Changes are everywhere on the North Side of Chicago this baseball season. The bleachers—which won't be fully constructed until May—are undergoing renovations, a big board is going up in left-center field, and the product on the field is changing drastically.

Obviously, any change from the past five miserable years of Chicago Cubs baseball is welcomed by a fanbase hungry for a World Series title that has eluded them for over a decade.

Based on their moves this offseason and the performances by returning players last season, here are the projections for who will be in Cubs uniforms when they open the MLB season against the Cardinals on Sunday Night Baseball, April 5.

1. CF Dexter Fowler

Have the Cubs finally found themselves a leadoff man? They sure think they did and it's hard to disagree. Fowler gets on base consistently and batted an incredible .393 when leading off an inning last year. He's not a 50-stolen base threat or anything like that, but he's capable of swiping 15-20 bags a year.

Fowler also seemed to like working with the young players in his time with the Houston Astros. He's going to get to play a similar role with the Cubs. Any clubhouse leadership Fowler provides will just be icing on the cake.

2. SS Starlin Castro

Even though he batted in some more power-heavy spots in the order last season, especially the cleanup spot, Castro is best suited to hit second in the order. He has marginal power, hits for a high average and can spray the ball to all fields.

His unique ability to hit the ball all over the field makes him an ideal hit-and-run candidate when Fowler reaches base. If new manager Joe Maddon decides to be aggressive this season, Cubs fans could see Castro moving Fowler from first to third consistently.

3. 1B Anthony Rizzo

Anthony Rizzo finally had the breakout year in 2014 that everyone had been waiting for, and he will look to build on that this season. He is taking a larger leadership role within the team despite the fact he's only been in the league for a few years. That's a welcome sight for such a young team.

It remains to be seen whether Rizzo can duplicate his production from last season, but if he comes within spitting distance of his 2014 numbers while becoming the unquestioned leader of this team moving forward, 2015 will be considered a success for the first baseman.

4. RF Jorge Soler

Even though he burst onto the scene for the Cubs at the end of last season, Soler's overall 2014 season got largely overlooked. He was beginning to look like a potential bust with so many injuries in the minor leagues, but he finally stayed healthy for an extended period and showed what he can do when he's not injured.

Perhaps his best asset as a young hitter is his plate approach. He rarely swings at bad pitches, which is unlike most of the other young Cubs hitters, and he also tends to hit for a high average. As long as he grows into his power, he's an ideal cleanup hitter to start the season.

5. 2B Javier Baez

The two stories of last season for Javier Baez were his insane raw power and his proficiency for striking out. The Cubs are willing to take the good with the bad, but the bad has to get better this upcoming season for Baez to be successful. 

A true mark of a star big league hitter is the ability to make adjustments. Baez has yet to do that in his big league career, and he won't be very successful until he does. This upcoming season is huge for Baez as he can prove he's a star, or show he's simply a one-dimensional power threat.

6. C Miguel Montero

One of the biggest offensive additions the Cubs made this offseason was Miguel Montero, whom they acquired from the Diamondbacks. He's an offensive and defensive weapon behind the plate and, more importantly, he's a left-handed bat.

As most of his career indicates, he's not going to hit for a very high average. However, he can drive runs in while hitting for decent power. As a lefty hitting at Wrigley Field, especially in the summer when the wind blows out consistently, his power numbers may even go up in 2015.

7. 3B Tommy La Stella

After Luis Valbuena was sent to Houston as part of the Dexter Fowler deal, the Cubs gained a (temporary) opening at the third base spot. While super prospect Kris Bryant will do everything he can to force the Cubs to start him on Opening Day, the chances of that are very small.

If they wait a few weeks into April, they gain another year of team control on the third baseman. Enter Tommy La Stella, who is a pretty versatile infielder. He's the opposite of Mike Olt, the other candidate for the job, as he puts the ball in play consistently, but doesn't hit for any power.

After seeing Olt struggle last season, it's likely the Cubs brass will give La Stella the job out of spring training as long as he doesn't struggle all too much.

8. LF Chris Coghlan

Chris Coghlan was surprisingly effective as a leadoff hitter for much of 2015, but now that Fowler is in place, his spot in the order is going to change. Coghlan is versatile and could reasonably hit second, seventh or eighth, but eighth might be his best fit.

That's because he has pretty good speed and gets on base consistently. As the No. 8 hitter, he could really lengthen the lineup, especially if the Cubs can get back to the top of their order in the same inning he hits.

With the unconventional approach Maddon takes sometimes, who knows, maybe he could bat the pitcher eighth while putting Coghlan ninth as a second leadoff man.

