Chicago Cubs News: Final bench spot comes into focus following latest roster cuts

The Chicago Cubs will travel to Japan this week ahead of their Opening Day games against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 18 and March 19. A total of 31 players will be making the trip with the Cubs. In anticipation of their travel, on Sunday, the Cubs began informing the players on the fringe of the roster if they were making the trip to Japan.

Among those players informed was infielder Nicky Lopez.

After failing to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster for the Japan games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lopez is expected to explore options elsewhere. This seems to be a situation where not being on the Cubs' 40-man roster already worked against Lopez. Lopez had an impressive spring training with the Cubs, but even if he were among the taxi squad of players making the trip to Japan, he would have needed to be added to the 40-man roster.

The primary reason why the Cubs were not ready to make that commitment to Lopez is due to Vidal Bruján and Gage Workman battling for the final spot on the Cubs' bench. Both players have been informed that they will be traveling with the team to Japan.

The decision between Workman and Bruján will likely not be made until the Cubs' stateside Opening Day against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 27. Bruján is out of minor-league options while Workman is subject to the Rule 5 draft requirement of remaining on the Major League roster or being sent back to the Detroit Tigers. With Nico Hoerner not playing in the Japan games, it makes sense that the Cubs would delay that decision.

One scenario that may keep both Workman and Bruján on the Opening Day roster beyond the games against the Dodgers is if Matt Shaw does not make the roster. Shaw had a delayed start to Cactus League games this spring due to an oblique injury.

Entering Cactus League play on Sunday, Shaw had 2 hits in 13 plate appearances. Like Lopez, Shaw is not currently on the 40-man roster. Meaning that his addition to the Opening Day roster would require a corresponding move. Which, again, if the Cubs wanted to kick the can down the road on a decision between Workman and Bruján, they may wait until the series against the Diamondbacks to add him to the roster.