Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

42 players are at MLB Spring Training 

31 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE at MLB Spring Training, and nine players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 
11 players are MLB Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 17
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

NRI PITCHERS: 5 
Colten Brewer 
Carl Edwards Jr 
* Edwin Escobar 
* Richard Lovelady 
* Thomas Pannone 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
Jorge Alfaro 
Joe Hudson 

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
David Bote 
Garrett Cooper
* Dominic Smith

OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 1 
* David Peralta

OPTIONED:
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, RHP 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, RHP 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Feldman Gets Back On Track at Fitch Park

Scott Feldman threw five innings (65 pitches) of two-hit ball with seven strikeouts, but the Inland Empire 66ers (Los Angeles Angels Hi-A affiliate) edged the Daytona Cubs 2-1 on Field #3, and Rock Shoulders clubbed an opposite field HR over the left-centerfield fence, Willson Contreras drilled a triple, and Oliver Zapata followed with an RBI double to highlight a three-run 7th that helped the Kane County Cougars rally and take a 4-3 lead, but the Burlington Bees (Angels Lo-A affiliate) pushed across a run in the top of the 9th to salvage a 4-4 tie, in Cactus League Minor League Camp action this morning at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Feldman was left behind when the Cubs traveled to Houston this weekend to get work in a minor league game, since he isn't scheduled to get his first 2013 start until next Friday. The big right-hander had a terrible Cactus League (11.25 ERA & a 2.20 WHIP, allowing 38 hits--including seven HR--and 25 earned runs in just 20 IP), and he struggled in the top of the 1st inning today, too, allowing a run on two doubles and a walk. But then he settled-in and really got into a groove, retiring 13 of the last 14 men he faced (including seven on strikeouts).

There were a number of roster moves made yeaterday at Minor League Camp, with more to come today.

The Iowa Cubs (AAA) will be remaining at Fitch Park for another couple of days, because they open the PCL season at Albuquerque. The I-Cubs still need to cut about a half-dozen pitchers, so the intrasquad games to be played tomorrow and Tuesday may help decide which pitchers get pink slips.

Three players from the Boise/Mesa squad (Extended Spring Training) saw action in the Kane County game today, including Mark Malave, Rashad Crawford, and Trevor Gretzky.

The game on Field #3 was extended an extra half-inning so that all of the D-Cubs pitchers scheduled to throw today could get their work.  

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):

FITCH PARK FIELD #2

KANE COUNTY LINEUP:
1a. Pin-Chieh Chen, LF: 1-3 (3B, F-7, F-7, R)
1b. Trevor Gretzky, LF: 0-1 (3-U, BB)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 0-4 (4-3, K, 5-3, BB, K, SB)
3. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-2 (F-7 SF+E-7, 1B, 4-3, BB, RBI)
4a. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-2 (6-5 FC, L-9)
4b. Mark Malave, PH-3B: 0-2 (6-3, 6-4 FC).
5. Rock Shoulders, DH #1: 1-4 (K, K, HR, K, R, RBI)
6. Marco Hernandez, SS-DH: 0-4 (K, P-5, 4-3, F-7)
7. Willson Contreras, C: 1-4 (K, K, 3B, P-2, R)
8. Oliver Zapata, RF: 1-3 (K, F-8, 2B, BB, R, RBI, SB)
9a. Trey Martin, CF: 1-2 (K, 1B)
9b. Rashad Crawford, CF: 0-1 (F-7 SF, K, RBI)
10a. David Bote, DH-SS: 1-1 (BB, BB, 1B, 2 SB)
10b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER

KANE COUNTY PITCHERS:
1. Felix Pena: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 53 pitches (40 strikes), 4/4 GO/FO
2. Jeffry Antigua: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 29 pitches (19 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
3. Brian Smith: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 15 pitches (10 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
4. Justin Amlung: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 20 pitches (14 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO)
5. Nathan Dorris: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 29 pitches (18 strikes)
NOTE: 9th inning was stopped with two outs when Dorris reached his pre-planned max pitch limit for the inning

