left handed Matthew Boyd After playing for the U.S. team in the World Baseball Classic, he returned to the Cubs and was immediately named the team’s Opening Day starter by the manager. Craig Counsell. That person will get the ball and follow suit. Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, jameson tylong and Imanaga Shota In what order. the right wing Javier Assad and ben brown Potential 40-man alternative and veteran. Colin Lea He begins the season playing the role of swingman in the bullpen.
Boyd, who turned 35 last month, pitched a career-high 179 1/3 innings for the Cubs last season. He posted a strong 3.21 ERA with a slightly below average strikeout rate of 21.4% and a surprising 5.8% walk rate. Boyd is entering the second season of a two-year, $29 million contract. He’s already unlocked $500,000 in incentives based on his workload last year, and will earn $14.5 million in 2026 with the opportunity to earn another $500,000 through incentives (reaching 120 innings). He also owes $2 million in buyout debt on a 2027 mutual option that neither party can pick up.
In other Cubs news, the team announced the latest wave of cuts this morning. left handed Luke Little and Ryan Rollison Like the speedy outfielder, he was selected to Triple-A. Justin Dean. The Cubs also reassigned a handful of non-roster players to minor league camp. Vince Velazquez The most notable one among them.
By sending Dean to Triple-A to start the season, the Cubs significantly increased the chances that a veteran not currently on the roster would start the season with a bench spot as a reserve outfielder. Former top prospect Kevin Alcantara Although he remains in big league camp and is on the 40-man roster, he has one year left on his option and is currently 4-for-21 with 9 strikeouts in 23 official spring plate appearances. The team would probably prefer to see him play every day at Iowa rather than sit on the bench and start once or twice a week.
Some of the most notable non-roster outfielders in camp include: Dylan Carlson, Michael Conforto and Chas McCormick. Carlson has been the most productive player of this group and comes with the bonus of being a switch hitter who can handle all three outfield spots. Conforto has the most notable major league record of this group (although not in the last few seasons), but he is a pure left-handed pitcher who is unable to play center field. McCormick is a right-handed center fielder who can play all three positions and has dominated left-handed hitters in the past (but struggled against all opponents in 2025).
One player who clearly seems to have a ticket for a heavily used role off the bench: former top prospect. mat show. The 24-year-old hit .226/.295/.394 as a rookie, but showed good form over the final three months of the season. Cubs’ contract Alex Bregman Shaw stepped down from last year’s third base role and is now moving into a more utility role.
We’ve already seen Shaw play some action in the outfield and second base, but The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma writes that he now has first base in his repertoire as well. Shaw told Sharma that he trained as a first baseman for about three days before making his debut as a first baseman in yesterday’s Cactus League game.
It’s even more important to do some work at first base when: tyler austinKnee surgery will keep him sidelined for several months. Austin returned from Japan’s NPB this year and signed a one-year contract with the Cubs, playing as a right-handed pitcher. michael bush Provides some pop off the bench at first base.
The role has apparently been put on hold for the time being, with no clear options to take it on. Right-handed corner infield prospect Jonathan Long Elbow issues have slowed his play in camp. Austin’s injury could give Shaw additional at-bats early in the season. Bush hit .207/.274/.368 against left-handed pitchers last season and has a career line of .230/.295/.356 against left-handed hitters. Shaw hit .250/.318/.490 against left-handed pitchers last year and finished as a Gold Glove finalist at the hot corner, so he should have the athleticism and defensive acumen to handle a multi-position role.
