SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Today's game, to be televised on WGN, is your final TV look at the Cubs before Friday's opener at Wrigley Field. The games Monday and Tuesday will be on audio only (Monday on mlb.com, Tuesday on WGN). So take a close look at the team today, because with the exceptions of the two extra catchers, the 25 other guys are the ones who will be heading north on Friday.
Regarding Carlos Sivla, via various tweets this morning, we learn that Silva has officially been released. According to this Paul Sullivan article, the Cubs are on the hook for more money than we originally thought:
If the Cubs release Silva, they are responsible for his $11.5 million salary. The Mariners, who traded Silva to the Cubs for Milton Bradley, are responsible for the $2 million buyout on Silva's 2012 option. The Cubs used the $6 million surplus they received from the Mariners in the trade to sign Marlon Byrd last year.
That's a very expensive lesson for Jim Hendry to learn; the release clearly means that they had absolutely no takers for a trade, even if they ate the whole salary, which they now have to do. The lesson to be learned: don't ever make another signing like [name redacted] again.
So the only remaining roster decision is backup catcher. While both Welington Castillo and Max Ramirez remain on the roster, it seems that the decision to keep Koyie Hill as backup has already been made. But the Cubs surprised us yesterday and today with the Silva/Cashner choice. Maybe they'll do it again. (No, I won't hold my breath waiting.)
Ryan Dempster will start for the Cubs today, his final spring training tuneup before Opening Day on Friday at Wrigley Field. Other Cubs listed to go today are John Grabow, James Russell, Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood (it would be Wood's first back-to-back outings). The Rockies are sending a split squad to Mesa; Clayton Mortensen will start, followed by relievers Matt Daley and Eric Stults. Complete lineups after the jump.
Cubs lineup:
Jackson CF Castro SS Colvin RF Ramirez 3B Soto C Soriano LF DeWitt 2B LaHair 1B Dempster P
Rockies lineup:
Fowler CF Herrera SS Gonzalez LF Giambi 1B Smith RF Stewart 3B Morales C Hulett 2B Mortensen P
Here's all the media information for today.
MLB.com Gameday for today's game
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today. Today's game is being televised on WGN-TV with Len & Bob. It's also on WGN radio with Pat and Zonk.
Please visit our SB Nation Rockies site Purple Row.
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Discuss amongst yourselves.