Obviously the big roster cut dropped earlier this evening, with surprising word that Ian Happ – he of the 109 wRC+ in the big leagues – is being sent to AAA Iowa to open the season.
Tonight the Cubs announced that five other players have been cut from the spring roster: pitchers Dillon Maples and Alec Mills, catcher Taylor Davis, infielder Cristhian Adames, and outfielder Johnny Field.
Of that group, we already knew that Mills was headed out, and Maples was not likely to make the crowded big league bullpen just yet. Davis was always going to be one of the primary catchers at Iowa, and Field was not a realistic threat to make the big league roster absent a rash of injuries, despite his strong spring. Adames has also had a strong spring, but we were pretty lukewarm on him being an obvious fit for the roster even when it seemed like Daniel Descalso might miss time. I’m not surprised he’s not in the final mix for a bench job right now.
This means that, of the 33 players still in camp, there are only 13 position players left. One of those position players is Addison Russell, who’ll be suspended when the season starts. So that means, if the Cubs go with a four-man bench, outfielder Mark Zagunis is going to make the team …
… unless the Cubs go outside the organization to make an addition. With players being waived around the league to make roster room, and with veterans on minor league deals getting the chance to depart, there will be options for the Cubs. More on that soon.