KANE COUNTY ERRORS: 2
1. RF Oliver Zapata - E-9 (fielding error on single allowed batter to advance an extra base)
2. 2B Gioskar Amaya - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base and unearned runs to score from 2nd & 3rd)

FITCH PARK FIELD #3

DAYTONA LINEUP:
1. Zeke DeVoss, CF-DH: 0-4 (F-9, K, 6-3, 6-3)
2. Tim Saunders, 3B-SS: 1-3 (F-9, F-8, HBP, 2B, SB)
3a. Javier Baez, SS: 0-2 (K, K)
3b. Ben Carhart, 1B: 0-2 (F-9, 3-1)
4. Dustin Geiger, 1B-3B: 0-4 (4-3, K, 5-3, P-4)
5. Jorge Soler, RF: 2-4 (F-9, 1B, 2B, K, R, SB)
6a. Steve Bruno, 2B: 0-1 (HBP, 6-3)
6b. Roni Torreyes, 2B: 1-2 (1B, P-6, RBI)
7. John Andreoli, LF-CF: 0-3 (6-4 FC, K, K)
8a. Taylor Davis, C: 0-2 (5-3, F-8)
8b. Micah Gibbs, C: 0-1 (4-3)
9. Taiwan Easterling, DH-LF: 1-3 (K, 1B, K, PO)

DAYTONA PITCHERS:
1. Scott Feldman: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 7 K, 65 pitches (46 strikes), 6/2 GO/FO
2. Starling Peralta: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches (18 strikes), 1/4 GO/FO
3. Austin Reed: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 26 pitches (17 strikes), 2/4 GO/FO
4. Frank del Valle: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 11 pitches (7 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO

DAYTONA ERRORS: 1
P Scott Feldman - E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed baserunner to advance to 2nd)

ATTENDANCE: 48

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's

 

Comments

AZ Phil, I see Vogelbach played for Kane County today. has he been moved down a level? Thanks.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG: Dan Vogelbach has indeed been moved down to Kane County. Both he and Rock Shoulders are with the Cougars, so I would expect them to alternate at DH, and Shoulders will probably also get some reps in LF (like he did last season at Boise).

Other than the three EXST guys who played with Kane County, all of the players who played at Fitch Park today are where they are going to be to start the season. The most puzzling assignment (to me) is Roni Torreyes with Daytona, because (#1) Steve Bruno is also there and he has been playing 2B exclusively this Spring, and (#2) Tennessee doesn't really have a true 2B (although Alcantara, Soto, and Silva can play there).

Chad Noble was moved down from Iowa to Daytona, and I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a player-coach there.

Wes Darvill, Bijan Rademacher, Chadd Krist, and Yaniel Cabezas have been moved down to KC from Daytona (although they did not play in the game).  

And OF Evan Crawford (2012 shoulder surgery) requested & received his release after he was sent to EXST.   

Additional roster moves still TBD (mostly involving pitchers).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Mildly surprised that Chen was moved to Kane County and DeVoss was given priority in CF. Is this a two similar guys, so the older guy will get the higher level look situation (as Chen is a year younger and only going to turn 22), or has DeVoss really taken well to the OF?

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

TOONSTER: Zeke DeVoss has taken VERY well to CF (he played OF at Instructs post-2011), and I don't think it's necessarily a matter of DeVoss getting the Daytona job over Pin-Chieh Chen, because Chen isn't playing CF at KC, either (Trey Martin is mostly playing CF there now, and Albert Almora probably will be some time later this year). But both DeVoss and Chen are being groomed as lead-off hitters, and they can't both do that at the same place.

Chen actually had a strong Minor League Camp hitting lead-off and playing CF for the Daytona squad, and I think the Cubs wanted to make sure that he gets regular playing time somewhere (preferably CF at Daytona, although LF at KC will work, too), but John Andreoli was sent back to Daytona yesterday (he was blocked by Szczur, Ha, Silva, and Chavez at AA) and will be playing mostly LF for the D-Cubs, and that (as much as DeVoss moving to CF) forced Chen back to KC. So I think it's probably more about getting regular playing time for both DeVoss and Chen and allowing both of them to be lead-off hitters than it is where each of them are doing it. 

