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

Shall We Make It a Pair?

GAME THIRTY-NINE IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT] WASHINGTON NATIONALS (13-26, 4th, 11.5 GB) AT CHICAGO CUBS (16-22, 5th, 7.5 GB) Wrigley Field, 7:05 PM CDT Weather: 54 degrees, Rain, Wind in From LF @ 17 mph TV: CSN, DirecTV 744 Radio: WGN, XM 187
Sean Marshall, LHP 2-1, 4.93 ERA, 38.1 IP 28 K, 16 BB, 3 HR Zach Day, RHP 2-3, 5.85 ERA, 32.1 IP 15 K, 15 BB, 4 HR

Alfonso Soriano, LF Marlon Byrd, CF #Jose Vidro, 2B *Nick Johnson, 1B Jose Guillen, RF Ryan Zimmerman, 3B Wiki Wiki Gonzalez, C Damien Jackson, SS Zach Day, P*Juan Pierre, CF Matt Murton, LF *Todd Walker, 1B Michael Barrett, C Aramis Ramirez, 3B *Jacque Jones, RF Jerry Hairston, Jr., 2B Ronny Cedeno, SS *Sean Marshall, P
Nationals vs. Marshall: Cubs vs. Day: Juan Pierre: 2-10, 200/200/200, 1 K,

Since I'm enjoying another day of 70 degree sunny weather, I don't know how bad it's raining in Chicago but the game is currently being delayed. I assume they'd play two tomorrow if they can't get the game in as I believe this is the Nationals only trip to Chicago this year. It's amazing how one start can skew a pitcher's numbers so early in the season. I put up a preview for Marshall's last game versus the Giants in which he was resoundingly beaten before most fans could get in their seats to enjoy their Gilroy Garlic Fries. His numbers went from "ace in waiting" to "still a rookie". We'll see which Marshall we get tonight (or tomorrow). And just when you think Dusty has trouble filling out a lineup card, Frank Robinson (or one of his assistants as he's not at the game suffering from severe back spasms) has decided to put Soriano as his leadoff hitter. Tough to imagine why these guys are doing even worse than us. If we get it in, go Cubs! Tomorrow is the return of Kid K.

Comments

anyone have a more detailed weather report for those of us out of town? does it look like they will get the game in?

The game is supposed to start at 7:55. And our problems are over because Hendry just signed Tony Womack to a minor league contract. Everyone needs at least 5 subpar 2B on their roster.

Sean's ERA is quite misleading. His FIP is 3.76, which ain't too bad. His win probability added is sixth on the team, at +46.7%, so he has not killed us. Here are the Cubs top 10: 1. +104.1% Greg Maddux 2. +78.6% Matt Murton 3. +64.4% Carlos Zambrano 4. +60.3% Scott Eyre 5. +47.0% Derrek Lee 6. +46.7% Sean Marshall 7. +37.6% Jacque Jones 8. +31.9% Bob Howry 9. +15.3% Ryan Dempster (his BS was -69.9% alone!) 10. +12.6% Todd Walker I didn't subtract the WPA lost for SPs when they batted, but oh well. Here's a link. Juan Pierre....

I guess quality starts is a decent enough stat, but it would be interesting to find something that puts into context the effects of a blowout loss on a pitcher's numbers. Cause if 1 out of 10 games Marshall throws like a Cy Young, but every 10th game he gets absolutely shelled, I think that would be worth more than a fella who pitched nothing more than average ball those 10 games, yet their overall numbers make look the same. Just a hypothetical of mine....

Clemens has "stepped up his workouts", fwiw. (Read "will sign with the Astros by mid-June")

GAME ON!!!

AWESOME link on the win probability added. going right to my favorites yeah, juan pierre....we'll take the risk that you become a cub killer again starting in about 10 months...

I said last year that I wanted Womack. wooohooo

It's nice to see Jones hit well and score on the squeeze play...The Cubs have some good pitching so far and they finally have some offense that's producing runs...;-)

Ya gotta love Walkers clutch hitting and he came through and has helped the Cubs go ahead 4-0 early in the game...The is the way to take some pressure off our pitchers.

