Cubs Spring Training 2012 Preview: Chicago Starts Camp On Saturday With Pitchers And Catchers

Read More: Marlon Byrd (CF - BOS), David DeJesus (RF - CHC), Paul Maholm (P - CHC), Matt Garza (P - CHC), Alfonso Soriano (LF - CHC), Geovany Soto (C - CHC), Ryan Dempster (P - CHC), Ian Stewart (3B - CHC), Randy Wells (P - CHC), Bryan LaHair (1B - CHC), Chris Volstad (P - CHC), Darwin Barney (2B - CHC), Starlin Castro (SS - CHC), Travis Wood (P - CHC), Casey Coleman (P - CHC), San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs finished the 2011 MLB season with 71-91 record, good for 5th place in the NL Central Division. They promptly underwent a massive personnel overhaul in the offseason, hiring former Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and former San Diegos Padres GM Jed Hoyer.

The team has since traded for an almost entirely new pitching staff and begun to transition into a defense-focused team. Their reporting schedule looks as follows:

The Cubs will get their first look at the new rotation on Saturday, a rotation expected to look like this:

Project Starting Rotation

1) Ryan Dempster
2) Matt Garza
3) Travis Wood
4) Chris Volstad
5) Paul Maholm

The team will also have open competition between Randy Wells, Casey Coleman and a number of other potential starters for the fifth starter and long man roles. Meanwhile, the team should have a trio of new faces in their starting lineup:

Projected Cubs Lineup

C Geovany Soto
1B Bryan LaHair
2B Darwin Barney
3B Ian Stewart
SS Starlin Castro
LF Alfonso Soriano
CF Marlon Byrd
RF David DeJesus

And here's a gander at the first week of Cactus League schedule for the Cubs:

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