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

Ten Cubs Minor Leaguers Declared Free-Agents

Ten Cubs minor leaguers were declared MLB Rule 55 six-year minor league free agents at 5 PM (Eastern) Monday afternoon.
CUBS 2017 MLB RULE 55 MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS
John Andreoli, OF 
Scott Carroll, RHSP 
Chris Dominguez, 1B-3B
Mike Freeman, INF 
Ryan Kalish, OF
Trey Martin, CF 
Ozzie Martinez, INF  
Williams Perez, RHSP 
Elliot Soto
, SS
Jemile Weeks, IF-OF

A minor league free-agent can sign a contract with any major league or minor league club (including the player's former club) without any restrictions. A club receives no compensation for losing a minor league free-agent.

RHP Matt Carasiti was eligible to be a Rule 55 second-contract minor league FA (he was non-tendered by the Colorado Rockies last December), but the Cubs selected his contract and added him to their MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) about an hour prior to the deadline. 

INF Gioskar Amaya, RHP Pedro Araujo, OF Jeffrey Baez, RHP Justin Hancock, C-1B Alberto Mineo, SS Carlos Penalver, RHP James Pugliese, C Ali Solis, and RHP Daury Torrez had been eligible to be Rule 55 minor league 6YFA post-2017, but each of them signed a 2018 minor league successor contract in the days and weeks prior to the deadline.

C-1B Taylor Davis was eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league 6YFA post-2017, but his contract was selected and he was added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) in September.

MLB RULE 55: Sometimes called a "Six-Year Minor League Free-Agent," an unsigned minor league player is automatically declared a free-agent at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series if the player has had his first contract renewed six times and has spent all or any part of at least seven separate seasons on a minor league roster (including all or parts of any season spent on Optional Assignment to the minors), and/or if the player has been previously released or non-tendered in his career and his present contract (known as a "second contract" even if it's his third or fourth minor league contract) has expired.

For purposes of determining eligibility to be a free-agent, a player does not accrue a minor league season if the player spends the entire season on an MLB Active List, MLB Disabled List(s), and/or other MLB Inactive List, or if the player spends an entire season on the Restricted List, Disqualified List, Suspended List, Ineligible List, Voluntarily Retired List, and/or Military List. Also, participation in a post-season instructional league or winter league and/or the Arizona Fall League (AFL) does not count toward a minor league season if the player otherwise did not accrue a minor league season that year.

Note that a player who ordinarily would have been declared a Rule 55 minor league free-agent is NOT eligible to be a free-agent if the player is either added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) or agrees to a minor league successor contract by 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series. (The deadline is 5 PM Eastern on October 15th if the World Series is canceled).

Comments

Probably the two most noteworthy Cubs minor league free-agents (for me) are outfielders John Andreoli and Trey Martin. 27-year old John Andreoli (2011 Cubs 17th round draft pick - U. of Connecticut) was a teammate of 2017 World Series MVP George Springer and ex-Cub 3B Mike Olt in his college days at UConn, and he starred for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic last March. He should find a gig as an MLB 4th OF with little trouble. He has plus speed and is a good base-stealer, he has HR power, and he takes walks. On the negative side, he strikes out a LOT, he isn't a particularly good hitter, and he is below average defensively despite his above-average speed. 24-year old Trey Martin (Cubs 2011 13th round draft pick - Brookwood HS - Snellville, GA) was probably the best defensive CF in the Cubs organization, and he (finally) showed some improved hitting skills at AA in 2017. What Martin needs to find is an organization where he can play CF at AAA in 2017 and have a reasonable pathway to MLB (he is blocked in Chicago by Albert Almora Jr and at AAA Iowa by Jacob Hannemann). My favorite memories of Trey Martin... 1. He crashed into the CF fence while making a spectacular catch in a Minor League Spring Training game on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex a year or two ago, and the next morning a CSI-type chalk outline of Martin appeared on the fence at the exact same spot. 2. Martin was one of the Cubs players who had to pull Javier Baez away from the Angels bench in an Extended Spring Training game at Fitch Park in 2012 after Javy hit a long tape-measure HR (that he stopped to admire) and was chided by Angels coaches for failing to run the bases as promptly as they thought he should. 3. Martin was hit in the head (helmet) by a pitch and was knocked unconscious in an Instructs game versus the Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields a few years ago and he had to be transported to a local trauma center by an ambulance that came right onto the field. Then the game continued like nothing had happened. ("Trey would have wanted us to keep playing")

