Chicago Cubs: Here Are Your 2012 Opening Day 9 and the 5 Starting Pitchers

The Chicago Cubs have only begin to re-shape their club, but only I know who will be the main players for 2012. Yes, my crystal ball gets hazy at times, but I will give you the starting nine and the five pitchers who will lead the Cubs into battle next season.

Remember, the Theo Epstein plan will take time, so don't fret that they didn't make a real offer to Albert Pujols or attempt a real bid on Japanese pitching sensation Yu Darvish.

Likewise, as I have written, don't expect Prince Fielder to be the first baseman unless he takes a shorter deal.

But the Cubs will attempt to be competitive next season, and in a division that will lack Pujols and Fielder, and with Ryan Braun serving a 50-game suspension, that won't be as tough of a task as it was last year.

The Reds should be the team to beat in the NL Central next year, assuming Dusty Baker doesn't destroy the arm of Matt Latos.

Meanwhile, here are the players that I predict will start the season for our Cubs.

First Base: Anthony Rizzo

With the Padres acquiring first baseman Yonder Alonso in the Matt Latos trade, suddenly Anthony Rizzo becomes expendable.

And with Cubs GM Jed Hoyer having already acquired Anthony Rizzo from the Red Sox when he was GM of the Padres, where Rizzo was drafted by Theo Epstein, it would make sense for the Cubs to trade for the first baseman.

The Padres are said to be considering moving Rizzo, who is inexpensive and bats from the left side. Rizzo hit just .141 last season, but that was in only 128 ABs.

But he is a decent first baseman with power, is only 22 and Jason McLeod loves him.

The Padres are rumored to be interested in Matt Garza.

Second Base: Darwin Barney

I do not think that Barney is the long-term answer at second base, but unless the Cubs pull off a trade, he will start the season there.

Barney has no power and very little plate discipline, so if his batting average slips, he is relatively worthless, though he plays solid defense.

Third Base: Chase Headley

Headley was well-liked by Hoyer when the Cubs GM held a similar position with the Padres. Perhaps he comes over in the Rizzo deal.

He had a slash of 289/.374/.399 last season and while his defense took a hit, he was awfully good in 2010, so he can play a solid third base defensively.

He should hit for more power at Wrigley Field than he did at spacious Petco. In his career, he is hitting .229/.319/.336 at Petco, vs. .303/.364/.441 away.

Shortstop: Starlin Castro

I don't know if Epstein and his troops see Castro as a long-term shortstop, because defensively, he backs up on balls and has bad throwing mechanics.

But offensively, he is exciting. If he develops power, he could eventually be moved to third base.

Meanwhile, the Cubs have one of the best young players in the game. Hopefully, Dale Sveum won't need an ESPN analyst to point out that he is not paying attention to the game and will nip that stuff in the bud.

Catcher: Geo Soto

I say that Soto remains with the Cubs at least one more season. Sure, his defense is not what you would desire for a starting catcher, but he can hit with power and will take a walk.

And we all know that Epstein and Company love plate patience.

Right Field: David DeJesus

The Cubs signed DeJesus to a two-year contract as a free agent this offseason. He turns 32 later this month, and while his arm is better-suited for left field, the Cubs have an albatross of a contract there so he will play RF.

In his career, he has been willing to take a walk, though last season he was fairly impotent offensively, with a .240/.323/.376 line.

He is not slow, but should not be allowed to steal bases, as his career stolen-base percentage is awful.

Left Field: Alfonso Soriano

What can you say? Soriano would be gone in a heartbeat but unless the Cubs want to eat almost his entire massive contract, he isn't gong anywhere.

While I would release him, it doesn't appear the Cubs will do that, so we have more of the awful defense, lots of strikeouts and horrible OBP from our left fielder.

Center Field: Marlon Byrd

While it would seem to be relatively easy to move Byrd since he has a favorable contract, they simply have no one else to play center field on the roster.

I was hoping they would sign Coco Crisp, but it appears the Cardinals are close to getting him inked to a deal.

Look, Brett Jackson isn't ready and the Cubs know it. But I wouldn't mark this one in cement.

SP1: Matt Garza

Unless the Cubs move Garza in that Rizzo trade I wrote about, or to one of the many teams interested in the right-hander, he will open the season as the Cubs No. 1 starter.

He isn't great; ideally, he's a No. 2. But with the Cubs' options and being young, he is a guy you can build around.

The Cubs bullpen blew six games last season that he left with a lead so his final results could have been a lot better.

SP2: Carlos Zambrano

Believe it or not, it seems that the head case will return for a final season.

This is not a bad move, actually, since he will be pitching for a contract so he may come into camp in great shape and motivated to perform better than he has recently.

If he doesn't cramp up or take a teammate's head off in the process, that is.

SP3: Ryan Dempster

Dempster had a terrible year last season and if the Cubs had the option to pick up, I'm guessing he wouldn't have returned.

But with a $14 million payday staring him in the face, of course he wanted to come back.

Dempster was 10-14 with a 4.80 ERA and the Cubs can only hope he starts off the season well so they can move him for a prospect.

SP4: Paul Maholm

The Cubs are believed to be trying to sign left-hander Maholm, who last pitched for the Pirates. Maholm, 29, posted a 3.66 ERA in 26 starts with the Pirates last season before being sidelined by a shoulder injury.

Shoulder injuries are always a red flag, but his ability to keep the ball in the park makes him a good candidate to have success in Wrigley Field.

SP5: Randy Wells

I hope that Wells isn't back with the team, since he is not a good major league starting pitcher, but at this point who else do they have?

He is eligible for arbitration, and personally I would release him. But the Cubs offered him arbitration, so unless they trade him, he will return.