
By: Arthur Caron
In baseball, anyone on the roster can play the hero. There have been unsung rookies that have become franchise heroes, and role players who have shined on the brightest stage.
With spring training on the horizon and the starting lineup set, let’s look at the players who, although they aren’t everyday starters, could play a key role in the Cubs’ success in 2025.
They will be categorized as:
-“Plug ‘N’ Play” – meaning they are most likely to claim the bench spots
-“If We Must” – the next in line who don’t feel like a great first option
-And “The Expendables” – minor leaguers who are likely to get the first call up.
I will also examine some honorable mentions and free agents who could be on the Cubs’ radar.
Ultimately, I want to point out what holes remain and who might be a last-minute addition before the Cubs jet-set to Tokyo for the season opener.
PLUG ‘N’ PLAY
Carson Kelly, Catcher, 30 years old
Kelly was signed in the off-season to be Miguel Amaya’s primary backup. He’s a proven veteran who can handle a staff and help spell Amaya. Many have even referenced Amaya and Kelly as 1A and 1B as the starting catchers.
Kelly has some pop, hitting 9 homers last season, but his value is on defense where he ranks in the upper half of catchers in blocking and framing. His caught stealing is in the 85th percentile, shown on his baseball savant page below.
Jon Berti, Utility, 35 years old
Berti has played every position aside from catcher and 1st base in his 6-year career. He was signed as an insurance policy if Nico Hoerner has to miss time recovering from off-season surgery.
He’s a very versatile infielder, and even made a name for himself in the 2024 playoffs when he played 1st base for the Yankees (a position he learned quickly with the help of Anthony Rizzo).
Berti, a career .259 hitter doesn’t have a lot of pop – only 24 career homers – but his .337 career OBP will do in a spot-starter role. His speed could be a game-changer as a late-inning replacement. He stole 41 bases in 2022, and the Cubs were aggressive in the run game last season with 5 players stealing over 10 bases and 2 snagging over 25. With the addition of Kyle Tucker, who himself stole 11 in just 78 games, I can see stolen bases playing a big role for the team in 2025.
Gage Workman, 3B, 25 years old
Workman, acquired in the Rule 5 draft via the Detroit Tigers, must stay on the 26-man roster all season otherwise he must be given back to the Tigers. Workman, a lefty, has never played above AA, however, he’s shown a nice combo of thump and speed hitting over 10 homers and stealing 15 bags in every pro season.
The Cubs could use him as a lefty late-inning power bat; he had a .366 OBP and 89 RBIs last season with 18 homers and 30 stolen bases. He is a low-risk, high-potential player to pair with uber-prospect Matt Shaw. I could see Workman playing early on if the Cubs choose to play Shaw at 2B to ease Nico Hoerner back from injury.
Alexander Canario, OF, 24 years old
Canario, as of writing this, will be the primary backup outfielder. He had a short stint in the majors last season and had a .280 average with a .357 OBP. Having only 42 ABs in parts of 2 seasons, he hasn’t gotten a chance to show what he can do at the big league level.
Canario is either going to be on the 26-man roster or he will be traded because he is out of minor league options. Canario had 37 homers and 23 stolen bases in the minors in 2022.
He could be a valuable trade piece to fill another need down the line, but barring that, he’s a quality 4th outfielder with Seiya Suzuki being the primary DH.
IF WE MUST:
Vidal Brujan, Utility, 26 years old
Brujan was acquired in a trade for Matt Mervis with the Miami Marlins. Brujan will be hard-pressed to make the 26-man roster, but since he has no minor league options and can be as flexible as Berti, he could have a role to start the season.
Brujan has a bit of speed but a wet noodle of a bat with a career .189 average. He might be cut after Tokyo or traded to clear room on the 40-man roster. However, if someone gets hurt or there is a trade down the line, then he could get a reprieve and stick on the roster.
Although, if Cubs fans see him in the lineup then using your Draft Kings app to bet his under total bases might get you a beer or two.
THE EXPENDABLES
Kevin Alcantara, OF, 21 years old
The Jaguar came up at the end of last season he got only 10 ABs. He didn’t show much, but at 6’6”, he can profile into something special. His strikeouts were at a higher rate than you’d like to see; posting over 100 in each of his 3 full minor league seasons with the Cubs.
His OBP of at least .340 in those same seasons gives hope that he can control the K’s, and then the other tools should shine. He will almost certainly start the season in AAA Iowa to refine his approach and he could be prowling the Wrigley outfield sooner rather than later.
Ben Cowles, IF, 24 years old
Cowles finished the season in AA last season and has played 2B, SS, and 3B in his career. Having a .268 average over 4 minor league seasons, the hit tool is solid. Stealing over 10 bags in each of the last 3 seasons as well, shows nice progression and he will either start in AA or AAA, but if Brujan is cut then Cowles will be the first on the bus back to fill the role he vacates.
Honorable Mentions:
There are a few players that I’d be remiss if i didn’t mention:
Owen Caissie: the stud lefty outfielder is on the 40-man roster, however the whole outfield bats left-handed (aside from Ian Happwho is a switch-hitter). The Cubs will likely lean on Canario or Alcantara as the primary backups for balance. Caissie will start the season in AAA barring a Canario trade. He could also overtake Alcantara with a hot spring.
Moises Ballestros: He has a shot to be added to the 40-man roster sometime this year, but with Carson Kelly on a major league deal it would take an injury to elevate him.
James Triantos: The reason he’s not mentioned is simple, Benjamin Cowles is on the 40 man and Triantos isn’t. His ceiling is high but right now he would just be rotting on the bench behind guys like Workman, Berti and Brujan. If a 40-man spot opens via trade or release with the infield then he’s the first man up to fill it.
Nicky Lopez: Lopez was just signed to a minor league deal, and although his bat won’t make an impact in this lineup, his defense is top-notch. Don’t be surprised if he is on the bench at some point and getting spot starts to give guys like Nico, Dansby, and Shaw a break.
What’s Left?
The Cubs have two glaring holes they want to ensure a solid well-rounded bench:
-A righty with pop
-And a legit backup 1st baseman.
Nearing the beginning of Spring Training, who’s left on the clearance shelf that Jed and co. could potentially bring in to fill that gap?
Mark Canha, OF/1B, 35 years old
Canha still gets on base at a nice clip with his lowest OBP being .344 since 2019. Although his power has declined every season since 2021 down to just 7 homers last season, you can’t ignore his above-average value in squared-up percentage 84% and walk percentage where he ranked in the 83rd percentile.
Although the high chase rate is a concern, he’s a decent low-cost option to spell the lefty Michael Busch at 1st.
Ty France, 1B, 30 years old
France has at least 10 homers and 50 RBIs in each of the last 4 seasons. But that comes with a high K-rate. We, as Cubs fans, have seen this movie before… it’s called Patrick Wisdom, and that didn’t play out as well as we’d hoped. France is flawed, but he is one of the only viable options for a 1B that bats right-handed.
Brian Anderson, 3B/OF, 31 years old
Anderson, a primary 3B, who has played everywhere on the diamond in his career aside from catcher, showed promise early in his career from 2018-2021. He posted an OBP over .330 in each season and hit at least 10 homers 3 times. In 2023 Anderson flashed a cannon for an arm in the 98th percentile and a 66% barrel rate to go with a 70th percentile walk rate. He could be a low-risk type of commitment that could pay dividends, especially if Shaw becomes the primary 2B for an extended period to start the year.
Cubs fans! Who would you want as the backups? Do you think any of the young guys are ready to get a taste of the big leagues? We’d love to hear it in the comments below.