This is part of a 30-article series looking at each team’s depth chart headed into spring training. Chicago Cubs Rotation 1. Carlos Zambrano 2. Ryan Dempster 3. Ted Lilly 4. Randy Wells 5. Tom Gorzelanny 6. Carlos Silva 7. Sean Marshall 8. Jeff Samardzija 9. Mike Parisi 10. Andrew Cashner 11. Mitch Atkins 12. Jay Jackson 13. Chris Carpenter Lilly hasn’t been ruled out for Opening Day just yet, but all signs point to him missing the first month after shoulder surgery. That could leave room for both Gorzy or Silva in the rotation, but it’s also possible that the Cubs will go out and sign Ben Sheets or another starter. With a healthy Lilly, I think they’d still have adequate depth, but that’s largely because I’m fonder of Gorzy and Marshall than most. Bullpen 1. Carlos Marmol 2. Angel Guzman 3. John Grabow 4. Sean Marshall 5. Jeff Gray 6. Carlos Silva 7. Esmailin Caridad 8. Jeff Samardzija 9. David Patton 10. Justin Berg 11. Mike Parisi 12. Jeff Stevens 13. Scott Maine 14. John Gaub 15. Jeff Kennard Kiko Calero would look pretty good in between Grabow and Marshall. The Cubs have plenty of options, but no one beyond the front four qualifies as trustworthy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Caridad, Stevens and Maine emerge as decent choices this year, but I wouldn’t want to have to count on any of them on Opening Day.
Catcher 1. Geovany Soto 2. Koyie Hill 3. Chris Robinson First base 1. Derrek Lee 2. Micah Hoffpauir 3. Jeff Baker 4. Bryan LaHair Second base 1. Jeff Baker 2. Mike Fontenot 3. Andres Blanco Third base 1. Aramis Ramirez 2. Jeff Baker 3. Bobby Scales 4. Mike Fontenot Shortstop 1. Ryan Theriot 2. Andres Blanco 3. Starlin Castro The price tags only figure to keep falling, so the Cubs may yet wind up with Orlando Hudson or Felipe Lopez at second base. Landing either would provide a big boost. Baker can hit, but he’d be a liability defensively in the process. Ideally, he’d return to a reserve role. Left field 1. Alfonso Soriano 2. Sam Fuld 3. Micah Hoffpauir 4. Bobby Scales 5. Brad Snyder Center field 1. Marlon Byrd 2. Sam Fuld 3. Kosuke Fukudome 4. James Adduci Right field 1. Kosuke Fukudome 2. Sam Fuld 3. Micah Hoffpauir 4. Tyler Colvin 5. Bobby Scales If the Cubs sign a second baseman, then Baker will become another option in the outfield and a nice complement to Fuld as a backup in the corners. If not, then the Cubs need to go get themselves a fourth outfielder with some pop, particularly since manager Lou Piniella doesn’t trust Hoffpauir anywhere other than first base.
