Chicago Cubs: Best Case Scenario 25-Man Roster for 2013

With the addition of Theo Epstein in the front office, Cubs fans have a new found hope heading into the 2012 season as there is a lot of work to be done to bounce back from a terrible year this year. The team will likely be players for one of the star sluggers on the market this coming offseason in Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.

However, with Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Marlon Byrd set to become free agents after the 2012 season and their roughly $40 million coming off the books, the 2013 season will be when the Cubs truly begin to start moving towards becoming the team that Epstein wants them to be.

So here is a look at the best case scenario of what the Chicago Cubs' roster could look like heading into the 2013 season, and while it is not likely to shake out this way, it is a fun look at what the Cubs could look like in two years if everything goes right while still staying close to their current payroll.

No. 1: SS Starlin Castro

Estimated Salary: $6 Million (First Time Arbitration Eligible)

Even if the team signs a big-name free agent or two in the next couple seasons, there is little question that Starlin Castro is the face of the Cubs franchise right now as one of the most exciting young players in baseball.

It will be interesting to see how he progresses both defensively and as far as his power is concerned, but as of now he seems best suited to stay at shortstop and hit in the lead-off spot in the lineup.

He will be arbitration eligible for the first time entering the 2013 season, and while he likely won't push the record $10 million deal that Ryan Howard got in his first year of arbitration, he will no doubt be in line for a big raise and $6 million seems like a reasonable estimate.

No. 2: 2B Darwin Barney

Estimated Salary: Minimum

In a disappointing season, Darwin Barney was one of the pleasant surprises of the season for the Cubs in 2011 as he went from fringe player in spring training to everyday second baseman.

While his upside is relatively limited, he should hit around .280 and serve as a solid No. 2 hitter while playing good defense at second base.

No. 3: 3B David Wright

Estimated Salary: $18 Million

The Mets are as much a team in transition as the Cubs are, and they will do everything they can to retain star shortstop Jose Reyes this offseason.

Regardless of what happens with Reyes, the team will soon have to deal with the contract status of third baseman David Wright as well, as he is set to hit free agency following the 2012 season. That could make him a trade candidate midseason, but if he does hit the open market look for the Cubs to make a serious run at him.

He will be 30 years old in 2013, so he should still have plenty left and it will likely take a six or seven year deal to lock him up, but the Cubs will likely have the resources to do that if they want.

No. 4: 1B Prince Fielder

Estimated Salary: $20 Million

While the Cubs could look to address their starting pitching this coming offseason, with Theo Epstein now in place he could look to make a splash in his first season at the helm and that may mean making a run a star sluggers Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.

Fielder looks to be the cheaper option, and could come at six or seven years as opposed to the 10-year deal that Pujols is looking for so if the team does go after one of the two Fielder seems the more likely option.

He would likely command at least $20 million per year, but with Aramis Ramirez leaving in free agency the team has no true run producer and signing Fielder would go a long way towards making their offense an asset.

No. 5: RF Josh Vitters

Estimated Salary: Minimum

It is hard to believe that Josh Vitters is still only 21 years old, as he has seemingly been on the Cubs prospect radar forever and after a down 2010 season he looks to be back on his way to being an impact big league hitter after a .283 BA, 14 HR, 81 RBI season at Double-A.

He could see his first taste of the big leagues in 2012, and if he performs well he will likely set himself up for a shot at an everyday role in 2013. While he has played mostly third base in the minors so far, he is playing some corner outfield in the Arizona Fall League, and his future could be in right field.

No. 6: CF Brett Jackson

Estimated Salary: Minimum

The crown jewel of the Cubs farm system, Jackson ranks among the best outfield prospects in all of baseball and when the Cubs signed Marlon Byrd to a three year contract prior to the 2010 season it looked as though center field would belong to Jackson in 2013.

He reached Triple-A for the first time last season and while he didn't quite match his dynamic 2010 numbers he still had a 20-20 season and hit a respectable .274.

It remains to be seen where he will hit in the order, but the sixth spot seems like a relatively safe spot for the rookie to get his feet under him, and if he can come back with a strong 2012 season in the minors he will likely be one of the front runners for NL Rookie of the Year in 2013.

No. 7: LF Alfonso Soriano

Salary: $19 Million

Moving Alfonso Soriano, regardless of what the team gets in return, could very well be one of Theo Epstein's first acts as Cubs' GM, but with three years and $57 million remaining on his contract heading into next season chances are he's not going anywhere.

Where his defense is at in left field by 2013 is a frightening thought, but he should still be good for 20 home runs and a .260 average by that time. Certainly not worth $19 million but productive enough out of a seventh hitter.

No. 8: C Welington Castillo

Estimated Salary: Minimum

Current Cubs' catcher Geovany Soto will be 29 years old next season, and if he doesn't bounce back from hitting just .228 last year he could be a non-tender candidate in heading into the 2013 season in what will be his final year of arbitration eligibility.

Waiting in the wings is Welington Castillo, who will be 25 heading into next season and after getting a cup of coffee the past two seasons, will be competing for the backup catching spot entering spring training next year.