What I do find surprising is Roni Torreyes going back to Daytona, especially since Steve Bruno has been playing 2B there most every day in Miinor League Camp. I know Bruno probably projects as a "super-sub" type eventually, but I wonder if the intention is to move Alcantara to 2B at Tennessee so that Baez can move up there whenever he's ready without forcing Alcantara to move to 2B mid-season? Elliot Soto is at Tennessee with Alcantara, and Soto is a defensive wizard at SS (though not with the bat). So Soto would be a more-logical "place-holder" for Baez at Tennesssee than Alcantara, who has become a legitimate Top 15 prospect in his own right (especially offensively). And I think Baez showed the Cubs this Spring that he is very close to being ready for AA, and that he might not spend much time at Daytona in 2013 before he gets moved up.

BTW, the big rap on Alcantara isn't his range, arm, or athleticism, but rather he just plays too fast and out-of-control at shortstop (sort of like a point guard who tries to do too much and turns the ball over a lot), and moving him to 2B would give him more time to recover and make a play if he bobbles the ball or double-clutches a throw. But if he does move to 2B, Alcantara has to play there every day and get lots & lots of PT. 

It's also interesting that Reggie Golden was sent to EXST. Although he had surgery for two torn knee ligaments last season, he appears to be 100% healthy now (though he may have lost a step). But he is struggling to make contact at the plate. He's very rusty. 

AZ Phil: what is your take so far on Torreyes? Good hit tool seems to be the popular lingo these days. Does he project to be a Jose Altuve type?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: Torreyes has plus-bat speed and surprising power for a guy his size. He may be tiny, but he packs a wallop. 

Because he has below-average defensive skills across the board and isn't particularly athletic, it will be pretty much "2B or Bust" for him.

Unlike Tim Saunders and Steve Bruno (for example), Torreyes does NOT project as a multi-positional utility player at the MLB level if he doesn't make it as a second-baseman, although I suppose he could play LF if the Cubs really want to get his bat into the lineup.

per Roto... Garza officially on 15 DL. Not really news but remaining official roster moves should be coming soon.

Yankees DL to start season...

1B Mark Teixeira** + STRAINED TENDON IN WRIST (3/6/13); likely out 8-10 weeks; placed on 15-Day DL

3B Alex Rodriguez + HIP SURGERY; out until at least June; placed on 60-Day DL (2/13/13)

SS Derek Jeter + RECOVERY FROM ANKLE SURGERY; placed on 15-Day

DL OF Curtis Granderson* + FRACTURED FOREARM; out 10 weeks (2/24/13)

RHP Phil Hughes + BULGING DISC IN BACK; placed on 15-Day DL

RHP Michael Pineda + SHOULDER SURGERY on 5/1/12; placed on 60-Day DL (3/15/13)

LHP Cesar Cabral

i know he's managing one of the crappiest teams to ever take the field in the modern era...but it's awesome to see bo porter manage a club.

doh..."the next big thing" in pitching has an explanation for his weird velocity drop this spring... "MASN's Steve Melewski reports Dylan Bundy is dealing with "mild tightness" in his right elbow." jose fernandez (FLA)...it's your time to shine.

"FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Rangers and Elvis Andrus are "close" to an eight-year extension that is believed to be worth $120 million." the s.castro deal looks better every minute...that's f'n crazy loot even if he's a great defensive SS.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    SF snags b.snell...2/62m

  • Cubster (view)

    AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24). 

    However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024: 

    * bats or throws left 

    Angel Cepeda, INF 
    * Miguel Cruz, P
    Yidel Diaz, C 
    * Albert Gutierrez, 1B
    Fraiman Marte, P  
    Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B) 
    Derniche Valdez, INF 
    Edward Vargas, OF 
    Jeral Vizcaino, P 

    And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.

    Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect. 

    F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season. 

    The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically. 

    Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).

    Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day. 

    Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will. 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.

    The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required. 

    They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).

    If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.

    If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option). 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil, 
    Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
    If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!  

    And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).