Hate to see Trey Martin probably moving on. I think he was the best center fielder in the system.

RIP Doc. You were one of my favorites.

The Cubs owe as much guaranteed money to Heyward as they do to their second through fifth highest guaranteed players combined (Lester, Zobrist, Rizzo, Quintana). That's somehow both good and bad.

heyward wins GG. dj lemahieu won for 2nd base. goldschmidt won 1st base.

"Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports writes that the Cardinals "are believed to be the team the Marlins would most like to make a deal with" in the Giancarlo Stanton sweepstakes. Peter Gammons of GammonsDaily.com wrote earlier this week that the Cardinals have already offered "one of their best young pitchers" to Miami in prospective trade talks." boo. btw, he has a full no-trade so he would have to approve any trade.

Per VineLine, the Cubs players have a nickname for a Contreras-to-Baez put-out: Bacon.

"New Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey believes the Cubs should pursue Alex Cobb." ...some hardcore shocking news right thur.

"Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was told by a source that the Cardinals are "determined" in their pursuit of Giancarlo Stanton." according to other journalism sources, they're also trying to get ziegler. considering Z turned 38 last month and he's owed $9m next year, it's probably to help take the sting off what's going to be an expensive trade to make to begin with. considering his main tool is deception and getting ground balls out of it, it's not a bad risk even if expensive.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

STL's chances look pretty good. SF doesn't have the payroll flex or prospects to pull it off. BOS could be a chance but is rumored to prefer Martinez. PHI looks like a great fit but I doubt either Stanton (NTC) or the Marlins want him to go there.

Bears lose to a backup QB and a 3rd string RB, at home, coming off a bye while the Packers are coming off a short week. Fox should be fired before he leaves the building today. His idiotic challenge shows that he doesn't even understand the rules of the damn game. My goodness, what a terrible franchise. This will be 10 years of the last 11 not making the playoffs. In a league built for parity. Only the Bears can WIN a challenge and have it kill their chances to win the game. Amazing incompetence throughout the organization.

We were all on board with them firing Lovie after the 10-6 season and their failure to make the Playoffs. It is terrible. Agreed. The penalties, injuries, play-calling, does not help. The Packers, by contrast have a successful organization, with more depth, talent, scouting, and coaching excellence. Yep, the Bears have plenty of injuries. Kyle long has been an "injury bust" like so many high draft picks before him - actually, Kevin White and Kyle Long were both #1's, so, yeah - that. But so do the Packers. When would you EVER, post-Ditka - see the Bears throw a long pass on 3rd and 1 to ice the game without Aaron Rogers?? That play symbolizes everything that works with the Packers and everything that is a failure for the Bears. Mitch Trubisky is consistently inconsistent which is to be somewhat expected. The lack of experience really does show as he is slow to recognize blitzes and his experience for audibles at the line is nil. How many years will this continue? How I long for the 90's Ditka years... However, I am fine if they lose the rest of the games this year (which they very well could) as long as I see some progress from the QB position. That is what it is all about now.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I'm sure John Fox was completely confused by the long pass on 3rd-and-1. "Can they do that??" I think Trubisky started a total of 13 games in college, so his slow development is not a surprise. He seems to have potential, and should learn how to read a defense and avoid sacks over time. But, man, it has been an ugly decade. I am really tired of seeing Aaron Rodgers smiling and laughing on the sideline.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

