The Chicago Cubs are going to have a lot of competition for the #5 spot in the starting rotation and that’s a good thing. Here is a look at the Cubs starting rotation as of right now:

#1: Matt Garza: 28-year old righty Matt Garza’s name has been bandied around in trade talks all winter long but he is still with the Cubs, for now. Garza pitched in 31 games (all starts) in his first year for the Cubs and he was 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP in 2011. The offense and bullpen conspired to make him a .500 pitcher, even though he deserved much better than that. Garza has now pitched in 152 games (149 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 52-54 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. If Garza is on the Cubs’ on Opening Day, he will be starting that game as he is the new ace of the starting rotation.

#2: Ryan Dempster: 34-year old righty Ryan Dempster had an off-year in 2011 for the Cubs. He pitched in 34 games (all starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 10-14 with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Dempster has now pitched in 358 games (138 starts) in his first 8 years with the Cubs and he is 62-61 with 87 saves, a 3.88 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has now pitched in 519 games (294 starts) in his first 14 years in the majors and he is 112-116 with 87 saves, a 4.41 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. The Cubs are hoping for a bounce back year in 2012 out of Dempster.

#3: Paul Maholm: 29-year old lefty Paul Maholm will be #3 in line for the Cubs in the starting rotation. 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 7 years in the majors and he is 53-73 with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The Cubs are hoping that all of the losing Maholm has done in his career so far won’t bother him in 2012, because he’s actually a pretty decent pitcher.

#4 and #5: Travis Wood: 24-year old lefty Travis Wood came over from the Reds in the Sean Marshall trade. That will give him an inside track to one of the last two slots in the Cubs’ starting rotation. He pitched in 22 games (18 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 6-6 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Wood has now pitched in 39 games (35 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 11-10 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He has a very nice upside and a bright future for the Cubbies.

Randy Wells: 29-year old righty Randy Wells is going to have a fight on his hands if he wants to remain in the starting rotation. Wells pitched in 23 games (all starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 7-6 with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He has now pitched in 85 games (82 starts) in his first four years with the Cubs and he is 27-30 with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Wells better come to spring training focused and motivated if he wants to win a starting job.

Chris Volstad: 25-year old righty Chris Volstad was acquired from the Marlins in the Carlos Zambrano deal over the winter. Volstad pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Marlins last year and he was 5-13 with a 4.89 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He has now pitched in 103 games (102 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 32-39 with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Volstad will need to bring his A-Game if he wants to win a job in the rotation this spring.

Rodrigo Lopez: The Cubs re-signed 36-year old righty Rodrigo Lopez over the winter. He pitched in 26 games (16 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 6-6 with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Lopez has now pitched in 253 games (215 starts) in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 81-88 with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Lopez will likely be the Cubs’ long man in the bullpen if he loses out on a rotation spot.

Andy Sonnanstine: 28-year old righty Andy Sonnanstine will be a longshot to win a job in the Cubs’ rotation in 2012. He pitched in 15 games (4 starts) for the Tampa Bay Rays last year and he was 0-2 with a 5.55 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Sonnanstine has now pitched in 132 games (80 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 28-31 with 1 save, a 5.26 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Sonnanstine will benefit from pitching in the National League in 2012.

Casey Coleman: 24-year old righty Casey Coleman had a rough go in 2011 with the Cubs. He pitched in 19 games (17 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 3-9 with a 6.40 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. Coleman has now pitched in 31 games (25 starts) in his first two years with the Cubs and he is 7-11 with a 5.48 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Coleman will likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball and have to work his way back to the show by pitching well there.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: C

The Cubs rewarded 54-year old manager Mike Quade for a job well done after he replaced Lou Piniella after he retired. Quade led the Cubs to a 24-13 (64.9%) record last season, as the team really responded for him. The Cubs hope that Quade can rally the troops all year long as some veteran high profile managers wanted the Cubs’ gig. The expectations are high in Chicago due to some key additions to the roster, so Quade will be judged on wins and losses in 2011.

