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Hoyer: Too early to think about Chicago Cubs playoff roster

ST. LOUIS - The next-best thing to speculating about when the Chicago Cubs will clinch the National League Central seems to be speculating about who will be on the playoff roster.

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Monday the Cubs haven't discussed that seriously yet.

"I think we're in the top of the first inning of those conversations, both with regard to the roster, and I know there's been speculation about the rotation," Hoyer said. "We haven't made any decisions, and nor do I think we'll make any all that soon.

"We have some time to make those decisions. Some of the movements we've made with the rotation over the last few days are not linked at all to the way things would line up later on. We're trying to get guys the right rest and matchups. That's a big part of it.

"As we get into that last week to 10 days, those will be important conversations. But right now it seems premature to talk about that, in part because we have 20 more games left. There's plenty of time to line those things us."

The price of success:

Jed Hoyer acknowledged that the Minnesota Twins have asked for permission and will talk about their vacant GM job with Jason McLeod, the Cubs' scouting and player-development chief.

Hoyer also joked about his own status as a lame-duck GM, as he and team president Theo Epstein have expiring contracts.

Neither Hoyer nor Epstein has seemed worried about that, and both have said they're happy in Chicago.

"Day to day," Hoyer said. "It's all good. It's all the same. I know I'm a lame-duck GM, but I think we're both pretty happy, so I think we'll be here."

The Twins may go with a similar structure to that of the Cubs, with a team president and a GM. It seems McLeod could fit either role.

"It's a great opportunity for that person," Hoyer said of promotions. "In some ways, we're out for the same goal, but we all have individual goals, too.

"If that leads one of our good employees to go run another team, you'll be sad to see them go but you're happy for them. In this business, there are only a handful of those jobs. I think you have to look at it that way.

"I expect that Jason will talk to Minnesota, as has been speculated. I don't have any timing on that, but I expect it's going to happen."

Striking the balance:

A chance to clinch the NL Central early has the Cubs trying to strike the balance between resting players and keeping them sharp.

"I think there are challenges that go with it," Jed Hoyer said. "I think there's a double-edged sword to the fight to the last day. It keeps you fresh and it keeps you hungry, but at the same time there's an element that it kind of wears you down.

"I do feel like we saw that a little bit with Jake (pitcher Arrieta) last year. I think he admits it, he sort of hit the wall in that one-game playoff.

"Obviously I'm thrilled for him that he won the Cy Young because of his September and his August, but if we have chance to keep guys fresh and keep guys ready to be really good in October, I think we have to do that."

Rotation plans:

Lefty Mike Montgomery will slide back into the starting rotation Thursday against the Brewers. He will be followed by John Lackey, Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks.

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