regard to their final 25-man roster. There are several position battles which will involve players who are on the cusp of making the major league squad. 

Which players currently on the roster bubble are going to have a tough time making the team?

Let’s take a few moments to examine the players that project to be locks to make the team. 

Starting Pitchers: (Spots 1-4)

The first four roster spots will be allocated to the rotation. Samardzija, Wood and Jackson are no-brainers. Hammel should land one of the last two spots. He signed an one-year, $6 million plus-incentives deal late in January. 

Relievers: (Spots 5-9)

One of the bright spots in an overall dismal year for the 2013 Cubs was the bullpen. Both Strop and Parker showed a tremendous amount of promise and will play significant roles this season. The newly acquired Wright will team with Russell to tackle lefties. The closer duties will be handled at the onset of the season by the eight-year veteran Veras.

Position Players (Spots 10-14)

Three-fourths of the Cubs infield will be set on Opening Day with Rizzo, Barney and Castro. The backstop will be manned once again by Castillo, who had a breakout year in 2013. Schierholtz is the only outfielder who seems to have a secure spot, as the outfield situation is not as clear in center and left.

Remaining Spots: (15-25)

There are 11 roster spots left to be determined. 

Pitchers (4): Fifth Starter, Middle Relief 1, Middle Relief 2, Long Reliever

Position Players (7): Starting third base, starting center fielder, starting left fielder, backup corner-infielder, backup middle-infielder, fourth outfielder, fifth outfielder

Another position player slot could be added if Cubs manager Rick Renteria decides to go with one less reliever. 

With that said, here are a couple of potential roster spot battles to watch as the spring progresses. These players may have a tough time making the 25-man roster cut.

Starting Third Base: The Cubs seem to be willing to go with a platoon at third base involving incumbents Luis Valbuena and Donnie Murphy.

Bubble Player to Watch: Mike Olt 

One of the big questions heading into spring training is whether or not Olt is ready to make an impact on the major league level. Acquired part of the Garza trade from the Rangers last season, Olt hit .201/15/42 in Double-A and Triple-A in 2013. 

Olt shared his thoughts on the upcoming season with Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago. 

“I don’t really have anything I feel like I have to prove,” Olt said. “I know that I put in a lot of hard work and I think last year was good for me in dealing with a lot of adversity. It’s going to make me a better player and I’m going to (learn) from it.”

What are the odds of Olt making the cut?

It really depends on whether or not his vision problems have fully recovered from the concussion he suffered last offseason in the Dominican Republic winter league. Even if he has fully recovered from the concussion, he will face an uphill battle to make the squad. It seems the Cubs are set on deploying a Valbuena/Murphy third base platoon. Olt will have to have a very strong camp in order to make the team.

Fifth Starter: The fifth starter slot before camp seemed to belong to Jason Hammel. However, with the shoulder setback recently suffered by Jake Arrieta, it seems Hammel is now projected to be the fourth starter. This now opens the doors for several pitchers if Arrieta is not able to make it back by Opening Day. 

Bubble Player to Watch: Carlos Villanueva 

If Arrieta is unable to make it back by Opening Day, expect Chris Rusin and the newly acquired James McDonald to battle for the fifth and long reliever spots on the roster. This leaves Villanueva on the bubble for making the final cut. The eight-year veteran has been exceedingly average, 40-43 record, throughout his career. He started 15 games for the Cubs in 2013, going 7-8 with a 4.06 ERA.

What are the odds of Villanueva making the cut?

It’s going to be tough for Villanueva for make the team with both Rusin and McDonald ahead of him on the depth chart.

If Arrieta does come back sooner as expected and returns before Opening Day, it will be even more difficult for him to make the squad. The odds are against Villanueva unless he has a stellar spring.

Fourth and Fifth Outfielders: The only player who seems to have a spot secured in the outfield is right fielder Nate Schierholtz. The front runners for the other two starting spots are Justin Ruggiano and Junior Lake. Ruggiano, who was acquired via a trade with the Miami Marlins this past offseason, projects to play center field. Lake had a strong second half of the season with the Cubs .284/6/16 and is expected to get an opportunity to start in left.

Bubble Players to Watch: Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson

There could be only two backup outfield spots available. One of those roles going to backup center fielder Ryan Sweeney. The last outfield spot could very well come down to a group of outfielders which include Vitters and Brett Jackson.

What are the odds of Vitters and Jackson making the team?

