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

Lawton Steroid User

According to multiple sources, Deadspin.com is reporting that Matt Lawton is the "AL outfielder from a playoff team" that tested positive for steroids. Rumors have been floating about for quite awhile now. Apparently he's in the appeals process at the moment, which is why you haven't heard anything from MLB yet. Also from Deadspin.com, they have been rating the best blogs out there for most of the major sports franchises. I was trying to keep my eye out for their take on the Cubbies blogs, but those sneaky devils posted it way back on October 3rd, which is a national mourning day for Cubs fans everywhere, so I missed it apparently. Anyway, we finished first:
1. The Cub Reporter. Part of the consistently excellent All-Baseball network, this immensely popular Cubs site covers everything you might possibly want to know and more. Smart, and able to resist Cub Fan Fatigue.
So, um, yeah, Cool!!! We'd like to thank....[orchestra warming up in the background already]. Hey wait!!! All-baseball.com was all over their rankings: Boston: 3rd place for Fire Brand of the American League Chicago White Sox: 2nd place for Exile in Wrigleyville San Diego Padres: 2nd place for Ducksnorts Kansas City Royals: 1st place for Kauffman Confidential So win, place or show, congrats to all who were mentioned by Deadspin. And look, we get a fancy graphic to display as well, what more could a blog ask for?

Comments

Guardado off the market, Mariners exercised 2006 option.

Rob, first place in anything is worth a beer, so PayPal gets another $6 from me, assuming this is roughly the price of a beer at Wrigley?

Anyway, we finished first: 1. The Cub Reporter. Part of the consistently excellent All-Baseball network, this immensely popular Cubs site covers everything you might possibly want to know and more. Smart, and able to resist Cub Fan Fatigue. Congrats to Rob, AZ Phil and the entire TCR crew and all us Cub fan contributors. This is quite the BASEBALL MITsVAH!

Thanks for the donation, Dave! The way the accounts are set up, that money goes into, uh, my personal checking account. So. Brent, John, Rob, I owe you each a buck-fifty.

I'm willing to double Dave's donation if it helps us land B.J. Ryan.. who's with me??? You can keep the $1.50 Christian as long as it go towards bringing back the Rachel Wacholder ads. :) Thnx for the donation Dave!

Derrek Lee gold glove ...to go with silver slugger.

2005 NL GG Winners (Defensive Win Shares in parenthesis + rank, WS leader if applicable) -- C - Mike Matheny (11.1, 1st) 1b - Derrek Lee (3.0, 1st) 2b - Luis Castillo (6.0, 3rd - C. Counsell, 6.9) SS - Omar Vizquel (6.3, 5th - R. Furcal, 8.1) 3b - Mike Lowell (4.2, 4th - D. Wright, 4.8) OF - Bobby Abreu (3.7, 15th), A. Jones (5.8, 4th), J. Edmonds (5.5, 5th) (Beltan 7.2, B. Clark 7.2, W. Taveras 6.6) P - G. Maddux (no calculations for pitchers fielding) Abreu seems to be the NL version of J. Varitek, otherwise not too far off at all by WS standards. Vizquel got a reputation award.

I was reading over at Ivy Chat and was reminded of another Dusty tactic that I completly forgot about. Incentives in contracts. Veterans have them, younger players usually don't. And Dusty since he "owes" to us fans and is such a great "players" manager will do everthing in his power to get players their incentives. As pointed out by Chuck....Holly had incentives for AB's which is a another reason why he continued to be trotted out. Hawkins had incentives for saves so Baker was hell bent on getting that for him. I did a little back checking and Perez had performance bonuses as well. So yet another reason why he got so many AB's and was played everyday. Dusty has to get his player's paid, he doesn't give a rats ass about putting the best player on the field. Rusch has incentives in his contracts for games started so that automatically puts him ahead of Williams in the rotation who has none.

Dusty has to get his player's paid, he doesn't give a rats ass about putting the best player on the field. Gregg Maddux owes him bigtime!!

You really think Maddux should have been removed from the rotation?

Must have been a joke due to the huge $9M extension. Clearly Maddux earned it like he has for a decade & a half.