BB: I forgot to tell you "Can they do that??" really made me laugh. What is astounding is that under Lovie Smith the Bears went 81-63, 1 SB appearance, and 3 Central titles. During those years were Lance Briggs, Hester, Urlacher, Mike Brown, Daniel Manning. But they got their ass kicked against GB in the NFC Championship Game at "Soldier's" Field.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I took my then 12-year old son to that game. It was a 3:00 kickoff, so the tailgaters had an extra 3 hours to prepare. Rodgers took the opening kickoff and marched down the field. Several huge, very drunk guys behind us let loose with language that would make Louis CK blush and never really stopped the whole game. Really an unpleasant experience. I miss my son, but I don't miss going to Bears games. Lovie had a model and the model worked pretty well, although it wasn't very sexy. Emphasize defense and special teams and don't lose the game on offense. I have no idea what Fox's model is or what he is trying to build.

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

Absolutely. Fox is not good and should be gone but Pace has gotten way too much of a pass. The Kevin White pick gets a partial pass because of the injury but Floyd is 32nd in sacks and 246th in sacks for the 9th overall pick. Trubisky hasn't gotten any help from his line or WRs but he still looks like a pretty big development project for the 2nd overall pick that we actually traded picks to get. He's done a good job picking RBs but other than Cody Whitehair who else has really done anything from his drafts? I'm looking through the #s and it's pretty bad there.

"Mark Anderson of Baseball Prospectus reports that the Tigers are still awaiting the player to be named later to finalize the deal that sent Justin Wilson and Alex Avila to the Cubs at the trade deadline." evidently it's not cash going their way, but some player.

TIM: I suspect the Tigers want somebody who is Rule 5 Draft-eligible like LHP Jose Paulino, but they don't want to put him on their MLB 40-man roster right now because he hasn't pitched above Lo-A.

If Paulino isn't selected in the Rule 5 Draft, the Tigers would acquire him from the Cubs as the PTBNL in the Wilson-Avila deal and then they won't have to add him to their MLB 40-man roster until post-2018.

If Paulino is selected in the Rule 5 Draft, the Tigers might opt to take the $50,000 cash instead, which they can use later at their convenience to pay for a waiver claim (the Tigers have the #1 waiver claim priority throughout the off-season, Spring Training, and the first 30 days of the 2018 MLB regular season).

As far as the PTBNL in the Felix Pena trade is concerned, because that trade was made when it was (after the conclusion of the MLB regular season), the PTBNL could be a player who was on the Angels MLB Active List (25-man roster) during the regular season (usually a PTBNL cannot be on an MLB club's active list during the period of time starting when the trade is made until the PTBNL is announced, but this does not apply if a player is traded during the off-season and Spring Training, as long as the PTBNL is announced prior to MLB Opening Day).

So the Cubs could actually wait until the end of Spring Training to select the PTBNL (a PTBNL must be announced within six months of a trade, and Pena was acquired by the Angels on 10/9), and so the PTBNL could even be a player who was on the Angels MLB active list in September. 

Also, the Cubs and Angels know each other's farm systems very well. They play each other frequently in Minor League Camp and Extended Spring Training, and the two organizations shared a co-op team in Advanced Instructs post-2015 and post-2016. So the Cubs know who they like and who they don't like so much. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Nice call. I was guessing David Garner, who has some Michigan history. I also have a slight inkling for the Cubs add from the Angels. I have my sights on a Rule 5-eligible reliever unlikely to be taken, but much less of a hassle to take in about a month than now.

TIM: Conor Lillis-White is not Rule 5 Draft-eligible until next year (post-2018).

Jim Brower (Cubs MiLB pitching coordinator) poached by Seattle. Good teams tend to get their talent poached.

