Chicago Cubs Depth Chart Changes, After MLB Trade Deadline Moves

The trade deadline has come and gone. Our site has done a great job keeping current on the deals and the individual implications of each deal. This piece purports to update the depth chart implications. 

Willi Castro was not acquired to start. He will spell Matt Shaw, and act as insurance if he regresses to his pre-July level. Castro will also slot as the top backup at second base, and if Dansby Swanson needs a breather, Nico Hoerner can slide over with less of a drop-off. Castro is also a hedge against an outfield injury; he’s played the corner spots this year and even center in the past.

In summary, Castro has become the top backup at four positions. Here’s how each position stands.

LINEUP

• Catcher: Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya (soon), Reese Maguire will lose out
• First Base: Michael Busch starts, Justin Turner against tough lefties
• Second Base: Nico Hoerner, Willi Castro top backup
• Shortstop: Dansby Swanson and Hoerner
• Third Base: Matt Shaw, Castro if he falters
• Left Field: Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki first backup
• Center Field: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Castro taking over from Suzuki as the backup you hope to use sparingly
• Right Field: Kyle Tucker, Suzuki backing up
• Designated Hitter: The oft-mentioned Suzuki, Turner, Castro
• Break Glass in case of emergency: Jon Berti

ROTATION

• Shota Imanaga
• Matthew Boyd
• Michael Soroka
• Cade Horton
• Colin Rea

The Cubs surely hope that Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad make their long-awaited return and supplement this group. Already, though, moving Brown back out of the rotation is a win, effected by the arrival of Soroka. Between Soroka, Taillon and Assad, the team will try to nudge Rea into more relief work down the stretch, but also to manage Horton's innings total.

BULLPEN

Ryan Pressly is now but a piece of Cubs obscurist lore, and will surely be a low percentage answer in Immaculate Grid.

• Closer: Daniel Palencia

Wait. Full stop. It would be a fool's errand to predict the pecking order of this bullpen. Craig Counsell will deploy them in a manner reflecting their current performance. Andrew Kittridge and Trevor Rogers will join the stable of mid-30s relievers on expiring deals the Cubs have built their bullpen around. I would expect Brad Keller to man the eighth as often as anyone else, but roles will be fluid.

It wasn't the seismic trade deadline many hoped for, but Castro, Soroka, Kittredge and Rogers will take the places of the four lowest-utility players: Vidal Bruján, Ben Brown, Pressly and Gavin Hollowell. They also push a few more of the players who have been stretched all season into roles where they can be more successful. The functionality of their roster rose sharply, although its potential to blaze a trail of light through October didn't change much.