He had a productive 2011 in the minors, hitting .287 BA, 16 HR, 42 RBI and playing well enough behind the plate to at least provide defense similar to Soto. Look for him to push Soto for playing time in 2012 setting himself up for a starting role in 2013.

Bench: C Steve Clevenger

Estimated Salary: Minimum

While prospect Welington Castillo gets the hype as the Cubs' catcher of the future, and rightfully so, he is not the only promising up-and-coming backstop in the organization.

Steve Clevenger, a 25-year-old former seventh round pick put together a terrific season last year between Double-A and Triple-A with a line of .319 BA, 8 HR, 54 RBI and while does not project as a big league starter he should provide solid offense off the bench as Castillo's backup down the road.

Bench: IF D.J. LeMahieu

Estimated Salary: Minimum

The prototypical utility infielder, 22-year-old D.J. LeMahieu actually has solid upside moving forward and could settle into the starting third base job in 2012 if the Cubs don't sign anyone.

Depending on his continued development he could wind up in a starting role, but for now expectations will be tempered and he will be projected as the team's utility infielder and a very good one at that.

Bench: CF Tony Campana

Estimated Salary: Minimum

When the Cubs called up the scrappy Tony Campana last season little was expected of the 5'8" speedster, be he ended up earning 143 at bats as he added a speed element that the team had not had since Juan Pierre spent a season in Chicago.

When all was said and done, Campana was 24-of-26 on stolen base attempts and while his .259 batting average likely won't be enough to earn him regular playing time he is the ideal fourth outfielder as he plays good offense and is the perfect pinch-runner.

Bench: UT Tyler Colvin

Estimated Salary: $1.5 Million (First Time Arbitration Eligible)

There may be no bigger wild card currently in the organization looking ahead to 2013 than Tyler Colvin. After hitting 20 home runs in just 358 at bats as a rookie, he hit just .150 in 2011 and spent much of the season in Triple-A.

He could get the first crack at the vacant right field job in 2012, but if he struggles again there is chance he would not be with the team in 2013 as he will be arbitration eligible for the first time and would potentially be non-tendered.

SP No. 1: Matt Garza

Estimated Salary: $8 Million (Fourth Time Arbitration Eligible)

On the surface the 10-10 season that Matt Garza had in 2011 was not exactly what a team is looking for out of its ace, but when you look further it was in fact the best season of his career to this point.

In 31 starts, Garza posted career highs in ERA (3.32), Ks (197) and K/9 (9.0) and while he did not always get the run support he needed, he pitched like the player the team expected when they traded a hefty package of prospects for him.

He will be arbitration eligible for the final time in 2013, and after making $5.95 million this season, a raise to $8 million by that time may actually be a bit conservative. However, don't be surprised if the team locks him up to a long-term deal before that ever becomes an issue.

SP No. 2: John Danks

Estimated Salary: $15 Million

The 2013 free agent class is chock full of impressive starting pitching, with guys like Matt Cain, John Danks, Zack Greinke, Cole Hamels, Colby Lewis, Francisco Liriano, Shaun Marcum, Anibal Sanchez, Jonathan Sanchez all potentially hitting the open market.

My best guess is that the Cubs will sign two starting pitchers from that class, much like they did when they added Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis prior to the 2007 season.

The first arm I like the Cubs to add is White Sox left-hander John Danks, who is coming off of a down year but has proven to be one of the better southpaws in baseball in the past. He would be 28 years old in 2013 and adding him could certainly help flank Matt Garza at the top of the rotation.

SP No. 3: Anibal Sanchez

Estimated Salary: $15 Million

The other starter from that group I look for the Cubs to add is Marlins right-hander Anibal Sanchez who has been one of the most underrated starters in the National League in recent years.

Despite a 25-29 record, he has posted a 3.66 ERA in 80 starts over the past three season, and with 202 strikeouts last season his stuff is clearly top notch.

He will be 29 years old in 2013, and seeing as he plays in Florida he could be traded before he hits the market but if he does become a free agent look for the Cubs to make a run him.

SP No. 4: Andrew Cashner

Estimated Salary: $2 Million (First Time Arbitration Eligible)

After pitching well out of the bullpen in his rookie season in 2010, Cashner won a rotation spot out of spring training this past season and looked good in his first start going 5.1 innings and giving up just one run on two hits.

However, he was sidelined with an arm injury following that start and he would miss most of the season before making six late season relief appearances.

Cashner has all the potential in the world, and if he can stay healthy in 2012 he could be in line for a breakout season. If that happens, expect him to get far more than the estimated $2 million in his first year of arbitration.

SP No. 5: Trey McNutt

Estimated Salary: Minimum

After the Cubs dealt Minor League Pitcher of the Year Chris Archer last offseason for Matt Garza, Trey McNutt became the organization's top pitching prospect.

A 32nd round pick in the 2009 draft, McNutt came out of nowhere to post a record of 10-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 2010 as he advanced through three levels and eventually reached Double-A at the age of 20, and while his numbers dropped a bit this past season, he is still on his way to a rotation spot and could win the fifth starter job in 2013.

