MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs’ Opening Day roster was all but set on the last day of spring training Tuesday, with outfielder Dylan Carlson landing a spot and infielder Scott Kingery getting one with an asterisk.
Outfielder Kevin Alcantara and right-hander Javier Assad were optioned to Triple-A Iowa. It already was known that Assad would be a starter for Iowa to start the season, but Alcantara received consideration for a bench spot. Unlike Carlson, a six-year veteran who came to camp on a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training, Alcantara has minor-league options left.
Carlson played all three outfield positions in camp and batted .298/.421/.404 with one home run. He’s a career .233/.312/.372 hitter in 567 games with the Cardinals, Rays and Orioles. Carlson, left-handed-hitting Michael Conforto and super-utility player Matt Shaw will cover right field in injured Seiya Suzuki’s absence.
‘‘Carlson has been told he made the team, and Kingery will be on the plane with us to Chicago,’’ manager Craig Counsell said, leaving the door open for a last-minute acquisition from outside the organization.
Kingery, who hit 19 homers for the Phillies in 2019, batted .204 with two homers this spring. He, too, was a non-roster invitee.
‘‘Both Kevin and [Carlson] had a good camp,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘We’re trying to preserve some depth here [with Suzuki going on the injured list]. That’s an important part of this.’’
‘‘It’s definitely a good feeling being told you’re a part of the group,’’ Carlson said. ‘‘There’s a lot of expectations and a lot of really good ballplayers in that room.’’
The Cubs played the Yankees to close out camp and left Sloan Park after most of the starting nine of Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Moises Ballesteros, Miguel Amaya and Conforto got an at-bat.
Seiya later, Arizona
Suzuki will start the season on the 10-day injured list instead of in right field, but he will accompany the team to Chicago a
