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

Cubs @ Pirates: Lackey vs Niese (Game 88)

It’s alright, man. (We’re only bleeding.)CHC (52-35): RHP John Lackey (7-5, 3.50)
PIT (45-42): LHP Jonathon Niese (7-6, 4.87)
First pitch: 12:35pmCST

Lackey lost to the Reds on Tuesday, of course (6 IP, 5 ER, 4 K, 5 BB). He has a career 3.20 ERA in four starts at PNC. He’s somehow managed to avoid the Pirates this year. Overall, they are 43-133 (.323) against him. Joyce is 10-27 with 2 HR.

Niese won in St. Louis on Monday (5.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 K, 1 BB). He’s 0-2 with an 8.71 in his two starts against the Cubs this year—when they used to win games. For their careers, the Cubs are 36-145 (.248) against him. Heyward is 9-31 with 2 HR.

After yesterday, ending on a high note is no longer possible. The best thing that can happen right now is that the Cubs just stop playing baseball and spend four days with ice cream and Netflix. Instead, half of the starters get to fly across the country to face the (inane) national media about how much they are sucking. I will not be watching.

Go Cubs!

Comments

This horrid stretch of baseball points to how important starting pitching is. When the Cubs pitching was amazing, so were the Cubs. Now it's horrid, the bad guys are on base constantly, and so the Cubs are now horrid. The bullpen is shit, too. The Cubs will win their division if their starting pitching rebounds. They won't if it doesn't. It's pretty much that simple. If the pitching doesn't rebound, that will bring into question Theo's entire strategy of focusing on position players, which is too bad, because I think that was the right way to go, and no matter what happens this year, it will be a good team next year. If the pitching doesn't rebound, at least we won't have to worry about the cost of an Arrietta extension!

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I doubt Arrieta is looking for an extension anymore. Everyone knows his velocity is way down, and he'll prefer to bet on himself for a velocity rebound since that will be the difference of about $50 or $70 million swing in future earnings. I'm genuinely interested to see how the front office responds to this most recent fluctuation. It's hard to believe that the pitching staff went from the second-best in baseball to the worst in 6 weeks without suffering any major injuries. But then again, how much is the appropriate amount to respond to what are clearly some concerning drops in velocity and effectiveness? Is this really the right moment to trade Torres or Candaliero or someone else of value? These questions feel almost impossible to fully answer right now, but if nothing else, Cubs management has earned the benefit of the doubt.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

"It's hard to believe that the pitching staff went from the second-best in baseball to the worst in 6 weeks without suffering any major injuries". I know baseball is weird, and really hard and all that, but this is just bizarre, even for a Cubs team. After the Mets shellacking, I thought that maybe they actually were stealing signs or something in New York. But now Pittsburgh is doing the same thing. I don't get how this happens just overnight.

Sean Rodriguez with his third homer in three days. Everyone extracting their pound of flesh -- the Pirates' water cooler approves.

I haven't had much of a chance to watch most of these disasters - what has J.D. been saying about this pitching meltdown?

the blame for this is shared...both dusty baker and michael barrett are equally to blame. thanks guys.

rizzo 4/4...so far...8 straight hits going back to yesterday (4/5). he's added 18 points to his average during this stretch.

The Cubs have a .602 winning percentage, and for the first time in my life, I'm glad it's the All-Star break. Baseball is weird.

Gentlemen, I really do hate to say this, but that was a very, very, very, and I don't swear much on this site, but very, very, very fucking big win.

...and, for today's "that's baseball" moment -- the Braves come into Chicago and take 3 of 4 from Cubs and Sox.

For those of you watching, how did Carl Jr.'s stuff "play"? Was he sitting in the mid-90s? Did he have any control?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

He topped out at 97 mph - don't recall where he was sitting but mid-90s seems fair. Struck out the first batter on a sharp breaking pitch into the dirt that Willson tried to backhand instead of chest block, so he reached on a WP. Last two outs were a deep fly to right which Heyward was able to easily double up the runner on first who misplayed it. He looked good and seemingly has earned Joe's confidence more so than Grimm

Hey AZPhil, Is Jose Albertos dead or just being held for ransom by a cartel? Maybe something more positive?

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Thanks for the info, much as it is not pleasant. Did you happen to get any impressions of maybe a Faustino Carrera, Brailyn Marquez, Carlos Ocampo, or Yunior Perez if/when any were in AZ for ExST? Thanks in advance if there's anything to say, and thanks again for the Albertos update.

OK -- who had Kyle Hendricks as the starter with the lowest ERA and lowest WHIP at the A/S break? Anyone? Anyone?

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).