Offseason

• November 9, 1985: Ced Landrum
  Ced Landrum
  Cedric Bernard Landrum is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played in parts of two seasons in the majors, for the Chicago Cubs and for the New York Mets. He is currently the hitting coach for the Joliet Jackhammers.Of his 78 games in the majors, Landrum appeared 25 times as a pinch...
  
   was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs.
• December 11, 1985: Dave Owen
  Dave Owen
  Dave Owen , is a former professional baseball player who played infielder in the Major Leagues from -. He played for the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. He got the game-winning RBI game during the The Sandberg Game. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington and played for the...
  
   was traded by the Cubs to the San Francisco Giants
  San Francisco Giants
  The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
  
   to the Chicago Cubs for Manny Trillo
  Manny Trillo
  Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo , also nicknamed "Indio", is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from to...
  
  .
• December 20, 1985: Derek Botelho was released by the Chicago Cubs.
• January 13, 1986: Larry Whitford (minors) and Rich Rembielak (minors) were traded by the Cubs to the Milwaukee Brewers
  Milwaukee Brewers
  The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
  
   for Mike Martin
  Mike Martin (catcher)
  Joseph Michael Martin is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played eight games for the Chicago Cubs in , getting just one hit, a double in 13 at bats. 1986 was Martin's last professional season after nine years in minor league baseball....
  
  .
• January 14, 1986: Jerome Walton
  Jerome Walton
  Jerome O'Terrell Walton is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , California Angels , Cincinnati Reds , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
  
   was drafted by the Cubs in the 2nd round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft
  1986 Major League Baseball Draft
  The 1986 Major League Baseball Draft was the 22nd MLB draft that took place in 1986. During this draft, five all-stars were drafted in five different teams.-First round selections:...
  
  . Player signed May 12, 1986.
• January 15, 1986: Steve Christmas
  Steve Christmas
  Stephen Randal Christmas is a former professional baseball player. He played in 24 games over three seasons in Major League Baseball for three different teams, primarily as a catcher. He went 4-for-11 in 1984 for the Chicago White Sox with one home run, while getting a combined 2 hits in 26 at...
  
   was signed as a free agent by the Cubs.
• January 17, 1986: Gary Jones (minors) and John Cox (minors) were traded by the Cubs to the Oakland Athletics
  Oakland Athletics
  The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
  
   for Phil Stephenson
  Phil Stephenson
  Phillip Raymond Stephenson is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors, from until .- Amateur career :...
  
   and Bob Bathe (minors).
• February 1, 1986: Matt Keough
  Matt Keough
  Matthew Lon Keough Drafted by the Oakland A's out of Corona del Mar High School in 1973. Keough is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from through for the Oakland Athletics , New York Yankees , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros...
  
   was signed as a free agent by the Cubs.

Opening Day starters

• Jody Davis
• Brian Dayett
• Bob Dernier
• Shawon Dunston
• Leon Durham
• Keith Moreland
• Ryne Sandberg
• Rick Sutcliffe
• Manny Trillo

Notable transactions

• May 2, 1986: Terry Francona
  Terry Francona
  Terry Jon Francona , nicknamed "Tito," is a former Major League Baseball manager and a former player. He was a first baseman and outfielder in the majors from 1981 to 1990. After retiring as a player, he managed several minor league teams in the 1990s before managing the Philadelphia Phillies for...
  
   was signed as a free agent by the Cubs.
• June 14, 1986: Matt Keough was released by the Cubs.
• July 15, 1986: Steve Lake
  Steve Lake
  Steven "Steve" Michael Lake batted and threw right-handed, and is a former professional baseball backup catcher. He played Major League Baseball from 1983-93 for the following teams: Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, and finishing his career with the Cubs...
  
   was released by the Cubs.

Roster

Starters by position

Other batters

Starting pitchers

Other pitchers

Relief pitchers

Farm system