"Yankees general manager Brian Cashman hasn't ruled out the possibility of top prospect Gleyber Torres starting the 2018 season in the majors." damn. "Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer hasn't ruled out the possibility of John Lackey returning to the team next season." NO! BAD HOYER! BAD! NO!

"Patrick Mooney of NBC Sports Chicago reports that the Cubs have already met with Alex Cobb's agent, Danny Horwits." i dunno how to feel about cobb. i mean, he was never going to truly be "under the radar" but it's increasingly looking like some team may have to pay a hell of a premium for a guy that can't seem to throw 180 innings in a season for various reasons. that said, the cubs have the loot to spend and this is a hell of a "window" through at least 2020.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Exactly. Paying a premium for Cobb 4 years ago would not have made sense. Now, they have another 4 years (per Theo) in this window and need an SP and don't want to give up any of their high-value core (Baez or Russell). Cubs have plenty of $$ for SP, assuming Jake and Lackey are gone. They will overpay -- almost all decent FA pitchers get overpaid -- but this would seem like a good move. Just looked at Justin Wilson's numbers -- pre-Cubs, he was quite good, but not top shelf and not as good as I had hoped: 298 IP, 3.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP. I guess we would take that for next year, but the Cubs clearly "bought high" on him -- the first half of 2017 was his best performance of his career.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

It doesn’t appear from any of the reports and various projections that the Cubs will have to pay a “premium” for Cobb. The most anyone seems to think he’ll get is 4/$60M, which is essentially the going rate for 7-8 WAR. He certainly has potential to be better than that if more of his stuff comes back post TJS. But that’s basically paying the market rate for a league average pitcher. As it is, it sounds like he’s dead set on joining the Cubs and might be willing to sign for a little less than that.

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

BRADSBEARD: Although I would agree that I am not just anyone, I will remind you that I projected Cobb to get at least 4/$72M (and probably more like 4/$80M).

The AAV of a 4/$60M contract would be $2.4M less than the $17.4M 2018 QO Cobb received from the Rays last week. No way he accepts a contract offer that has an AAV of $15M when he's probably the #3 FA SP on the market. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Well, you are certainly someone! I would be very surprised if his AAV meets or tops the QO though. I just don’t see teams paying that much for his profile (on a one year deal, sure, but not over 4+ I don’t think). Not that I don’t like him, but I seem him as a mid-rotation type with some upside but an injury history that suggests he’ll miss some time. Maybe his market is stronger than I’m expecting, but when a guy comes out and basically says money isn’t his top prirotity and that he’d like to follow his former pitching coach to the Cubs, it’s hard to imagine he is also going to command the top end of what the market might bear for him.

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

BRADSBEARD: I think if Tanaka and Cueto had opted-out of their deals, the FA SP market might not be quite as much of a seller's market as it appears to be right now. Even with his rather obvious preference to pitch for the Cubs, I still think Cobb will get more than anyone (else) seems to think he will get.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

There's always a couple of teams like Seattle, LAA, Toronto and the Mets (for some examples) that people forget have pretty deep pockets and seem to want to spend on FAs. I could certainly see a team like that over-spending on guys like Cobb, Moustakas, and JD Martinez. I agree with Phil, Cobb will get a higher AAV than makes many people (self included) comfortable. To me, he's a #4 guy with iffy durability--I'd prefer looking elsewhere. I see Ian Kennedy written all over Alex Cobb's new contract.

"According to Patrick Mooney of NBC Sports Chicago, the Cubs have identified free agent reliever Brandon Morrow as an offseason target."

Goldschmidt wins Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards so Votto is perhaps the second best 1b in 2017 but is overall more "valuable" because he walks a lot while playing on a losing team that didn't even sniff the playoffs? So confused by MVP voting.

Cubs re-sign minor league FA INF Mike Freeman to 2018 minor league contract. He will almost certainly get an NRI to Spring Training.

