The Cubs Head To Las Vegas...

A number of you asked about which players and coaches will be heading to Las Vegas for the two games against the Athletics, which are tonight (7:05 CT) and Saturday (2:05 CT).

Here's a complete list of players and coaches heading to Vegas. Joe Maddon will be staying in the Phoenix area and managing the two games there (against the Indians at Mesa today and the Brewers at Maryvale Saturday). He's also possibly going to miss a game, or part of one, as his daughter (who lives in the Phoenix area) is about to have a baby. The baby will be Maddon's fifth grandchild. Advance congratulations to Joe and his family!

Here's the roster (* indicates player from the minor-league camp):

Pitchers (14)

Kyle Hendricks, Eric Jokisch, Jake Arrieta, Blake Parker, Joseph Ortiz, Donn Roach, Drake Britton, C.J. Edwards, Armando Rivero, Frank Batista *, Carlos Pimentel *, Yoanner Negrin *, Stephen Perakslis *, Michael Jensen *

Catchers (4)

Miguel Montero, Taylor Teagarden, Kyle Schwarber, Cael Brockmeyer *

Infielders (11)

Javier Baez, Tommy La Stella, Chris Valaika, Jonathan Herrera, Anthony Rizzo, Christian Villanueva, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, Wes Darvill *, Carlos Penalver *, Dan Vogelbach *

Outfielders (6)

Junior Lake, Dexter Fowler, Jorge Soler, Albert Almora, Jacob Hannemann *, Bijan Rademacher *

Coaching Staff

Dave Martinez (acting manager), Manny Ramirez (first base coach), Chris Bosio, Mike Borzello, Henry Blanco, Franklin Font (third base coach), Eric Hinske, Desi Wilson, Chad Noble

Quite a number of the regulars are going to Las Vegas, as you can see. It appears to me that since Joe Maddon is staying in the Valley, that many players and pitchers who are "on the bubble" will get significant playing time because the first roster cuts are likely to happen soon.

Manny as first-base coach ought to be interesting.

Many thanks to Cubs media relations director Peter Chase for the roster list.