MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs arrived at Spring Training with a pair of runways to Opening Day. The North Siders had to map out plans for the mid-March trip to Japan, while also weighing roster construction for the domestic opener at the end of the month.

With the Cubs taking flight for Japan in a little over a week for the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers on March 18-19, this feels like a good time to revisit the Opening Day roster projection. The trip overseas will include five players beyond the 26-man active roster, giving Chicago options for the two games that count toward the regular season.

For this exercise, we are focusing on the 160 games that follow, beginning with the March 27 domestic opener against the D-backs in Arizona. Given the way camp has unfolded to date, and the information currently in hand, here is how the 26-man roster could look for the Cubs when the traditional Opening Day arrives:

Catcher (2): Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly
Amaya turned a corner in the second half in 2024 and gained trust from the pitching staff, but the Cubs wanted a veteran to pair with him behind the dish. Chicago signed Kelly on a two-year deal, giving the team two backstops capable of handling the starting role.

First baseman (1): Michael Busch
Busch was handed the keys to first base in 2024 and put together a solid rookie campaign both offensively and defensively. He will return as the starter at first, while veteran Justin Turner offers an experienced righty complement off the bench.

Second baseman (1): Nico Hoerner
Hoerner will not be on the trip to Japan for the Tokyo Series (March 18-19) against the Dodgers, but the goal is to have him ready for the domestic opener. Hoerner – a Gold Glove winner and elite contact bat – is coming back from October surgery on his right forearm.

Shortstop (1): Dansby Swanson
Swanson is entering the third season under the seven-year contract he signed with the Cubs prior to the ‘23 campaign. He is currently unrestricted after October core-muscle surgery to address an issue he played through last year, when he led the North Siders in bWAR (4.0).

Third baseman (1): Matt Shaw
Shaw was slowed at the start of camp by an oblique issue, but the rookie looks on target for the opener. Dating back to the Trade Deadline last year, the Cubs have parted ways with every player who made at least one start at third last season. Shaw’s path to win the job is clear.

Outfielders (3): Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker
Tucker arrived at camp as the Cubs’ marquee addition this winter, adding star power to the middle of Chicago’s lineup. Crow-Armstrong is coming off a strong showing down the stretch last year, has a new number on his back and gives the Cubs an elite defender with plus speed and overflowing energy. Happ won his third consecutive Gold Glove in left last year and returns as a source of veteran leadership and offensive consistency.

DH (1): Seiya Suzuki
The addition of Tucker to man right field pushed Suzuki out of the regular rotation for the outfield. While Suzuki can be worked in for left and right field, he stands to get the majority of his at-bats as the Cubs’ DH right now, and he is on the same page with Craig Counsell.

Bench/Utility (3): Jon Berti, Vidal Bruján, Justin Turner
The addition of the veteran Turner earlier this spring altered the projected makeup of the bench, as does the increasing possibility of having both Hoerner and Shaw ready for the opener in Arizona. Berti would slide into an infield utility role and Bruján (out of Minor League options) might have the edge over Gage Workman (Rule 5 pick) due to being a switch-hitter with more positional versatility. Turner gives the Cubs a backup for first and DH, plus a valuable pinch-hitter. Nicky Lopez (non-roster) remains in the mix, too.

Starting Pitchers (5): Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Colin Rea, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon
The North Siders already had a formidable front three between Imanaga, Steele and Taillon, and signed Boyd over the winter to lengthen the group. Coming off his standout rookie tour, Imanaga is slated to start Opening Day in Japan. With Javier Assad working his way back from an oblique setback, Rea is a favorite for the fifth spot. Younger options like Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks are also in contention this spring.

Relief Pitchers (8): Ryan Brasier, Porter Hodge, Julian Merryweather, Tyson Miller, Nate Pearson, Ryan Pressly, Caleb Thielbar, Keegan Thompson
The list of bullpen candidates is long, but at the moment, this seems like the most likely grouping for the start of the season. Merryweather, Miller and Thompson are each out of Minor League options, while Brasier, Pressly and Thielbar represent the veteran offseason additions. Hodge and Pearson figure to be key late-inning arms, along with Pressly. Brown is an interesting contender, but the Cubs may want to keep him as rotation depth at Triple-A Iowa to begin the year. Offseason addition Eli Morgan is also very much in the hunt, but could be an odd-man out with one option year remaining.