The odds are not that good. Vitters and Jackson have had their chances in the past and have been unable to capitalize. Jackson and Vitters were both brought up to the majors in August 2012 and failed to impress. Both players struggled with big league pitching and have showed a lack of plate discipline on both minor and major league levels. Unless they can show the ability to hit consistently on the major league level, they will not get another chance at Wrigley.

Stats courtesy of baseball-reference.com

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It has been a long winter so far for Cubs fans in the Windy City. Two polar vortices and a failed attempt to land prized Japanese hurler Masahiro Tanaka have kept Cubs fans spirits in the proverbial icebox. There is hope, though, on the horizon, as pitchers and catchers officially report to Mesa in less than a month.

Let’s take a look at the pitchers and catchers that project to play key roles for the Cubs in 2014.

The Starting Rotation

The Cubs entered the offseason with hopes of improving a pitching staff that was close to the statistical bottom in most categories in the National League. The centerpiece of the offseason plan seemed to hinge on the signing of Tanaka. Theo Epstein and company made a strong pitch for Tanaka, but the 25-year-old ultimately chose to sign a seven-year, $155 million dollar deal, plus $20 million posting fee, with the New York Yankees.

With Tanaka no longer an option, the Cubs will have to rely on several incumbent starters to carry the pitching load as they continue to strive to become a viable contender.

The top of the Cubs rotation should be anchored once again by Jeff Samardzija. This will be the case unless one of the numerous trade rumors involving Samardzija comes to fruition. Epstein has said he expects Samardzija to take the ball on Opening Day.

If Samardzija remains a Cub, he will have to improve on the non-inspiring 8-13 record he posted last season. He has shown over his six-year career the ability to strike out batters (8.6 K/9 average) and compiled a career best 213.2 innings in 2013, but has failed to live up to expectations as a staff ace. It will be interesting to see whether or not Samardzija and the Cubs can work out a contract extension before the July 31 trade deadline.

One of the bright spots for the Cubs in 2013 was the pitching of Travis Wood. The 26-year-old southpaw posted a 9-12 record with a 3.11 ERA in 32 starts in 2013. Wood was the lone Cubs representative at the 2013 All-Star Game last summer at Citi Field in New York.

The future looks bright for Wood and the Cubs will need to decide whether or not to offer the lefty a long-term extension. The Cubs avoided arbitration with Wood, signing him to a $3.9 million deal for 2014.

The Cubs made a small move on Friday, signing free agent Jason Hammel who spent the last two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.

The signing of Hammel gives the Cubs another experienced starter to be added to the mix. His best season as a starter came two seasons ago with the Orioles when he posted a 8-6 record, 3.43 ERA in 20 starts.  

The outlook for the last two spots in the Cubs rotation is a bit less clear as there are four potential candidates.

The first candidate vying for a spot in the rotation is the much-maligned right-hander Edwin Jackson. The 11-year veteran has been a huge disappointment since signing a lucrative four-year, $52 million contract with the Cubs last offseason. He led the NL in losses in 2013 with 18 and pitched to a 4.98 ERA.  

Carlos Villanueva didn’t pitch terrible in 2013 but didn’t impress either as he posted a 7-8 record with a 4.06 ERA. Both Chris Rusin and Jake Arrieta could contribute to the rotation in 2014. Rusin went 2-6 with a 3.93 ERA in 13 starts with the Cubs last season. Arrieta went 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA in nine starts with the Cubs in 2013.

The Cubs will also undoubtedly continue to explore free agent pitching possibilities. However, it seems unlikely that the Cubs will take a flyer on Ervin Santana or Ubaldo Jimenez, as they would have to give up a draft pick, per Bryan Rose of Fansided, Si.com. 

The Bullpen

The days of Carlos Marmol and his epic bullpen implosions are now firmly entrenched in the Cubs rearview. The 2014 squad will offer a combination of incumbents and new arrivals. The Cubs will depend heavily on Pedro Strop and Blake Parker to solidify the middle relief corps.

Strop was acquired last July via a trade with the Orioles. In 37 games with the Cubs, Strop posted a 2-2 record with a 2.83 ERA. He averaged 10.8 K/9 and showed the ability to get tough outs when needed. Parker also showed bullpen promise, posting a 2.72 ERA in 49 appearances, and striking out 55 in 46.1 innings pitched.

The Cubs will depend on lefty James Russell for late inning spots. Lefties batted .183 off of Russell in 2013. The North Siders also brought in lefties Jonathan Sanchez and Wesley Wright to vie for spots in the bullpen.

