3 Cubs players who are simply no longer worth defending anymore

It's been an uneventful spring training for the Chicago Cubs, largely because most of the spots on the team's Opening Day roster are already determined. Questions remain over the final spot on the bench and in the bullpen, but for the most part, fans likely could point to the players who will be on the 26-man roster to open the season.

Most of the Cubs' roster falls into two buckets: a veteran who has clear expectations for 2026, or an unproven young player looking to get an extended runway at the major league level.

3 Cubs players who are simply no longer worth defending anymore

There are a handful of players, however, entering what should a decisive year. By the end of the season, the excuses will run out. They will have either taken a step forward and emerged as a long-term piece on the roster, or it will be time to move.

Miguel Amaya

The question that has suffocated Miguel Amaya's career has been health. His ascension through the Cubs' farm system was defined by one serious injury after another, and by the time he made his major league debut in 2023, there was a fear that his bat might never come around.

Amaya's offense seemed to turn around at the end of the 2024 season, and he continued that progression into 2025. The problem is that injuries limited him to only 28 games.

If Amaya can stay healthy in 2026, perhaps he cements his standing as the Cubs' long-term catcher. It's the same question we've had for the past three years and may provide a clue into how 2026 will turn out.

Shota Imanaga

It was an awkward end to the 2025 season for Shota Imanaga. His struggles in August and September set the stage for his implosion against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. Despite those struggles, the Cubs felt comfortable enough to risk Imanaga accepting the qualifying offer.

Imanaga's decision to accept the offer likely didn't change the blueprint for the Cubs this offseason, but there's no question that there will be added attention to his starts this season.

Perhaps it really was mechanical, and the Cubs can fix him. Though, there will be no defense of Imanaga if his struggles from the end of the 2025 season return.

Jordan Wicks

Jordan Wicks seemed to be on a path to becoming a fixture in the Chicago Cubs' rotation when he debuted at the end of the 2023 season. That expectation was short-lived as he struggled in 2024 and essentially was used as an up-and-down arm in 2025.

Cubs fans questioned why Wicks became an afterthought last season, and to be fair to the organization, his 6.28 ERA didn't make a compelling case. Wicks has tweaked some of his pitch grips and identified a hitch in his delivery, so there's a chance that success is finally unlocked in 2026.

If not, it's time for Cubs fans to stop wondering about the 2021 first-round pick.