Ryan Gaydos’s 2012 Chicago Cubs MLB Preview
The Chicago Cubs are not rebuilding. Then what are they in the process of doing?
The Cubs made a huge splash in the beginning of the offseason bringing in former Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein to run the team. The Cubs also brought in former San Diego Padres General Manager Jed Hoyer to assist Epstein.
Epstein’s first move was to rid of manager Mike Quade. Quade spent a season and a half with the Cubs as he took over for Lou Pinella in 2010. Quade compiled a record of 95-104 but did not get the Cubs out of fifth place.
Chicago hired Dale Sveum to take over. Sveum has spent the last few seasons in Milwaukee. He was the bench coach, third base coach, hitting coach and at one time, the interim manager when Ned Yost left in 2008.
After Epstein took care of that he had to try to find a new face in the Chicago Cubs and although Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder or any other big name did not make it to Chicago, they did get some help in acquiring David DeJesus from Oakland and third baseman Ian Stewart from Colorado.
As for the rotation, they traded away a bad contract in Carlos Zambrano to Miami to receive Chris Volstad who is not awful and does not have an attitude problem.
Ryan Dempster had his option picked up as well.
Is that going to be enough to put Chicago over the hill in terms of a World Series contender? No.
The Cubs still need some more work in their lineup and their one goal this year should be dumping Alfonso Soriano and his bad contract. The Cubs are in a rebuilding stage and are not going to be division contenders over Cincinnati and St. Louis this year.
Prediction: Fourth NL Central
Breakout Player: Starlin Castro, SS
Key Addition: Ian Stewart, 3B
Starters
CA: Geovany Soto
1B: Bryan LaHair
2B: Darwin Barney
3B: Ian Stewart
SS: Starlin Castro
OF: David DeJesus
OF: Marlon Byrd
OF: Alfonso Soriano
Pitching Rotation
SP: Matt Garza
SP: Ryan Dempster
SP: Paul Maholm
SP: Randy Wells
SP: Chris Volsta
RP: Lendy Castillo
RP: James Russell
RP: Marcos Mateo
RP: Scott Maine
RP: Jeff Samardzjia
RP: Kerry Wood
CP: Carlos Marmol
Bench
CA: Wellington Castillo
OF: Tony Campana
OF: Reed Johnson
UTL: Jeff Baker
UTL: Adrian Cardenas
Top Prospects
1. Brett Jackson, OF
2. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
3. Matthew Szczur, OF
4. Trey McNutt, RHP
5. Josh Vitters, 3B
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