The closer role seems to be assigned to the newly acquired free agent Jose Veras. Signed by the Cubs earlier this month, Veras closed out 21 games last season in time split between the Houston Astros and the Detroit Tigers.

Other possible pitchers who could potentially see time in the Cubs bullpen in 2014 include Kyuji Fujikawa and Arodys Vizcaino, who both battled injuries last season.

Behind the Plate

Welington Castillo is the only holdover at the catching position from 2013 and projects to be the Opening Day starter. He spent last season splitting time with Dioner Navarro, who signed an offseason deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Castillo has yet to develop into a potent offensive threat but has shown his meddle behind the backstop.

Catching coach Mike Borzello told Tony Andracki of CSNChicago that there are high hopes for Castillo in 2014.

“Weli had a nice year,” catching coach Mike Borzello said. “He’s just scratching the surface of what he can be. But he’s a guy that when I showed up, he wowed you right away when you saw him as far as his abilities and what he can do, especially defensively.” 

The Cubs signed veteran backup George Kottaras and added John Baker and Eli Whiteside to minor league deals. The troika will be competing for a backup role on the 2014 club.

What do you feel about the Cubs moves or lack thereof this offseason? Which one of these players are you most excited to see in 2014? 

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The Puerto Rican squad will try to improve on their fifth place 2009 World Baseball Classic showing when they take the field at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan on Friday. The 2013 squad will have a mix of stars as well as prospects that could be making their major league debuts soon.

Here is a breakdown of what you can expect when the Puerto Ricans take the field against Spain on March 8.

Schedule (Round 1 Games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, PR)

Schedule Analysis

The Puerto Ricans open up first round Pool C play this Friday against a weak Spain squad without any notable major leaguers on their roster. The Spaniards will be making their first appearance in the Classic and have the daunting task of not just having to play Puerto Rico on their home field, but also having to play perennial powerhouses Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. The most notable name on the Spaniards roster is Barbaro Canizares, who played briefly with the Atlanta Braves.

If the Puerto Ricans get by Spain as expected, they will face significant challenges from the Venezuelans and the Dominicans. The Venezuelan squad is led by 2012 Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and capable stars Pablo Sandoval and Carlos “Cargo” Gonzalez. The Puerto Ricans will catch a break though, as Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez will be sitting out the Classic.

The next challenge comes in the form of the Dominican Republic squad with several established major league stars led by the New York Yankees’ Robinson Cano. The Puerto Ricans will have to deal with Cano—as well as the speedy Jose Reyes and the always dangerous Hanley Ramirez.

The biggest challenge for the Puerto Ricans will come in the form of starting pitching. It was announced earlier that Javier Vasquez was not going to pitch in the Classic. The Puerto Rican squad will have to rely on unproven talent such as 18-year-old Minnesota Twins farmhand Jose Berrios to anchor their starting staff.  

The Roster

The Puerto Ricans open play with several notable major leaguers on their roster. One of the brightest stars is Carlos Beltran, who hit 32 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals last season. He is also joined by fellow Cardinal Yadier Molina, who will be a valuable asset for the young and inexperienced Puerto Rican staff. Other notables to keep an eye on include 2012 postseason hero Angel Pagan and versatile outfielder Alex Rios.

As mentioned before, they will be without Vasquez, but they will have major league arms Nelson Figueroa and J.C Romero ready to contribute.

Prediction

The Puerto Ricans should be able to handle Spain in their opening round game on Friday. The real challenges, however, will come in subsequent games against the Venezuelans and the Dominicans. Manager Edwin Rodriguez does have a lot of former major league talent such as the likes of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Baerga and Ricky Bones to help guide the young club.

Having a capable coaching staff as well as arguably one of the best catchers in the majors in Molina should help. But you have to wonder whether or not the lack of depth on the pitching staff will haunt the Puerto Ricans as they square off against stiffer competition.  

The Puerto Ricans will most likely win their first game and split their following two games. They should be in a position to advance to the second round in Miami. Ultimately, their lack of pitching depth will do them in, and they should have a difficult time advancing past the second round.

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There will be several missing superstars from MLB in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Players such as the Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout and the Washington Nationals Bryce Harper have decided to forgo the third installment of the international event.

There will also be several international players missing from the fold. Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners and Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers headline two prominent baseball players who will not be participating in the WBC for their native countries.

Here is a list of 10 well-known major leaguers who will be sitting out the WBC.

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Could a player such as Alfonso Soriano or Rick Porcello be dealt before the start of spring training?

That seems to be the question of the hour as teams gear up for the start of the spring season.