No, I was OBVIeffingOUSLY referring to the fact that thanks to Dusty, a pitcher who has watched his skills dip precipitously the last three years was able to exceed 400 innings pitched over the last two (even led the team in IP last season) and as a result has automatically vested a nine million dollar contract to pitch even more mediocre baseball for the Cubs in 2006.

I don't have a problem with Maddux getting his innings. He is a hall of famer you don't dis-respect a hall of famer like that. If he is healthy enough to go out and do what you signed him for then you owe him every cent of that contract. Maddux has earned it, Macias, Holly, Perez, they haven't earned a damn thing in their career except a reputation of being lousy ball players.

maddux rarely pitches more than 90 pitches anyway. he's still a decent pitcher...except for his horrible long-ball problem the past couple years. besides...until late last season the pen was a disaster...and no it wasnt because of hawkins 10 innings or rusch not starting or whatever. it was a combined effort suckfest except for the dumpster who arrived in the pen after a month. bleh...anytime april-july i'd honestly rather see almost anyone who wasnt falling apart out ther over almost anyone in the pen.

MLBPA or Maddux or somebody definitely would have taken some kind of action had the Cubs pushed him to the pen. There has to be something they could have pursued under whatever version of "team must act in good faith with regards to incentives" clause is in the CBA. That we have an average pitcher playing for superstar money next year is the result of a bogus starry-eyed contract, and we shouldn't blame Dusty Baker when that happens.

Well, you can bet your ass on Maddux making 33 starts and pitching over 200 innings in 2006. You can also count on him winning 12-15 games. Maybe a couple more if he has a better bullpen finishing off games. $9mm is big bucks, but you can't count on anyone else in the rotation doing the above. If you take away his worst few starts this year, it drops his ERA well below 4.00 and he had 20 quality starts in 35 games. It's not like he got bombed every time out... just every 4th time.

Anyone know what Cory patterson is doing this winter? Is he playing? Packing his things for the inpending trade or what?

"You can keep the $1.50 Christian as long as it go towards bringing back the Rachel Wacholder ads. :)" AMEN

SCOTT G F: Corey is out here in Mesa "working on his swing & his approach to hitting" at the Fitch Park facility with AA West Tenn batting guru Von Joshua, who apparently has more cred as a "hitting instructor" than either Gene Clines (the Cubs so-called "Hitting Instructor"), Pat Listach (AAA Iowa's so-called "Hitting Instructor"), or Dave Keller (the Cubs so-called "Roving Hitting Instructor"). Hey, here's a thought. If Tribune Company would like to save a couple grand, why not get rid of the Cubs "Hitting Instructor" position, Iowa's "Hitting Instructor" position, and West Tenn's "Hitting Instructor" position, and just have a "Roving Hitting Instructor" (like maybe Von Joshua) who works with any player in the organization who wants and needs help? Which brings me to Phil Wrigley's "College of Cosches." The reason the "College of Coaches" was a misguided concept was because it assumed (and what happens when you assume?) that the Cubs and Cub minor league teams could rotate the "Head Coach" during the season without having an adverse affect on leadership, discipline, or team morale. What WAS good about the College of Coaches was hiring coaches who were TEACHERS & INSTRUCTORS instead of the manager's CRONIES, and these TEACHERS & INSTRUCTORS were assigned to "rove" and work throughout the organization as one-on-one TEACHERS & INSTRUCTORS (with players and pitchers in need of help with certain aspects of their game) instead of as the manager's flunky, drinking buddy and/or gim rummy pigeon, or as a spy for the GM.

Lawton's a cheater, but I do respect him for at least admitting it and not trying a lame Palmeiro style defense: "I made a terrible and foolish mistake that I will regret for the rest of my life," Lawton said in a statement that he read over the telephone to The Associated Press. "I take full responsibility for my actions and did not appeal my suspension. I apologize to the fans, the game, my family and all those people that I let down. I am truly sorry and deeply regret my terrible lapse in judgment." Link

Congrats on finishing first at Deadspin, guys. The accolades are well deserved.

My wife and I live in the St. Louis area, and so getting up to Wrigley is usually only once or twice a year, but we something about touring the field on an off-day. I'm sure many have been through it, what are your thoughts? Is it worth it?

I took the tour and it is terrific. You see the locker room, broadcast booth, security room, go on the field, in the dugouts. Highly recomended.

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).