Bench

3B Mike Olt

OF Chris Denorfia

IF/OF Arismendy Alcantara

C David Ross

OF Ryan Sweeney

The Cubs have a good variety of hitters on their bench and that should bode well in 2015. With Dexter Fowler being given the keys to center field, Arismendy Alcantara will become more of a super utility player. Since he was brought up as an infielder, but recently learned outfield, he will be extremely versatile.

Chris Denorfia and Ryan Sweeney are both serviceable outfielders and, more importantly, they hit from opposite sides of the plate (Denorfia from the right, Sweeney from the left). That means in any particular pinch-hitting situation, Maddon can choose to use either.

While Olt struggled last season, he still has a lot of pop, so he could be a good power threat off the bench if the team needs a home run late in a game. Ross will, of course, be Lester's personal catcher and a great veteran leader in the clubhouse.

Rotation No. 1: LHP Jon Lester

There's no doubt Jon Lester was the splash of the offseason. The Cubs front office delivered on their promise to pursue top-of-the-rotation pitching as soon as they felt it made sense for the team, and fans in Chicago are going crazy over their new left-hander.

Lester now anchors a rotation that is starting to look pretty formidable. Normally, it would be unrealistic to expect Lester to duplicate his career numbers from last season, but with the move from the American League to the National League, it's entirely possible.

Rotation No. 2: RHP Jake Arrieta

Jake Arrieta actually turned into a legitimate ace last season in his 25 impressive starts. Now as the No. 2 pitcher on the Cubs, he will try to prove he can be a second ace to Lester. With his new approach and tough arsenal of pitches, he's going to be tough to beat again in 2015.

With a sinker and cutter that move exactly the same way until the last second, Arrieta looked almost un-hittable at times last season. Perhaps in 2015 he can seal the deal on a no-hitter, something he flirted with three or four times last season.

Rotation No. 3: Jason Hammel

Apparently, Jason Hammel liked his time in Chicago last season so much that he wants to come back to be part of a competitive team. His signing shouldn't be overlooked, as it gives the rotation some great depth. He's a borderline No. 2 starter that's serving as a No. 3 for the Cubs, and that will prove to be huge in bridging the front and back of the rotation.

Hammel had a few of the best months of his career in a Cubs uniform and will try to recapture the magic at Wrigley Field this season. If he performs as well as he did with the Cubs last season for all of 2015, the North Siders are going to be extremely dangerous.

Rotation No. 4: RHP Kyle Hendricks

Kyle Hendricks may have been the most pleasant surprise of all for the Cubs last season. They knew he was good in the minors and could possibly make a good No. 4-caliber starter in the big leagues, but last year he looked like he had the makings of a very good No. 2. 

Going 7-2 with a 2.46 ERA, Hendricks continued to adjust throughout his first partial season in the big leagues, which is usually a sign of someone who will stick around for a while. While he may not produce the same results over an entire season in 2015, Hendricks has the ability to really prove how deep the Cubs rotation is.

Rotation No. 5: RHP Jacob Turner

This projection is based on the assumption that Travis Wood will be dealt before Opening Day. The market for left-handed pitching is always good. The Phillies have expressed interest in the starter, per the Chicago Sun-Times. While there has been no reported progression to those trade talks, a deal could get done before the season.

Jacob Turner, much like Arrieta, was given up on by his former team. The Cubs believe he can be better than he was for the Marlins. Since they like reclamation projects like this, he likely gets the first crack at the No. 5 starter job in spring training if Wood is dealt.

Bullpen

Long Relief

RHP Edwin Jackson

LHP Felix Doubront

Middle Relief

RHP Justin Grimm

RHP Neil Ramirez

Setup

RHP Jason Motte

RHP Pedro Strop

Closer

RHP Hector Rondon

It's hard to believe, but the Cubs bullpen may just be a strength this season. While they'd clearly love to move Edwin Jackson before the season, there may not be any takers. In that case, they need to just hope he can be a serviceable bullpen arm.

Doubront could be a lefty specialist and long relief man as well as a flex starter, which makes him valuable. Justin Grimm and Neil Ramirez will likely bridge the gap to the back end of the bullpen as both, especially Ramirez, had solid seasons last year.

The back end of the the bullpen is particularly deep. Even though there are setup men and a closer listed, Maddon may decide to go with a closer-by-committee approach unless Rondon is lights-out. With Strop, Motte and Rondon anchoring at the back end, the Cubs should be able to hold on to late leads in 2015.