The 2013 MLB preseason schedule kicks off in earnest next month when teams report to their respective spring training homes in Florida and Arizona. Players such as Soriano and Porcello could be moved before the opening of camps.

Here are four players who could be dealt before the start of spring training.  

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The 2012-13 MLB offseason has had its share of surprises.

One of the biggest surprises this offseason was the Los Angeles Angels signing of Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 million contract.

Surprising because, it seemed the Angels were relegated to bystander status after spending a combined $317 million on the Albert Pujois and C.J. Wilson contracts during the 2011 offseason.

Surprising because, the Texas Rangers allowed Hamilton to leave the club and join an AL West rival.

That wasn’t the only surprising move this offseason.

Who could have expected that teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Kansas City Royals would become key players in the postseason transaction market?

What about the New York Yankees? Where have they been this offseason?

Who would you add to or take off this list?

Here are the 10 biggest surprises of the MLB offseason.

Let the debate begin!

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The big news this week on the Justin Upton front is that the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a three-year, $26 million deal with Cody Ross (details at ESPN). The addition of Ross could spur the Diamondbacks into moving the 25-year-old outfielder.

One of the teams to be mentioned as a potential suitor is the Texas Rangers. Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com said that the Diamondbacks may be ready to deal Upton to the Rangers if they are able to put together a prospect package to their liking. Durrett believes that the Rangers have a few prospects, most notably Mike Olt, who could be attractive to the Diamondbacks.

Olt is a power-hitting corner infielder who hit 28 home runs for Double-A Frisco in 2012. He was promoted to the Rangers late in the 2012 season, and he batted .152 in limited action.

There is almost no chance that the Rangers would part with highly touted shortstop prospect Jurickson Profar, as they have already cleared a spot for him with the departure of Michael Young this offseason.

Also, the Diamondbacks don’t seem to be in need of a young shortstop, as they acquired Didi Gregorius a few weeks back in the three-team megadeal involving the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds.

Another team to keep an eye on in the Upton derby is the New York Mets. Kevin Kernan of the New York Post believes that the Mets could be looking toward Upton in efforts to strengthen their outfield.

The Mets could obviously use Upton. He would be a huge upgrade over their current stable of outfielders that include Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter and Collin Cowgill. The real question is whether or not Mets GM Sandy Alderson has the prospects to initiate and complete a trade for Upton.

It’s highly unlikely Alderson will be willing to part with the likes of Zack Wheeler or the newly acquired Travis d’Arnaud. It would most likely take one or both of these prospects to have any realistic shot of offering up a trade for Upton.

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The Boston Red Sox made a move to shore up the back end of their bullpen by trading for two-time All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan. The six-player trade between the Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates was announced via Twitter on Saturday by John Heyman of CBSSports.com.

The Pirates will receive minor league outfielder/first baseman Jerry Sands, right-handed pitcher Stolmy Pimentel and two players to be named later. One of those players to be named later may be journeyman reliever Mark Melancon, according to Gordon Edes of ESPN. (Full story here.)

The Red Sox will also receive another player to be named later.

There are bound to be a lot of questions surrounding this trade. Questions such as who got the best out of this trade? Will the Pirates regret trading a closer who has saved 76 games in the past two seasons? Can Jerry Sands become a force on the major league level?

Those questions will undoubtedly be answered soon enough.

Here are the early grades for the Hanrahan trade between the Red Sox and the Pirates.

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How have the last five reigning MLB Cy Young and MVP Award winners fared after being traded from their respective clubs?

That question may be on people’s minds if the proposed R.A. Dickey trade to the Blue Jays is finalized. (See latest details here, courtesy of Richard Griffin of the Toronto Sun.)

If the deal goes through, the Blue Jays will receive a knuckleballer who posted a 20-6 record with a 2.73 ERA with the Mets in 2012.

A team trading a reigning Cy Young Award winner or MVP is not uncommon. There have been five such deals  over the past two decades. Here is a review of those acquisitions and grades associated with those moves.

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The Atlanta Braves made a significant splash in the free-agent market this week by signing B.J. Upton to a five-year, $75.25 million contract. The move was the first real major signing of the 2012-13 free-agency signing period.

Several other big names finalized their 2013 plans, including Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte who chose to re-sign with the New York Yankees.

The week culminated with the news earlier today that the New York Mets have re-signed David Wright to a eight-year, $138 contract extension, the richest in club history.

With the Winter Meetings just around the corner, the hot stove undoubtedly will continue to sizzle.

Here is a review of the week’s top signings.

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