MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs want to get through spring training as healthy as possible.
For a group that returns the majority of its 92-win squad from last year, the Cubs have the necessary pieces to replicate another playoff season. There aren’t many question marks surrounding the Cubs’ opening-day roster three weeks before they are back in Chicago to begin the season.
But there are a couple of roster battles in camp for the bullpen and bench that are starting to take shape, giving a little clarity on the direction the Cubs could go to put their 26-man roster together. Opening day is on March 26 against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field.
Starting pitchers (5): LHP Matthew Boyd, RHP Edward Cabrera, RHP Cade Horton, LHP Shota Imanaga, RHP Jameson Taillon
Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga throws during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
The Cubs head into the season with their starting pitching depth in a good place.
Although left-hander Justin Steele won’t be ready for the start of the season, his progression from elbow surgery has him on track to be ready to join the rotation in May or June. The Cubs are thinking big picture, both with the timing of Steele’s return and the depth they wanted to create in the offseason as they look to make a deep run in the postseason.
They enter the season with a good mix of experience and upside, though each pitcher currently part of the rotation has something to prove — whether it’s related to health and durability (Cabrera, Horton and Boyd), a bounce-back performance (Imanaga) or a veteran looking to build upon a strong finish to 2025 (Taillon). If the Cubs experience any injuries, right-handers Ben Brown, Javier Assad and Colin Rea and left-hander Jordan Wicks give them options that can help weather an absence. Top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins could impact the team at some point in the second half, too, if he continues to progress at Triple-A Iowa, particularly with his strike-throwing.
Relievers (8): RHP Daniel Palencia, RHP Hunter Harvey, RHP Phil Maton, RHP Colin Rea, LHP Hoby Milner, LHP Caleb Thielbar, RHP Jacob Webb, RHP Ethan Roberts
In the mix: RHP Ben Brown, RHP Javier Assad, LHP Ryan Rolison, RHP Gavin Hollowell, RHP Porter Hodge, RHP Collin Snider
Hunter Harvey pitches live batting practice during spring training at Sloan Park on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
The Cubs needed to heavily invest in the bullpen during the offseason, with the majority of their key high-leverage arms not returning after last year. It leaves most of their bullpen spots locked in for opening day with Harvey, Maton, Milner, Thielbar, Webb and Palencia, who opens as their closer.
Barring an injury to a starter over the final three weeks of camp, Rea is positioned to be a long reliever to begin the season. That essentially leaves one bullpen spot open. It would make sense if whoever they chose for the last ’pen arm has minor-league options left to give manager Craig Counsell and the Cubs flexibility for their bullpen usage. The Cubs want to maintain their starting pitching depth as much as possible, too, creating a scenario where both Brown and Assad start the year at Triple A to stay stretched out.
Among their true reliever options, Roberts’ stuff has looked good so far this spring with another efficient outing Tuesday. Roberts, like Rolison, Hollowell and Hodge, still has an MiLB option.
Catchers (3): Carson Kelly, Miguel Amaya, Moisés Ballesteros
Chicago Cubs designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros at Wrigley Field on Sept. 25, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The only uncertainty involving the catching group centers on Ballesteros.
There is a clear path to regular at-bats for the 22-year-old in a designated hitter role. How much the Cubs want to have Ballesteros on the roster to open the year in a largely hitting-only position rather than continuing to get everyday reps catching at Triple-A Iowa is what they must decide in the coming weeks.
The Cubs don’t want to sacrifice Ballesteros’ development behind the plate, still envisioning him being a big-leaguer there, but it will take time. Ballesteros’ hit tool is undeniable, however. The Cubs clearly believe in Ballesteros’ bat to the point of carrying him on their postseason rosters last year and becoming Counsell’s go-to lefty pinch hitter in the playoffs. If the Cubs want their best possible lineup to open the season, Ballesteros needs to be on the team. Should that happen, the Cubs can give him a weekly start at catcher to help him continue to hone the defensive side of his game while keeping Kelly and Amaya fresh.
Infielders (5): Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, Matt Shaw.
In the mix: Jonathon Long, Scott Kingery
Nico Hoerner throws while warming up during Chicago Cubs spring training at Sloan Park on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
There isn’t much uncertainty about what the Cubs’ starting infield will look like on a daily basis beyond how Shaw gets worked into the lineup and moved around the field. The Cubs boast one of the best all-around infields in baseball. Their position player group as a whole was extremely healthy in 2025, and the Cubs understand that could be an area of regression. Long, the club’s No. 7 prospect ranked by MLB.com, and Kingery, a non-roster invite, can provide depth as internal options for any in-season injuries. Long has been slowed by a left elbow sprain following a collision at first base and has not appeared in a Cactus League game since Feb. 21.
Outfielders (5): Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Michael Conforto, Dylan Carlson.
In the mix: Chas McCormick, Justin Dean, Kevin Alcántara
Dylan Carlson stands at the plate during live batting practice during spring training at Sloan Park on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Tyler Austin’s knee surgery and subsequent months-long recovery opens a bench role beyond the backup outfielder spot the Cubs needed.
A player’s minor-league option status will be a factor in these decisions, Counsell said, which likely means Alcántara and Dean will begin the season at Iowa with both players still holding an option.
It sets up Conforto, Carlson and McCormick — all in camp on NRI minor-league deals — fighting for two roster spots. Conforto’s track record, despite a rough 2025 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, should give him an edge in earning a job. Carlson’s switch-hitting adds versatility, and he’s produced an encouraging start in spring games (7-for-13, two doubles, five walks, three strikeouts). Carlson and McCormick can play all three outfield spots.