Meet the Cubs: New-look roster after free agent frenzy originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Wanna know how the Cubs’ roster shapes up to compete this season?
It all starts with one big question:
Who the hell are these guys?
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During one of the most frenetic free-agency stretches in club history, the Cubs added eight big-league players in eight days. That doesn’t count veteran non-roster invited pitchers Jesse Chavez, Robert Gsellman and Adrian Sampson.
That’s also not counting the players acquired in the other frenetic free agency stretch just ahead of the Dec. 2 MLB lockout that lasted until a labor agreement was finally reached March 10.
So, again, who are these guys?
Assuming the dust has settled enough that the flurry part of things is over (consider Carlos Correa’s signing with the Twins the finish line), meet the Cubs:
The Late Eight
The players the Cubs added with agreements during that eight-day stretch ending Saturday:
- Shortstop Andrelton Simmons (one year, $4 million)
- Right-handed reliever Chris Martin (one year, $2.75 million)
- Right-handed reliever David Robertson (one year, $3.5 million)
- Outfielder Seiya Suzuki (five years, $85 million, plus $14.625 million posting fee)
- Lefty reliever Daniel Norris (one year, $1.75 million)
- Infielder Jonathan Villar (one year, $6 million)
- Lefty starter Drew Smyly (one year, $5.25 million)
- Right-handed reliever Mychal Givens (one year, $3.5 million)
Pre-Lockout Newbies
Key players the Cubs added before the Dec. 2 lockout:
- Right-handed starter Marcus Stroman (three years, $71 million)
- Catcher Yan Gomes (two years, $13 million)
- Outfielder Clint Frazier (one year, $1.5 million)
- Lefty starter Wade Miley (waiver claim, $10 million salary)
- Outfielder Harold Ramirez (trade for cash from Cleveland)
Key Returning Players
- Catcher Willson Contreras
- Outfielder Jason Heyward
- Infielder Nico Hoerner
- Infielder Nick Madrigal
- Outfielder Ian Happ
- First baseman Frank The Tank Schwindel
- Third baseman Patrick Wisdom
- Outfielder Rafael Ortega
- Outfielder Michael Hermosillo
- Outfielder Greg Deichmann
- Starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks
- Starter/reliever Alec Mills
- Starter/reliever Justin Steele
- Starter/reliever Keegan Thompson
- Reliever Rowan Wick
- Reliever Manny Rodríguez
Returning Injured Players
Key players who will open the season on the injured list:
- Starting pitcher Adbert Alzolay (shoulder),
- Relief pitcher Codi Heuer (Tommy John surgery)
- Infielder David Bote (shoulder)
- Relief pitcher Brad Wieck (elbow strain)
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