Bench 2026

[Stratos]

Cubs will certainly carry the max 13 pitchers so on OD there will be 4 bench players, plus whoever is DH'ing that day.  Amaya as 2nd catcher leaves 3 spots.  Ballesteros is likely to be in that DH spot most games.

With Shaw getting so much work in OF it'll be interesting to see if they go with Shaw + 1 INF + 1 OF or Shaw + 2 OF.

They really only need 1 bench OF besides Shaw.  I could see maybe Kingery + Conforto as the final 2 bench spots.  There's just no playing time for 2 bench OF plus Shaw.  They may want to keep Conforto for his bat and insurance for Mo even if Carlson is hitting well in ST but still hasn't been showing power.

If the Cubs like Carlson they could DH Conforto and add Carlson as 4th OF and put Mo in AAA to work on catching since he has options.  Unless Carlson is ok with Iowa.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Shaw is still the primary INF backup, even if he's able to play OF in a pinch. Shaw/Amaya/Carlson/Conforto is my guess. No chance Mo sees Iowa unless he gets off to a Matt Shaw '25 like start at the plate

[Post Count Padder]

27 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Shaw is still the primary INF backup, even if he's able to play OF in a pinch. Shaw/Amaya/Carlson/Conforto is my guess. No chance Mo sees Iowa unless he gets off to a Matt Shaw '25 like start at the plate

Yeah that's my best guess. Alcantara had a slow start to the spring and has an option remaining so he starts in Iowa. Once Conforto signed I assumed he would make the team unless he looked like horsefeathers. And I figured Carlson vs. McCormick would be for the last spot on the bench and Carlson has hit really well. McCormick and Kingery probably the next ones up from Iowa unless they wanna give Alcantara or Triantos an early look.

[Stratos]

23 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Shaw is still the primary INF backup, even if he's able to play OF in a pinch. Shaw/Amaya/Carlson/Conforto is my guess. No chance Mo sees Iowa unless he gets off to a Matt Shaw '25 like start at the plate

From Counsell sounds like the plan is to rotate Shaw around the diamond to let regulars get some rest at DH. 

Yeah doubtful to see Mo in Iowa.  But if everyone is healthy it's an option for the Cubs if they want to keep certain guys for depth.