Even Later March 2026 Cubs Roster Predictions

There were couple major moves over the last couple of days, filtering down the number of players who might make the team. Michael Conforto is in, while Jon Long, Collin Snider and Corbin Martin were sent to minor league camp.

I predict Carlson, Alcantara, Webb and Brown get the last 4 spots, with Alcantara being sent down if Suzuki does not go on the IL.

Locks (23*):

• Carson Kelly (0) – Catcher
• Miguel Amaya (0) – Catcher
• Michael Busch (2) – First Base
• Nico Hoerner (0) – Second Base
• Dansby Swanson (0) – Shortstop
• Alex Bregman (0)- Third Base
• Seiya Suzuki (3) – Right Field / Designated Hitter (*may start season on IL)
• Pete Crow-Armstrong (2) – Center Field
• Ian Happ (0) – Left Field
• Matt Shaw (2) – Infielder/Outfielder
• Moises Ballesteros (2) – Designated Hitter/Catcher/First Base
• Michael Conforto (0) – Outfield – Non-Roster
• Matthew Boyd (0) – Starting Pitcher
• Cade Horton (3) – Starting Pitcher
• Shota Imanaga (0) – Starting Pitcher
• Jameson Taillon (0) – Starting Pitcher
• Edward Cabrera (0) – Starting Pitcher
• Daniel Palencia (2) – Closer
• Phil Maton (0) – Reliever
• Hunter Harvey (0) – Reliever
• Caleb Thielbar (0) – Reliever
• Colin Rea (0) – Swingman
• Hoby Milner (0) – Reliever

Conforto moves into this group, and I could see him starting against right handed pitching until Suzuki is back from injury. If Seiya is put on the IL, that would leave 4 additional spots – 2 pitchers and 2 position players.

Near Locks (1)

• Dylan Carlson (0) – Outfield – Non-Roster

Unless Alcantara makes the roster, the Cubs would need a backup CF, and McCormick has not shown that much this spring. Carlson hit his first homer of the Spring yesterday

Probables (1)

• Jacob Webb (0) – Reliever

Webb, Brown and Amaya are the only 3 pitchers left to take the last 2 spots. Webb doesn’t have options, so I think he gets one of those spots.

Possibles (4)

• Kevin Alcantara (1) – Outfield
• Chas McCormick (2) – Outfield – Non-Roster
• Ben Brown (1) – Reliever
• Javier Assad (2) – Swingman

Here is the latest 4th-OF-O-Meter:

Player	PA	HR	Runs	RBI	OPS
Dylan Carlson	50	1	7	4	.923
Kevin Alcantara	41	1	5	4	.763
Michael Conforto	35	0	2	1	.708
Chas McCormick	37	1	4	4	.605
Justin Dean	29	0	3	1	.480

At this point, I’m leaning toward Alcantara staying with the team until Suzuki gets back. It would not require them to used a 40-man roster spot, and he can play all the outfield spots. The tricky part is how many at bats the Cubs want to get for Matt Shaw. If they decide that he should be the everyday right fielder until Suzuki gets back, They might decide to go with another infielder for that last spot.

I’d give Brown the edge over Assad, but both have been good this Spring.

Unlikely (2)

• Owen Miller (0) – Infielder – Non-Roster
• Scott Kingery (2) – Infielder – Non-Roster

So, If the Cubs do choose the route of adding another infielder on the roster, one of these two guys could make it. Kingery is a great utility player, but has struggled to hit much this Spring. Miller has split time between the majors and minors the last several years, but had not done much damage.

Very unlikely (4)

• Christian Bethancourt (0) – Catcher – Non-roster
• Eric Yang (3) – Catcher – Non-Roster
• Vince Velasquez (0) – Pitcher – Non-Roster
• Kyle Wright (0) – Pitcher – Non-Roster

With 3 healthy catchers, the Cubs won’t need Bethancourt or Yang,

Sent to Minors / No Chance (22)

• Jonathon Long (n/a) – First Base – Minors
• BJ Murray (n/a) – Infielder – Minors
• Justin Dean (3) – Outfielder
• Ben Cowles (2) – Infielder
• James Triantos (3) – Infielder
• Pedro Ramirez (3) – Infielder
• Ariel Armas (n/a) – Catcher – Minors
• Casey Opitz (n/a) – Catcher – Minors
• Jefferson Rojas (n/a) – Infielder – Minors
• Brett Bateman (n/a) – Outfielder – Minors
• Luke Little (1) – Reliever
• Gavin Hollowell (1) – Reliever
• Ethan Roberts (1) – Reliever
• Riley Martin (3) – Reliever
• Jack Neely (1) – Reliever
• Ryan Rolison (1) – Pitcher
• Jaxon Wiggins (n/a) – Pitcher – Minors
• Grant Kipp (n/a) – Pitcher – Minors
• Connor Schultz (n/a) – Pitcher – Minors
• Connor Noland (n/a) – Pitcher – Minors
• Jeff Brigham (0) – Pitcher – Non-Roster
• Corbin Martin (0) – Pitcher – Non-Roster
• Collin Snider (0) – Pitcher – Non-Roster

Injuries (6)

• Tyler Austin (0) – Designated Hitter/First Base/Corner Outfield
• Justin Steele (0) – Starting Pitcher (may start on 60-day IL)
• Shelby Miler (0) – Pitcher (on 60-day IL)
• Porter Hodge (2) – Reliever (15-day IL)
• Jordan Wicks (2) – Reliever (15-day IL)
• Trent Thornton (0) – Pitcher – Non-Roster

I may need to add Suzuki here. Thornton was the non-roster pitcher I thought might make the team, but he’s still not healthy.