Chicago Cubs finalize 2016 Opening Day roster

The Chicago Cubs announced their 25 man roster for Opening Day of the 2016 season on Tuesday.

After a flurry of roster moves, the Chicago Cubs have finalized their Opening Day 25-man roster for the 2016 season.

First, manager Joe Maddon told outfielder Matt Szczur that he had made the team during batting practice Tuesday morning. Szczur will be the team’s fourth outfielder behind Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward and Jorge Soler.

The roster came more into focus soon after when the Cubs announced that they had released outfielder Shane Victorino, left-handed reliever Manny Parra and infielder Munenori Kawasaki. All three were re-signed to minor league deals later in the day, however.

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Parra and Kawasaki will head to Triple-A Iowa to begin the season, but Victorino will head to Arizona to rehab a calf injury. With these moves, Szczur, infielder Tommy La Stella and relief pitcher Neil Ramirez all made the Opening Day roster.

The last move made was putting utility player Javier Báez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 25th. According to ESPN.com, Báez jammed his thumb sliding into first base two weeks ago and feels ready, but Maddon wants to play things cautious so early in the year.

“We’re not comfortable it’s 100 percent well,” Maddon said. “He’s kind of disappointed because he feels he can be ready, but he hasn’t played in a while. He needs at-bats.”

Báez is expected to be ready sometime next week against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Here is the official Opening Day roster of the 2016 Chicago Cubs!