Long Reliever: Casey Coleman

Estimated Salary: Minimum

Forced into the rotation after injuries struck last season, Casey Coleman was among the worst starters in all of baseball, going 3-9 with a 6.18 ERA over 17 starts.

While that is certainly discouraging after he went 4-2 with a 4.11 ERA in eight starts as a rookie in 2010, Coleman is still just 23 years old and given another year to develop he could still be an asset moving forward.

He would likely get a shot at the fifth starter spot with McNutt in this scenario, and if he can return to the pitcher that went 14-6 with a 3.68 ERA in Double-A back in 2009 the job could potentially be his.

Middle Reliever: James Russell

Estimated Salary: $1.5 Million (First Time Arbitration Eligible)

James Russell was thrown into the fire in 2010 with the bullpen in need of a left-handed arm, and he performed admirably, with a 4.96 ERA in 57 appearances.

After losing out on a rotation spot in the spring, he was forced into starting when early season injuries struck and he proceeded to turn in one of the worst five-start stretches in recent memory, going 0-5 with a 9.33 ERA before finding his way back to a relief role.

However, upon returning to a relief role, he appeared in 59 games and posted a stellar 2.19 ERA and given the fact that he is left-handed and potentially capable of starting he could be a valuable arm in the 'pen moving forward.

Middle Reliever: Jeff Stevens

Estimated Salary: Minimum

Acquired in the deal that sent Mark DeRosa to the Indians, Jeff Stevens was viewed as a potential late-inning reliever when he was acquired but he has had trouble establishing himself.

After back-to-back good seasons in Triple-A Iowa, Stevens stumbled last season in posting a 5.26 ERA over 42 appearances.

He has a live arm, and at 27 years old he doesn't have much more to gain from pitching in the minors so look for him to get a shot at the bullpen in 2012, and if he pitches well he could be a useful piece to the 2013 bullpen.

Middle Reliever: John Gaub

Estimated Salary: Minimum

Also picked up in the Mark DeRosa trade, John Gaub is coming off of a very good season at Triple-A Iowa as he posted a 3.42 ERA over 55.1 innings of work, saving seven games and striking out 75 batters.

He has a very good shot at making the big league roster out of spring training next season, taking over the spot previously occupied by John Grabow, and if he can establish himself the Cubs could have an impressive trio of left-handed relievers in Gaub, James Russell and Sean Marshall.

Middle Reliever: Rafael Dolis

Estimated Salary: Minimum

Ranked as the Cubs' ninth best prospect entering the 2011 season, Dolis is a 25-year-old out of the Dominican Republic who can light up the radar gun.

Used as a starter much of his minor league career, he spent the majority of 2011 in the bullpen as the Double-A closer and he posted a 3.22 ERA with 17 saves before earning a September call-up as he pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in his only appearance.

Setup Man: Sean Marshall

Estimated Salary: $6 Million

After bouncing between the bullpen and rotation his first four seasons in the league and going 19-29 with a 4.55 ERA, Marshall was moved permanently to the bullpen for the 2010 season.

He immediately took to his new role, appearing in 80 games and posting a 2.65 ERA while striking out 90 in 74.2 innings. This past season, he was similarly dominant, appearing in 78 contests with a 2.26 ERA and 79 strike outs in 75.2 innings.

Moving forward, the 28-year-old will be counted on to lock down the eighth inning, as he is under team control through 2013. He is set to hit free agency prior to the 2013 season and the Cubs would be wise to do whatever it takes to bring him back, and something in the three-year, $18 million neighborhood is not unreasonable.

Setup Man: Matt Belisle

Estimated Salary: $4 Million

With an impressive stable of left-handed relievers and Kerry Wood expected to not be around by 2013, the Cubs will likely search the free agent market for a right-handed setup man heading into the 2013 season.

One guy they could target is Rockies setup man Matt Belisle, a former starting pitching prospect of the Atlanta Braves who spent time in the Cincinnati bullpen before landing in Colorado prior to the 2009 season.

After a rocky 2009, he has appeared in 150 games over the past two seasons and posted a 3.07 ERA, and while he will be 33 in 2013, if he continues to post those type of numbers he would be a stellar addition to the team.

Closer: Carlos Marmol

Salary: $9.8 Million

After three straight dominant seasons, Marmol stumbled this past season converting just 34-of-44 save opportunities and posting a 4.01 ERA.

However, he still has some of the best stuff in all of baseball and considering he is signed through the 2013 season chances are he isn't going anywhere. He will need a bounce back season in 2012 to rejoin the ranks of the elite closers and he is more than capable of doing just that.

Final Overview

Free Agent Signings (Estimated Contract)

1B Prince Fielder (Seven Years, $140 Million) in 2012
3B David Wright (Six Years, $108 Million) in 2013
SP Anibal Sanchez (Five Years, $75 Million) in 2013
SP John Danks (Five Years, $75 Million) in 2013
RP Matt Belisle (Two Years, $8 Million) in 2013
RP Sean Marshall (Three Years, $18 Million) in 2013 - re-sign

Total Big-League Team Payroll*

$131.2 Million

*Assuming Minimum Salary is $450,000