April 01--MESA, Ariz. -- Arismendy Alcantara has received plenty of notoriety for his versatility, but Jonathan Herrera also is making a strong push to make the Chicago Cubs' opening night roster.
Herrera, 30, survived the last round of cuts as a non-roster player. Assuming that outfielder Chris Denorfia starts the regular season on the 15-day disabled list because of a left hamstring strain, the final two spots on the roster will be between outfielders Matt Szczur and Ryan Sweeney and Herrera.
Szczur, who is batting .349 with five home runs, would appear to have the strongest shot at landing one spot because he's arguably the fastest player in camp and can play all three outfield positions.
Sweeney, 30, has the most experience among the three candidates but has been slowed by injuries throughout his career. He also can play all three outfield positions and bats left-handed.
But a major league source said the Cubs have been trying to trade Sweeney, who will earn $1.5 million this season.
The Cubs' 40-man roster currently is full, so they would have to make room if Herrera makes the opening night roster.
But pitcher Jacob Turner is a candidate for the 60-day DL because of an arm injury, which would open a spot. So would a trade of Sweeney, who didn't start on Wednesday.
Alcantara and Herrera are switch-hitters, so that lessens the need for a left-handed hitter even though President Theo Esptein is in the midst of adding more left-handed hitters to the organization since last July.
Herrera, who has played at least parts of six seasons with the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox, is primarily a middle infielder. But manager Joe Maddon didn't rule out carrying another infielder besides Alcantara.
"It would be nice to have it," Maddon said. You don't necessarily or absolutely have to have it, but I think we'd like to have it. But the fact that (Alcantara) is so versatile makes a big difference. It comes down to pinch-hitting and what you're going to do during the course of a game and who you're going to hit for. All that kind of good stuff, and then you try to figure out where you need the most depth.
"Having an extra infielder would be a good thing."
