(670 The Score) The tone for the Cubs' 2019 season was set just a day after their 2018 campaign ended, as president of baseball operations Theo Epstein stressed the need for more urgency.
The Cubs have the chance to respond to that challenge starting Thursday, when they open their season at the Texas Rangers. Before they start, let's break down what the roster looks like.
Catcher
Willson Contreras was a workhorse in 2018, playing in 138 games. Despite earning an All-Star nod, he didn't live up to expectations offensively, hitting .249 with 10 homers, 54 RBIs and a .730 OPS. He has shown a renewed lift in his swing this spring and displayed confidence about his offensive capabilities.
Victor Caratini currently projects as the Cubs' backup catcher, though they'd prefer to add a veteran if they can find one. Caratini had a strong spring training, but the team believes he could benefit from more consistent at-bats as an everyday catcher in the minor leagues.
Infield
The Cubs infield has the potential to be the most productive in baseball with cornerstones in first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant and National League MVP runner-up Javier Baez manning shortstop. It was Baez who had the breakout 2018 season, setting career-high marks by hitting .290 with 34 homers, 111 RBIs and an .881 OPS.
Baez will start the season as the everyday shortstop as Addison Russell serves the final 28 games of a 40-game suspension for violating the league's joint domestic violence policy.
Ben Zobrist, 37, is coming off a strong 2018 in which he bounced back to hit .305 with an .817 OPS. He'll share the second base duties with newcomer Daniel Descalso. David Bote will be the super-sub in the infield, capable of playing all four positions. Bote could play some third base with Bryant shifting to the outfield when the Cubs face left-handed starters.
Rizzo projects to be his usual consistent self. Bryant has shown no signs this spring of the shoulder and hand injuries that plagued him in a down 2018 season.
Outfield
Manager Joe Maddon platoons his outfielders as much as anyone in baseball. The outfield against right-handed starters will feature Kyle Schwarber (26 homers in 2018) in left field and then Jason Heyward in center or right. The third outfield slot will rotate against right-handers.
Albert Almora has done his best this spring to convince Maddon he can hit righties on a regular basis, hitting .388 overall in 49 at-bats. Zobrist and Descalso will receive some playing time in the corner outfield spots as well. Barring an outside addition in the next couple of days, Mark Zagunis will break with the team as an extra outfielder and pinch-hitting specialist.
There are few left-handed starters in the National League Central, but Almora will slot into the lineup whenever the Cubs do face them. As mentioned, Bryant could also shift to the outfield sometimes against lefties.
With Ian Happ demoted to Triple-A Iowa to open the season, all eyes will be on Almora, who will have the opportunity to earn more playing time and keep it with quality production.
Starting pitching
Left-hander Jon Lester has been tabbed as the Cubs' starter on Opening Day for the fourth time in five seasons. He's coming off a solid 2018 in which he went 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. Lester has made at least 31 starts in 11 straight seasons.
The Cubs are counting heavily on right-hander Yu Darvish, who made only eight starts in 2018 because of elbow issues before undergoing surgery in September. He recently developed a blister on his throwing hand but has expressed few concerns about it. Darvish had a solid spring and has appeared more relaxed around teammates and the media. Darvish making 30 or more starts would go a long way in the Cubs' quest to win the NL Central.
The question with 35-year-old Cole Hamels is can he keep it up? Hamels posted a 2.36 ERA in 12 in Chicago after the Cubs acquired him from the Rangers last July, but that brilliance came after he posted a 4.72 ERA in 20 starts in Texas to open the season.
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks has continued to defy the odds of this velocity-charged era by putting up good numbers with a reliance on command and movement. He had a 3.44 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 33 starts in 2018.
Left-hander Jose Quintana is a quality option on the back end of a rotation. He had a 4.03 ERA and 1.32 WHIP while walking 3.5 batters per nine innings last season, marks that were all worse than his career averages.
Bullpen
The closer's role remains somewhat of a mystery. Brandon Morrow is expected to fill the role when healthy, but he's expected to miss the first month of the season after having elbow surgery in November. Pedro Strop is plenty capable of filling in as the closer. He suffered a hamstring injury a couple weeks ago but is expected to be ready for the opener Thursday. Strop projects to get the most save chances with Morrow out, but Steve Cishek, Brandon Kintzler and Brad Brach having closing experience as well. Typically, they'll serve as the right-handed setup men along with Carl Edwards Jr.
Mike Montgomery has long been slotted in as of two lefties in the bullpen, while Randy Rosario beat out Kyle Ryan for the other spot when Ryan was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday afternoon.
Right-hander Tyler Chatwood, who lost his rotation spot amid an ulgy 2018, is expected to fill the final bullpen spot.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
