Chicago Cubs News: Brothers, Duffy and Sogard make Opening Day roster. Vargas designated for assignment

The Opening Day roster continues to take shape as the Cubs announced several roster moves this morning.

First off:

Sogard making the Opening Day roster was a foregone conclusion after Nico Hoerner was reassigned to minor league camp. The Cubs have also been impressed with the way Duffy has been swinging the bat this spring and he’ll provide a veteran right-handed bat off the bench as well as the ability to play third base, second base and shortstop.

Brothers has been very effective this spring, allowing no runs and only two hits and a walk over eight innings while striking out nine. Brothers will provide a needed left-handed arm out of the pen.

Maybin will stay with the team after having been designated earlier this week. He’ll report to the alternative site and will probably be the first player to get a call when there is an outfield injury.

Vargas had a good spring as well, but was a victim of the fierce competition for infield spots. The Cubs will likely hope he agrees to a minor league deal to stay in the organization like Maybin did.

One other major question this spring has been answered as well.

Maples’ poor control wasn’t enough for the Cubs to give up on his incredible talent quite yet. He clearly has the stuff to be a major league closer one day if he can only manage to throw more strikes.

There will be more roster decisions in the coming days, including a decision on the backup catcher. But we now have a much clearer idea what the Opening Day roster will be.

EDIT: Here’s the press release.