SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Opening Day at Wrigley Field against the Nationals is two weeks from today, and I had expected that the Cubs might announce some roster cuts on yesterday's off day -- but none were. I'd think we'd get some roster moves in the next day or so. And if you think Theo Epstein & Jed Hoyer are still working on possible last-minute-before-Opening-Day deals, you'd be right:
"I doubt there's a team that feels like they're ready to go to playoffs right now, so I think every team looks at (tweaking the talent)," Hoyer said Wednesday as the Cubs took a break in Cactus League play. "The conversations really heat up among teams the last week to 10 days.
"GMs don't call around too much until the end because they realize that everyone is assessing. … Everyone has an area or two they would like to improve or a guy they like might be available (who wasn't) in the offseason."
Maybe Marlon Byrd will still wind up in Washington, or somewhere else, and Brett Jackson will indeed make the team. Another interesting quote from Hoyer in that link:
"We are going to come in a little under (opening day payroll) where we were last year, but we had plenty of flexibility over the winter to make the moves we made," he said. "We left a little flexibility so we can make some moves if we need to."
Cubs lineup:
Barney SS, DeWitt 2B, Soriano LF, LaHair 1B, Soto C, Stewart 3B, Mather CF, Clevenger DH, Sappelt RF
Rangers lineup was not available at posting time.
Matt Garza takes the mound to start for the Cubs. Also on the list to throw for the Cubs today are: Marcos Mateo, Rafael Dolis, James Russell and Frankie De La Cruz, who was recently acquired from the Brewers. De La Cruz will wear uniform No. 48.
For the Rangers, it'll be righthander Colby Lewis.
Today's game is on CSN Chicago with Len & Bob. It's also on cubs.com with Mick Gillispie. Here is the MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Note that for spring training gameday links, you probably will not get pitch-by-pitch as during the regular season; these are unofficial links. Each play will be posted, but might not be updated until after each half-inning.
There will be one overflow thread, which will post at 4:30 pm CT. The "Recent Stories in Game Threads" box on the sidebar is where you'll find it.
Please visit our SB Nation Rangers site Lone Star Ball.
Discuss amongst yourselves.