CHICAGO – Cubs manager Craig Counsell has emphasized that the Opening Day roster is exactly that and nothing more. It is the group that departed Spring Training to begin the 162-game journey, and the cast of characters will inevitably change throughout the team’s quest for the postseason.
“There’s going to be movement on the roster,” Counsell said. “Players with options are going to be up and down. It’s not, ‘On the team, off the team.’ Yeah, the first day of the season, that’s the roster we’re going with. But we’re going to need [a lot of players].”
With Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (right knee) opening the season on the 10-day injured list, a path cleared for veteran outfielder Michael Conforto to win a spot on the roster. Matt Shaw will also help out in right field, and the North Siders included outfielder Dylan Carlson and infielder Scott Kingery to fill out the bench to begin the year.
For the final bullpen spot, Chicago went with right-hander Ben Brown, who had an impressive Spring Training both on the field and behind the scenes. Given the health of the rotation to open the ‘26 season, Brown and Colin Rea will work as multi-inning relievers for now, while righty Javier Assad heads to Triple-A Iowa to remain in a starting role.
Those moves put the final touches on the Cubs’ 26-man Opening Day roster, which looks like this ahead of Thursday’s game against the Nationals at 1:20 p.m. CT at Wrigley:
Catcher (3): Miguel Amaya, Moisés Ballesteros, Carson Kelly
Amaya and Kelly formed a strong catching tandem early on last season before injuries shortened Amaya’s campaign. If healthy, they give Chicago a solid duo for a potential timeshare behind the plate. Ballesteros (Pipeline’s top Cubs prospect and No. 55 overall) is third on the depth chart, but projects mainly as a designated hitter out of the gates.
First baseman (1): Michael Busch
The 28-year-old Busch enjoyed a breakout performance in his second season with the Cubs, launching 34 homers with 90 RBIs and an .866 OPS. He is a solid defender at first base and found a home in the lineup’s leadoff spot down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Second baseman (1): Nico Hoerner
The veteran Hoerner is coming off his best all-around season (6.2 bWAR) in which he won a Gold Glove Award, contended for a batting title and garnered some down-ballot MVP votes. Hoerner provides an elite contact bat and is versatile enough defensively to also serve as the Cubs’ backup at short.
Shortstop (1): Dansby Swanson
Swanson has heightened expectations for his fourth season with the Cubs after appearing in 159 games in ‘25 for the North Siders. The veteran shortstop belted 24 homers and continued to play elite defense at short, helping anchor a Chicago squad that took home the team Gold Glove Award in the NL last year.
Third baseman (1): Alex Bregman
Bregman was the Cubs’ primary target this offseason and agreed to join the fold via a five-year, $175 million contract in free agency. The veteran third baseman brings a reliable bat, solid defense and a reputation for impactful leadership behind the scenes. Bregman is a three-time All-Star, two-time World Series champ and one-time Gold Glove winner.
Outfielders (4): Dylan Carlson, Michael Conforto, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ,
Crow-Armstrong found stardom last summer, being voted into the NL’s All-Star lineup and winning his first Gold Glove Award in center. He also became the first Cubs player in history to have 30 homers, 30 doubles and 30 steals in one season. Now, he heads into this season with a new contract extension in hand. A four-time Gold Glover in left, Happ returns as a veteran leader and steady offensive performer. With Suzuki opening on the IL, both Conforto and Carlson made the roster to help shore up the outfield depth.
DH: Multiple players
Ballesteros will likely get the bulk of his at-bats as a DH, but expect Counsell to also rotate a variety of players in and out of this spot as a form of rest.
Bench/Utility (2): Scott Kingery, Matt Shaw
The addition of Bregman pushed the athletic Shaw into a super utility role, and he spent this spring working all over the outfield and even got action at first base. Shaw could see more time in the outfield while Suzuki is shelved, so the Cubs added Kingery to keep an extra utility infielder on the roster.
Starting pitchers (5): Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon
After making his first All-star team in ‘25 and quickly establishing himself as a team leader, the veteran Boyd was given the Opening Day nod for the Cubs. Horton is coming off a runner-up finish in the National League Rookie of the Year race and looks poised for a big sophomore campaign. Imanaga looked like a bounce-back candidate with his strong showing this spring. The hard-throwing Cabrera joins the cast after being acquired over the offseason from the Marlins, while Taillon returns as a veteran leader and after a standout showing in October.
Relief pitchers (8): Ben Brown, Hunter Harvey, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Daniel Palencia, Colin Rea, Caleb Thielbar, Jacob Webb
The Cubs overhauled their bullpen over the offseason, signing Maton, Milner, Harvey and Webb to help replace the deluge of departures from ‘25. Chicago also brought back the veteran Thielbar, who excelled as a lefty setup man last year for the North Siders. Coming off an impressive run with Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, Palencia will open the year as the Cubs’ closer. Brown and Rea offer multi-inning options and both double as depth behind the main rotation group.