Cubs Trim Roster to 31 as Spring Training Winds Down

The Cubs trimmed their spring roster from 36 to 31 players Monday by assigning five non-roster invitees to Triple-A Iowa. That group is comprised of right-handed pitchers Jonathan Holder and Robert Gsellman, left-handed pitchers Steven Brault and Stephen Gonsalves, and infielder Ildemaro Vargas.

Brault is dealing with a triceps issue and probably isn’t going to be available until June, so that was easiest decision of the group. That means there are only three spots left for the Opening Day roster, two of which will likely end up being IL stints for Wade Miley (elbow) and Andrelton Simmons (shoulder).

Chicago’s spring roster of 31 players consists of 16 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders, and six outfielders. Of those, the remaining decisions are likely between Michael Rucker and Ethan Roberts for the bullpen and Alfonso Rivas or Rafael Ortega for the bench. Rivas may well start at Iowa because he still has three options and Ortega has none.

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