Welcome back to the Cubs Beat newsletter. Jordan Bastian has covered baseball for MLB.com since 2005, including the Cubs since the 2019 season.

MESA, Ariz. -- Watching prospect Alexander Canario during batting practice this spring has only reinforced what makes the young outfielder so intriguing to the Cubs. It is one of the reasons he has found himself in the conversation for a role on Chicago’s Opening Day roster.

“The power is through the roof,” Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly said.

The starting jobs in the outfield for the North Siders are set with Ian Happ in left, Seiya Suzuki in right and center going to Cody Bellinger once his deal with the Cubs becomes official in the coming days. Canario is among a group of outfielders who will be jockeying for position in the race for bench jobs.

Chicago has a more polished and versatile backup in Mike Tauchman, an elite defender in center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong and a veteran non-roster invitee to consider in David Peralta. All three of those players hit from the left side, while Canario offers a right-handed bat with plus power that could be a weapon against lefties.

“We'll have him at all three outfield spots in Spring Training,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I think the outfield could get a little tighter here. But obviously, [he has] value as a right-handed hitter against left-handed pitching. We're still figuring out: where does that fit in the lineup and at what position?”

Canario -- who is likely to slot in among the upper half of MLB Pipeline’s revamped 2024 Top 30 list for the Cubs -- is thrilled to be a part of the potential Opening Day equation.

“I'm super thankful, super thankful that they're considering me, that I'm in the plans,” Canario said via Cubs translator Fredy Quevedo. “Whenever my name is called, I'm ready to go out there and perform.”

Acquired as part of the Kris Bryant trade with the Giants at the Deadline in 2021, Canario enjoyed a breakout showing in ‘22 in the Cubs' system: Across three levels, he launched 37 homers with 97 RBIs and an .899 OPS, topping out at Triple-A Iowa. Following that season, Canario sustained serious left ankle and shoulder injuries in winter ball, casting some doubt on his timeline to the Majors.

Canario made an impressive comeback last year, hitting .276/.342/.524 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 36 games for Iowa after a pair of brief stops at the lower levels. He earned a callup to the Cubs in September, belting a grand slam in his first career start on Sept. 19 against the Pirates and finishing with a .647 slugging percentage in his 17 plate appearances in the big leagues.

“It was very special,” Canario said of his initial taste of the Majors. “I'm very thankful for the team for thinking about me and for giving me the opportunity. That process wasn't wasn't easy, with that serious injury that I went through. But I was able to get myself ready and just was able to come in and just be able to do my part.”

With his showing last season, Bellinger became one of two players in Cubs history to finish a season with a .300 batting average or better, plus at least 20 stolen bases, 25 home runs, 95 RBIs and 95 runs scored. Can you name the other player?

A) Javier Báez
B) Ryne Sandberg
C) Alfonso Soriano
D) Billy Williams

The Cubs reached an agreement with Bellinger on a three-year, $80 million contract on Sunday, sources told MLB.com. When the deal becomes official, here are three ways the signing will impact the roster.

1. Crow-Armstrong’s path to Chicago

Counsell said “there’s still plenty of opportunity” for MLB Pipeline’s top Cubs prospect to compete for an Opening Day job. That said, the manager is also quick to remind that Crow-Armstrong is still just 21 years old and has things to improve upon. The Bellinger deal gives the Cubs the option of providing Crow-Armstrong with a longer developmental runway. He could open with Triple-A Iowa and try to force Chicago’s hand with a hot start to the season.

2. The first-base puzzle

The Cubs are giving prospect Michael Busch a chance to win the regular job at first base, but the team may also want to limit his exposure to lefty pitching. Bellinger was a force against lefties last year (.337 average with a .984 OPS) and can move between center and first base. Counsell is also getting Patrick Wisdom lots of reps at first this spring and he likes the slugger as a weapon against lefties as well.

3. The bench alignment

Adding Bellinger will have a musical-chairs effect on the bench situation. If the Cubs plan on going with 13 pitchers and 13 position players, there will be four non-catcher bench spots (DH slot included) up for grabs and a crowded field to consider. Nick Madrigal and Miles Mastrobuoni offer backup infield options, Wisdom can play both corner infield and outfield spots, and Canario, Tauchman and Peralta are among those in the outfield mix.

“It's just so amazing that things could get figured out. He’s obviously a huge, huge piece to this team. He’s going to be right there in the middle of the lineup. Center field, first base -- his defense is always there. He’s going to be one of the best players for us, for sure.” -- Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, on Bellinger

• "He’s one of us": Cubs players react to Bellinger news. Read more >>

• 2023 first-rounder Matt Shaw is soaking up his first MLB camp. Read more >>

• Jordan Wicks gets the Cubs’ spring rotation battle rolling. Read more >>

B) Ryne Sandberg

In 1990, Sandberg hit .306 with 25 steals, 40 homers, 100 RBIs and 116 runs scored in 155 games for the Cubs. Least year, Bellinger played 130 games and ended the campaign batting .307 with 20 stolen bases, 26 homers, 97 RBIs and 95 runs for the North Siders.

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