The Rundown: Various Roster Thoughts, Witt Has a Day, Greene Undergoing Elbow Surgery

Can I make a confession? I was really glad the Cubs didn’t have a spring training game yesterday. As much as I love baseball, it’s good to have a break from having to cover it every now and then. So having the Cubs off ahead of Team USA’s game against Mexico in the WBC was perfect for Monday. We’re back to normal today, which means I’m already way behind on the lineup.

It’s funny how you can fall into a rut and just focus on the things that are right in front of you, like the lineup, so yesterday’s reprieve had me getting into more hypotheticals about the upcoming season. The first of those is what the Cubs will do once Justin Steele returns, whether that’s in early May or June. My immediate thought is that they will implement a six-man rotation that sees Steele piggybacking with a long reliever in the early going.

Barring injury, they’ll open the season with Cade Horton — who should be the Opening Day starter — Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon in the rotation. Neither of those last two figures to be moved to the bullpen unless disaster strikes, and every member of that group has had health issues at some point. Imanaga is an outlier there, but keeping him fresh is probably in the Cubs’ best interest.

How they accommodate Steele on the active roster is another question, though it’ll be answered by either performance or health between now and then. Solving for Michael Busch‘s backup at first has to come much sooner, and that’s something our Jacob Zanolla looked at already. I agree that it makes the most sense to use someone who’s already on the roster in order to maintain flexibility and give Jonathon Long consistent ABs in Triple-A, so Miguel Amaya looks like the best bet.

One other thought I had, and something that has been bandied about in the comments to that article, is Matt Shaw breaking in a first base mitt. He’s played all three outfield positions in addition to second and third this spring, so might as well find another way to keep him on the field. That’s more about creating as much depth in the event that Busch has to miss any time, or if the Cubs face a bunch of lefties in a row.

In all seriousness, the need for a capable short-side platoon bat and competent defender will be lessened by the likelihood that Craig Counsell isn’t as protective of Busch in his third full season. There will be times when going with a righty bat makes sense, but Busch was one of the best offensive first basemen in MLB last season and should be able to hold his own against most southpaws.

That doesn’t mean, however, that he should lead off against them. All indications are that Counsell will continue to bat Busch first against righties, then go to Nico Hoerner with lefties on the mound. I don’t really like that, especially with Busch’s power and mediocre baserunning, but Kyle Schwarber has shown that those shortcomings matter little when you can bang.

Witt Puts on Show

Last night’s 5-3 win over Mexico was highlighted by a five-run outburst in the 3rd inning that gave Paul Skenes plenty of leeway, but Bobby Witt‘s glove stole the show later. Diving snags in the 4th and 5th innings stifled potential rallies and kept the momentum in Team USA’s favor, which was big given the fairly even crowd.

TWO INCREDIBLE DEFENSIVE PLAYS FOR TEAM USA ?

Bobby Witt Jr. was making plays in USA’s win vs. Mexico ? ?? pic.twitter.com/0Im8POHlAQ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 10, 2026

“I don’t know. They just kind of happened,” Witt told Ken Rosenthal during an in-game interview. “Those are the ones that are fun. You just go out there and try to make plays. Skenes sat with me on the bus. I said, ‘I got your 6 tonight,’ whatever happens.”

It’s a good thing the US jumped ahead and had Witt to keep the shutout alive as long as possible, because Matthew Boyd had a tough time in his 2.1 innings of work. He gave up three runs on two homers, surrendering five total hits before being lifted after 56 pitches. Though he was nine pitches short of the hard limit for pool play, which is a little silly, manager Mark DeRosa should have given him the hook earlier.

I just love that we can get excited or frustrated by meaningful baseball right now.

More News and Notes

• When it comes to meaningful baseball, it doesn’t get much cooler than Czech electrician Ondřej Satoria getting a standing ovation from the Tokyo Dome crowd after pitching in his final game on Tuesday. Dude throws in the upper 70s, but he became a cult hero when he struck out Shohei Ohtani three years ago. So freaking cool.
• Satoria is the strongest case for the elimination of pitch limits in the WBC. Let affiliated players’ teams worry about that, but there’s no reason a grown-ass man working a 9-to-5 the rest of the year can’t decide to leave it all on the field.
• Reds ace Hunter Greene is undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow and will be placed on the 60-day IL, per a report from Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
• The Phillies and Jesús Luzardo have agreed to a five-year, $135 million contract that includes a $32.5 million club option for 2032. After a down year that featured elbow tightness and a stress reaction in his back, Luzardo was traded to Philly and bounced back in a big way.
• You may recall that the Cubs had a deal in place for the lefty, but backed off due to concerns over his medicals. That decision can best be described by putting the heels of your palms to your face and blowing a raspberry, and I’d guess it had more than a little bit to do with Jed Hoyer’s willingness to take a big risk on Cabrera.
• Former Cubs great Richard Lovelady has been DFA’d by the Nationals to make room for Zack Littell.
• Team USA catcher Cal Raleigh refused to shake Mariners teammate and Mexico outfielder Randy Arozarena‘s hand during last night’s game, which prompted a vulgar response from the latter. I thought it might just be Arozarena’s way of hyping the matchup like cutting a pro wrestling promo but it seems like the beef is real.
• Per a translation from X user Master Flip: The only thing he should be thankful for is having such great parents. He’s very well educated, thank God. I was lucky enough to see them a few days ago at the hotel. They came over to greet me, gave me a big hug, and were genuinely proud to see me again….The only thing he should be thankful for is having such great parents. He’s very well educated, thank God. I was lucky enough to see them a few days ago at the hotel. They came over to greet me, gave me a big hug, and were genuinely proud to see me again…That fake ass “good to see you” he hit me with? He can shove it straight up his ass. I’m out.

Trailer Time

In the Grey seems a little like The Expendables meets Oceans 11, but I’m here for it. First, I’d find it entertaining to watch Eiza González eat dry toast. Throw in Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Rosamund Pike, and I’m sold.

Oh, I have started watching both Rooster and DTF St. Louis, both of which have previously been featured in this section. Still too soon to weigh in much on either, but I can say this: Linda Cardellini…hello.