The Chicago Cubs are taking a sledgehammer to the roster for 2012 as they are starting a rebuilding project, or so it seems. Here is a look at the new faces for 2012 so far:

In the field: The Cubs signed David DeJesus to play right field early on in free agency and he should rebound in 2012 for them with a decent year. The Cubs went out and dealt for 3B Ian Stewart and 1B Anthony Rizzo who both really struggled in the majors last year, but, they both have huge upsides and could start for them in 2012. Outfielders Joe Mather and Dave Sappelt will be competing for bench jobs this spring. Infielders Alfredo Amezaga and Edgar Gonzalez will also be vying for bench jobs this spring.

On the mound: The Cubs have added three new starting pitchers so far this winter. Lefty Paul Maholm was signed to a 1-year deal and he will slot near the top of the Cubs’ rotation. The Cubs have acquired lefty Travis Wood and righty Chris Volstad in separate deals and they will both likely be in the Cubs’ opening day starting rotation in 2012. Righties Manny Corpas and Andy Sonnanstine will likely be competing for jobs in the Cubs’ pen this spring.

Overall: The Cubs are looking to get younger in 2012 and that usually is accompanied by losing.

The Cubs have re-signed 34-year old righty reliever Kerry Wood to a 1-year, $3 million dollar deal with a club option for the 2013 season. Wood pitched in 55 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 3-5 with 1 save, a 3.35 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He has now pitched in 331 games (78 starts) in his first 11 years with the Cubs and he is 80-66 with 35 saves, a 3.63 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. This was a good move for the Cubs as Wood still has a lot left in the gas tank.

The Cubs have signed 33-year old switch-hitting IF/OF Alfredo Amezaga to a minor league deal. Amezaga played in 40 games for the Marlins & Rockies last year and he was 14 of 77 (.182 avg, .442 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 0 homers and 4 RBIs. He has now played in 584 games in his first nine years in the majors and he is 348 for 1,408 (.247 avg, .640 OPS) with 173 runs scored, 12 homers, 110 RBIs and 49 stolen bases. Amezaga will have a decent shot to make the Cubs out of spring training due to his versatility in the field.

The Cubs have signed 29-year old lefty starting pitcher Paul Maholm to a 1-year, $4.75 million dollar contract. The Cubs also have a 2013 club option on Maholm. Maholm pitched in 26 games (all starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 6-14 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He has now pitched in 185 games (all starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 53-73 with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Maholm was a solid pickup for the Cubs as he will give them a decent lefty to go along with Travis Wood, giving the rotation a nice balance of righties and lefties for 2012.

The Cubs have acquired 22-year old lefty swinging 1B Anthony Rizzo and 22-year old righty starting pitcher Zach Cates from the Padres for 25-year old righty reliever Andrew Cashner and 20-year old lefty swinging outfielder Kyung-Min Na. The Cubs’ front office loves Anthony Rizzo as he was one of the top Red Sox’ prospects when they worked there. Rizzo came into last season as the Padres’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. Rizzo played in 93 games in AAA-ball for the Padres last year and he was 118 of 356 (.331 avg, 1.056 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 26 homers, 101 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. But, Rizzo was overwhelmed in his first taste of the majors last year. He played in 49 games for the Padres last year and he was 18 for 128 (.141 avg, .523 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer, 9 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Rizzo whiffed an amazing 46 times with the Padres as he looked like he had a hole in his bat at times. That being said, Rizzo will have a good shot of winning the starting 1B job for the Cubs in 2012. 22-year old righty starting pitcher Zach Cates came into last season as the Padres’ #21 prospect according to Baseball America. Last season was his first in the minors. He pitched in 25 games (all starts) in A-ball for the Padres last year and he was 4-10 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

Andrew Cashner missed most of last season due to a shoulder problem. Cashner pitched in 7 games (1 start) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-0 with a 1.69 ERA and a 0.66 WHIP. He pitched in 60 games (1 start) in his two years with the Cubs and he was 2-6 with a 4.29 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Cashner should do well in San Diego as Petco Park is one of the best pitcher’s parks in all of baseball. Kyung-Min Na played in 83 games in rookie+A+AA-ball last year and he was 72 for 269 (.268 avg, .671 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 0 homers, 22 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

If Rizzo comes through like the front office of the Cubs’ think he will, this deal will look like a steal in a couple of years.