Damn, wish we would of kept Juan Cruz.... His start tonight: .2 IP, 5 hits, 3 BB, and 9 ER. ERA at 6.18.

Why was ARAm taken out? Injury I take it?? How bad was he injured? Finally get a two game win streak and another major injury...GREAT!!

Nefi Perez is not a great substitution for Ramirez (especially when you consider how well Nefi hits).

Ramirez has a "mild lower back strain"...hope he playing again soon -- the Cubs desperately need his offensive horsepower.

Marshall is getting the big strikeouts just when he needs them...;-)

if it rains now, marshall will have a no-no...

look at the lineup w/out rami-beyond pathetic!

Damn, wish we would of kept Juan Cruz.... His start tonight: .2 IP, 5 hits, 3 BB, and 9 ER. ERA at 6.18. Cruz's ERA with 27.2 innings means about as much as it did when he had 27 (3.33). It means about as much as Greg Maddux's 2006 ERA with 27 IP (0.99). It means about as much as Greg Maddux's 2004 ERA with 27 IP (5.65). Exactly what is it that some people find so difficult about this concept?

100 pitches for marshall. time to tak him out. great job, kid.

Watch out for raining frogs as Armageddon is certainly near - Bynum hit a homerun.

Ron Galt: "Exactly what is it that some people find so difficult about this concept?" I guess I am just not as smart as you...sorry man!!

CUBS WIN!! IN DUSTY WE TRUSTY!!! Back to back wins...OMG Woody on the mound tomorrow for the sweep. Then bring on the White Sox.

a one hitter! is sean marshall the left handed Frank Castillo? i hope not, i like this kid.

Boys, Going on a vacation to Italy and Greece. I'll stop in on the cruise ship. Go Cubs!! And GO KERRY!!!! WELCOME BACK!!!!

The Reds have conveniently started a nice losing streak...It looks like St. Louis will be the team to beat in the Cubs' division (and we're about 7.5 games behind them now)...Lets hope Kerry Wood has a very good day pitching tomorrow...It's time for the Cubs to start a new trend that could be their friend. The series with The White Sox will really test the Cubs because they will be going up against some good pitching and we will need our pitchers to keep the team in the games. I think we have Maddux and Zambrano pitching for 2 of the 3 games against The White Sox -- the challenge will be to tame the big bats on the White Sox team....The Cubs are rebuilding confidence and momentum...They need a 3 game sweep going into the White Sox series...Every game counts since we are now about 25% of the way through the season.

Wood's smoke mirrors greats Hard-throwing former phenom gets opportunity to resurrect his Cubs career By David Haugh Tribune staff reporter May 17, 2006, 10:45 PM CDT http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060517c… {..."He can absolutely resurrect his career," said former major-league reliever Dan Plesac, an analyst for Comcast SportsNet. "The gift that Wood has, 95 percent of pitchers don't have. The thing you have to be careful about [in giving up] on a pitcher is that it might be one game or one pitch when that light goes on. "When you have in your gun what he has in his, anything's possible."... ...Fatheree says he is not overstating Wood's talent when he compares it to Clemens and Roy Oswalt, two guys he caught during Astros spring training the last several years. He also roomed with Oswalt for three seasons as a minor-league teammate. "Kerry has the same bulldog attitude and throws every bit as well as those two if he is healthy," Fatheree said. When it comes to Wood and health, "if" has become a four-letter word around Clark and Addison. Back home in Texas, Fatheree joins many who believe success is a matter of when. Allies insist Wood can come closer to emulating Nolan Ryan, who won 219 games after his 29th birthday, than David Clyde, the phenom who flamed out after being rushed from high school to the Rangers. "Some things you can't control," Fatheree said of Wood's injuries. "But who knows? After this you might not ever hear about another arm problem with Kerry. If that's the case, look out."...}

There you have it folks! Freddie Bynum: Even his home runs suck.

