What a Difference a Year Makes: Cubs Opening Day Roster Set

Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry began the off-season saying he would not make many changes to the Cubs roster, and six months later his team has a much-different look.

Gone are the likes of Jim Edmonds, Henry Blanco, Bobby Howry, Ronny Cedeno, Kerry Wood, Jason Marquis and Mark DeRosa. In their place are quality players such as Aaron Miles, Milton Bradley, Koyie Hill, Kevin Gregg, Aaron Heilman and Joey Gathright.

However, the biggest changes can easily be seen when comparing the Opening Day Rosters from the past two seasons.

Of the 25 players that will be in Houston on Monday, 13 were not in Chicago a year ago. Let's take a look...

2009 Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster:

(Note: players in bold were not on the 2008 Opening Day roster)

Starting Rotation

1. Carlos Zambrano
2. Ryan Dempster
3. Ted Lilly
4. Rich Harden
5. Sean Marshall

Bullpen

• Neal Cotts
• Angel Guzman
• David Patton
• Luis Vizcaino
• Aaron Heilman
• Carlos Marmol
• Kevin Gregg

Catchers

• Geovany Soto
• Koyie Hill

Infielders

• Derrek Lee
• Mike Fontenot
• Ryan Theriot
• Aramis Ramirez
• Aaron Miles
• Micah Hoffpauir

Outfielders

• Alfonso Soriano
• Kosuke Fukudome
• Milton Bradley
• Reed Johnson
• Joey Gathright

2008 Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster

(Note: players in bold are no long with the Chicago Cubs at the start of the 2009 season)

Starting Rotation

1. Carlos Zambrano
2. Ted Lilly
3. Ryan Dempster
4. Rich Hill
5. Jason Marquis

Bullpen

• Jon Lieber
• Carmen Pignatiello
• Michael Wuertz
• Kevin Hart
• Carlos Marmol
• Bobby Howry
• Kerry Wood

Catchers

• Geovany Soto
• Henry Blanco

Infielders

• Derrek Lee
• Mark DeRosa
• Ryan Theriot
• Aramis Ramirez
• Ronny Cedeno
• Mike Fontenot
• Daryle Ward

Outfielders

• Alfonso Soriano
• Felix Pie
• Kosuke Fukudome
• Reed Johnson

While the Opening Day roster is set, a lot will change from Monday through the end of the season. The Cubs will need contributions from other players such as Jeff Stevens, Jeff Samardzija and Mitch Atkins along the way...just to name a few.

With only 35 players on their 40-man roster after the release of Chad Gaudin, Jim Hendry has five open spots to add players to the big league roster.