Jerry Crasnick‏ Verified account   @jcrasnick Multiple #MLB teams have shown interest in reliever Jay Jackson, a former #Cubs draft pick who pitched briefly in the majors with #Padres in 2015. He's been one of the top setup men in Japan the past two years.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Glad to see Jackson have a little success. Hendry's Cubs pitched him at Tennessee and Iowa in his first full season as a pro at age 21. Current Cubs believe you ascend a ladder slowly, a step at a time. Jackson probably belongs with Wood and Prior as hard-luck pitchers (for getting drafted by the Cubs in that era).

a.mills didn't do a very good job...especially in the 3rd. ...j.stinnett stinking it up with his wildness both of them HBP'd jonathan davis (TOR) because screw that dude...or something. mills - 2.2ip 4h 1bb 3k, 4 r/er stinnett - 1ip 2h 3bb 2k, 2 r/er c.burks goes 0-3, 0bb, 0k also, ronald acuna (ATL) is a damn impressive player for a dude that's 19 (turns 20 in a few weeks).

Awaiting BillyBucks Bears comments... So? Trubitsky pretty good today. They still suck. John Fox sucks. At least they scored some today and it was nice to see some hope for the future. I saw Matthew Stafford plenty in his early years and he was pretty bad too at times. Plus always injured. And he had receivers. Now he is the real deal. Trubitsky has nothing. He needs to learn by playing - and throw the goddamn ball away! Plus - fucking Connor Barth. Really???

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Thanks E-Man. Good to be here. Game summary: Matthew Prater down the middle from 51. Connor Barth into Lake Michigan from 46. Some good stuff -- nice blocking on Howard's runs, Shaheen getting some passes, Trubisky showing some nice zip, Cohen being used. Still need 3-4 WRs. Defense has looked vulnerable the past 2 weeks, although the Lions can throw it. I assume Trubisky holds the ball so long because he doesn't want to throw picks, which he doesn't do. So, in all, not a bad day -- more experience for Trubisky, good games for the RBs, and the need for WRs and K is made more obvious, and another loss to help the draft position (until Pace unnecessarily trades the picks).

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Agreed. In nearly every loss this year, one player makes a stupid fucking play to cost the team points (SFP). Kyle Long yesterday (personal foul on a nice gain, and then Trubisky fumble); Kyle Fuller several times - lines up offside in N.O. putting the Saints in FG position - 3 points...Holding calls, etc. One of the many head scratchers this off season is why they did not franchise tag Jeffries, if not pay the guy? Was Ryan Pace so sure Kevin White was a #1. All of these guys should be fired. Pace should be fired alone for Mike Glennon.

"Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that the Cardinals have made a formal trade offer to the Marlins for slugger Giancarlo Stanton." sheeeeet...

Giancarlo Stanton has a full "no trade" for the length of his contract, and there really isn't anything any club can give him (that he doesn't already have) to induce him to waive it.

By all accounts, Stanton likes playing in Miami, and whether the Marlins are winning or losing might not matter that much to him (just like Joey Votto in Cincinnati).

So the Marlins may have to wait to trade Stanton until he gets tired of losing (presuming he ever does), and in the meantime look to trade Christian Yelich, Pablo Ozuna, and/or Dee Gordon instead.

"According to Peter Gammons of GammonsDaily.com, the battle for Alex Cobb is likely to come down to the Cubs and the Yankees." countdown until SF signs him to a 6 year deal...

OF John Andreoli signs 2018 minor league contract with Seattle Mariners and gets an NRI to Spring Training. Andreoli was a minor league 6YFA post-2017.

With INF Mike Freeman and RHSP Williams Perez having re-signed with the Cubs last month and Andreoli headed for the Mariners organization, seven post-2017 Cubs minor league free-agents remain unsigned: RHP Scott Carroll, 1B-3B Chris Dominguez, OF Ryan Kalish, CF Trey Martin, INF Ozzie Martinez, INF Elliot Soto, and IF-OF Jemile Weeks.

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).