The Cubs have not made many changes to the bullpen (they signed Kerry Wood), so they are hoping for improvement from within. It all starts with 28-year old righty closer Carlos Marmol. Marmol pitched in 77 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 2-3 with 38 saves, a 2.55 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He only gave up 40 hits in 77 2/3 innings while whiffing 138 batters which shows how downright nasty his stuff really is. But, he also walked 52 batters last year as nothing seems easy for Marmol. Marmol has now pitched in 316 games (13 starts) in his first five years with the Cubs and he is 16-19 with 61 saves, a 3.25 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. As long as Marmol is whiffing more than 1.5 batters per inning, his control won’t likely cost the Cubs too many games.

33-year old righty Kerry Wood took a hometown discount ($1.5 million bucks) to return to Wrigley Field and the Cubs’ bullpen. Wood pitched in 47 games (0 starts) for the Yankees & Indians last year and he was 3-4 with 8 saves, a 3.13 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Wood has pitched in 276 games (178 starts) in his first 10 years with the Cubs and he is 77-61 with 34 saves, a 3.65 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He was outstanding as the Yankees’ set-up man in the second half of last year, so the Cubs are confident that he has a lot left in the gas tank.

28-year old lefty Sean Marshall was outstanding last year for the Cubs in his first season as a full-time reliever. Marshall pitched in 80 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 7-5 with 1 save, a 2.65 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He only gave up 58 hits in 74 2/3 innings for the Cubs last year while whiffing 90 batters, which shows just how well he pitched. Marshall has now pitched in 214 games (59 starts) in his first five years with the Cubs and he is 26-34 wth 2 saves, a 4.24 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Marshall will share the set-up duties with Kerry Wood for the Cubs in 2011.

32-year old lefty John Grabow will likely help the Cubs a tad if he’s healthy in 2011. Grabow pitched in 28 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. He has now pitched in 58 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Cubs and he is 1-3 with a 5.33 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Grabow is a much better pitcher than he has shown so far in his career with the Cubs, so expect him to pitch better in 2011 if he can just stay healthy.

26-year old righty Scott Maine comes into this season as the Cubs’ #14 prospect according to Baseball America. Maine pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-0 with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He also pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 4-2 with 10 saves, a 3.14 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Maine’s time is now and the Cubs are expected big things out of him starting in 2011.

27-year old righty Esmailin Caridad comes into this year as the Cubs’ #29 prospect according to Baseball America. Caridad pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-1 with a 11.25 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP. He has now pitched in 22 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Cubs and he is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Like Maine, it appears that Caridad’s time to sink or swim with the Cubs has arrived.

25-year old lefty James Russell had a rough time last year with the Cubs as he gave up an amazing 11 homers in only 49 innings last year. On the bright side, he did whiff 42 batters so he has decent stuff….he just needs to learn how to pitch. Russell pitched in 57 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 1-1 with a 4.96 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.

26-year old righty Justin Berg pitched in 41 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-1 with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. Berg has now pitched in 52 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Cubs and he is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Berg will have to pitch better than he did last year if he wants to stay in the major leagues.

27-year old righty Jeff Stevens is also trying to win a job in the pen. He pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.11 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. He has now pitched in 29 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Cubs and he is 1-0 with a 6.53 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Stevens needs to start pitching better soon or he’s going to finish his career making minor league money.

29-year old righty reliever missed Angel Guzman missed all of last season due to shoulder issues. He will start the year in the minors and he will have to work his way back to Chicago. Guzman pitched in 55 games (0 starts) for the Cubs in 2009 and he was 3-3 with 1 save, a 2.95 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He has now pitched in 88 games (14 starts) in his first four years with the Cubs and he is 3-10 with 1 save, a 4.82 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CUBS BULLPEN IN 2011: C

33-year old righty Ryan Dempster is going to head up the Chicago Cubs’ impressive starting rotation in 2011. Dempster started 34 games for the Cubs last season and he was 15-12 with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He served as the Cubs’ closer for three years before converting back to starting and he has responded well as he is 43-27 for the Cubs the last three seasons. Dempster has now pitched in 324 games (104 starts) in his first seven years with the Cubs and he is 52-47 with 87 saves, a 3.67 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Expect Dempster to have another solid year for the Cubs in 2011.

29-year old righty Carlos Zambrano started off last season poorly, but after he returned from anger management classes, he closed the year on fire for the Cubs. Zambrano pitched in 36 games (20 starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 11-6 with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He has now pitched in 295 games (258 starts) in his first 10 years with the Cubs and he is 116-74 with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Zambrano might have a huge season for the Cubs in 2011 both on the mound and at the plate as he has 21 career homers so far in his major league career.

