Cubs option Kevin Alcantara and reveal truth about final Opening Day roster spot

Pete Crow-Armstrong's contract extension overshadowed the reality that the Chicago Cubs are finalizing their Opening Day roster ahead of Thursday's game against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. The pitching staff appears to be set with Ben Brown earning the final spot in the Cubs' bullpen, and the latest roster move provides a clue for the final spot up for grabs on the bench.

While not discussed by Craig Counsell on Monday, the team's transaction log confirmed that top prospect Kevin Alcantara has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

With Seiya Suzuki opening the season on the IL, there had been recent speculation that Alcantara could find his way onto the Cubs' Opening Day roster. The problem is that throughout spring training, the Cubs have given the impression that Matt Shaw would be the primary right fielder in Suzuki's absence.

Beyond Shaw, the Cubs will also have Michael Conforto on their roster to start the season, and there remains an expectation that Dylan Carlson has earned a spot on the bench. That leaves one remaining spot, and with Alcantara being optioned, the impression is that the Cubs will add an infielder to the roster before Opening Day.

Forgotten offseason signing may have suddenly found his way onto the Cubs' Opening Day roster.

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney (subscription required) revealed his final Opening Day roster prediction for the Cubs and has former Philadelphia Phillies top prospect Scott Kingery making the club as the extra infielder on the bench.

The Cubs signed Kingery to a minor-league deal during the offseason, though at the time, there wasn't a real expectation that he would break camp with the team. With Shaw expected to see more time in the outfield at the start of the season, it makes sense for the Cubs to seek added infield depth while Suzuki is sidelined.

2019 was easily Kingery's best season in the majors, hitting 19 home runs in 500 plate appearances with the Phillies, and posting a wRC+ of 100. In the years since, he's been looking (and failing) to recapture that success. With the Angels last season, he posted a wRC+ of 82 in 58 plate appearances.

Short of the Cubs finding a more established backup infielder before Thursday, chances are Kingery will have a short stay on the roster. Once Suzuki returns, the 31-year-old infielder will likely be optioned to Triple-A Iowa.