27-year old righty Matt Garza came over to the Cubs in a deal with the Rays over the winter. He should fit right in. Garza pitched in 33 games (32 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 15-10 with 1 save, a 3.91 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Garza has now pitched in 121 games (118 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 42-44 with 1 save, a 3.97 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Garza has great stuff and a move to the N.L. likely means that he will be a darkhorse to lead the N.L. in ERA in 2011.

28-year old righty Randy Wells didn’t pitch too well for the Cubs last season. He started 32 games for the Cubs last season and he was 8-14 with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Wells has now pitched in 62 games (59 starts) in his first three years with the Cubs and he is 20-24 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He probably isn’t as good as he was in 2009 for the Cubs but he’s likely better than he was in 2010 as well. Look for his ERA to be under 4.00 in 2011.

31-year old righty Carlos Silva got his career back on the right path with the Cubs last season. He started 21 games for the Cubs last season and he was 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Silva has now pitched in 316 games (180 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 70-70 with 2 saves, a 4.68 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He is likely on the trading block due to the fight he got in with Aramis Ramirez earlier this spring.

24-year old righty Andrew Cashner would likely replace Carlos Silva in the rotation if he is dealt. Cashner pitched in 53 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 2-6 with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He walked 30 batters last season but whiffed 50 in 54 1/3 innings which shows that he has a lack of control but good stuff. I think Cashner would likely be an improvement over Silva in 2011.

23-year old righty Casey Coleman pitched in 12 games (8 starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 4-2 with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He walked 25 batters while whiffing 27 in 57 innings last season, so he needs to work on his control. Coleman also pitched in 20 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 10-7 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Coleman has a nice upside like Cashner, so he will likely get some starts at some point in 2011 for the Cubs.

36-year old righty Braden Looper was semi-retired last season but he’s trying to win a job this spring with the Cubs. Looper last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Brewers. Looper has pitched in 670 games (97 starts) in his major league career and he is 72-65 with 103 saves, a 4.15 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He’s likely a better bet to win a job out of the pen.

32-year old righty Todd Wellemeyer is also trying to win a job in the rotation. Wellemeyer pitched in 13 games (11 starts) for the Giants last season and he was 3-5 with a 5.68 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He pitched for the Cubs from 2003-05 and it didn’t go too well. Wellemeyer pitched in 57 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Cubs and he was 5-3 with 2 saves, a 6.19 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. He better be better this time around for the Cubbies or he won’t last too long.

26-year old righty Jeff Samardzija is also in camp trying to win a job in the rotation. Samardzija pitched in 7 games (3 starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 2-2 with a 8.38 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP. He has now pitched in 53 games (5 starts) for the Cubs in parts of three years and he is 4-5 with 1 save, a 5.95 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Samardzija might have a better shot winning a job in the pen.

27-year old righty Thomas Diamond pitched in 16 games (3 starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 1-3 with a 6.83 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. He also pitched in 21 games (all starts) in AAA-ball for the Cubs last year and he was 5-4 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Diamond is a longshot to win a job in the Cubs’ rotation, but he was once one of the best prospects in all of baseball.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CUBS STARTING ROTATION IN 2011: A-

33-year old lefty swinging Kosuke Fukudome will likely face a stiff challenge from 25-year old lefty swinging Tyler Colvin for the starting job in RF in 2011 for the Cubbies. Fukudome played in 130 games for the Cubs last season and he was 94 of 358 (.263 avg, .809 OPS) with 45 runs scored, 13 homers, 44 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. He has averaged 67.7 runs scored, 11.3 homers, 52.0 RBIs and 8.3 steals per year in his first three seasons with the Cubs. Fukudome had only 1 error in 110 games in RF for the Cubs last season while showing good range. He also had 4 assists last year. Fukudome has been a huge disappointment for the Cubs with the bat since coming to America and that’s why his job is now on the line.

Tyler Colvin burst onto the scene last season for the Cubs. He played in 135 games in which he was 91 of 358 (.254 avg, .816 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 20 homers, 56 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Colvin had 5 errors in 59 games in RF for the Cubs last season and he showed excellent range there. He also had 3 assists while playing RF as he showed a strong arm there. Colvin will likely be the Cubs’ #4 outfielder in 2011 but a starter in 2012.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CUBS RF IN 2011: C