murton taking that walk to load em up for walker was ginormous. perhaps he would be better in the 2 hole than ronnie (who has cooled off)? in other words, i stand corrected. so, kerry wood is back. the 8 figure man with the glass arm. what, 6 innings of shut-out pitching tomorrow? hm? and then some glen or roberto for a couple before the ryan dempster ends it? hm? ya think? oh and please somebody tell me mabry can play the hot corner, please. no neifi for me. not now. maddux, carlos, marshall, wood, hill/guzman. hmmmmm... guzman is way to wild right now. walks, plunks, WPs, hes awful. if he wouldnt kill HIMSELF, he wouldnt be so bad. and hill, if he would just get more gutsy with that curve (while keeping it DOWN) and not walk so many, he wouldnt be so bad either. "you only need two pitches.. the one that the hitter is looking for, and the one he isn't". GO CUBS! and FREDDIE B SUCKS!

Nolasco had his 1st start tonight, nothing special, 3.2 IP, 2 runs or something. His next start though will be against us. Baseball's fun.

Both the Detroit Tigers and The Chicago White Sox are now 26 and 13 (they are tied in 1st place with .667 winning averages)...I like the fact that Jim Leyland's team is giving the White Sox some real competition. It would be nice if the Cubs can win the last game against Washington and take a few games from The White Sox this weekend -- it won't be easy BUT it is possible. We'll need to see this version 2.0 of the Cubs that pitches well, makes smart defensive plays and manufactures runs consistently...;-)

Are we actually playing against the Cubs? Washington has 0 runs, 5 hits, and 4 errors so far...I've seen that somewhere before.

Ump after Bynum HR: "Dang, that was the ball we were supposed to use on Barry. I've been looking for that thing."

Oh Gawd, two wins in a row, Wood coming back, and I'm ready to drink the Kool-Aid again. Some random thoughts: If Jacque Jones never hit against lefties this season, no fan would be throwing at his head. He's been a monster against righties. I was surprised just how much so when I looked at the splits (yes I know this has been discussed ad nauseum, but I'm slower on the uptake than Manny with Billy Beane). Prior is actually starting a game! Against rookies! With a baseball not a towel! Woohoo! Reports that Miller are only 2-3 days behind Prior a few weeks ago would have forced me to ask the question what's 2-3 days less than never? Now I start thinking about how late June could get interesting. I need a shrink. The kid really rebounded nicely last night from his shelling. Including his shelling, Marshall has a 1.13 WHIP. Not counting that game, he's got a .885 WHIP. So it remains to be seen if that was simply a bad outing or if he has Jerome Willimas (Shawn Estes, whatever) syndrome. As Captian Obvious says "I'd like to see fewer walks." If Prior Wood and Miller all return strong, who is the odd man out in the rotation? Go with a six man? Any news on Lee and his short cast? How long until it comes off? Has the timeframe been adjusted at all? This series against the White Sox doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot in the big picture of the season, but getting swept would sure suck. Anything else is manageable. Now about this offense...

I don't think you need to worry about Prior and Wood and Miller "returning strong." That sort of scenario might happen in the movies, or in our dreams, but never to the Cubs. Seriously. Marshall is here is stay. He is a lefty and we need one in our rotation. And Maddux is here to stay. Z is not going anywhere. So both Prior and Wood won't be starters. Not to worry though, again, the chances of all three of those guys both being healthy and effective must be close to zero.

Geebus H. Christ, is it true Hendry signed Tony F. Womack to a minor league deal? WTF??? How many worthless, pop-gun hitting, sub-600 OPS 2B does one team need, for chrissakes!! Hairston, Walker, Perez, Bynum, Theriot, and now, Womack. That is increduridiculous. Up next, Darren Jackson, Joe Camel, and Rey Rey hizownself return to Wrigley! Please fire Jim Hendry.

Did David Haugh really compare Kerry Wood to David Clyde? What an ass. This is why I no longer read the Tribune.

What? Mick Kelleher and Steve Dillard not available?

Geebus H. Christ, is it true Hendry signed Tony F. Womack to a minor league deal? WTF??? Its a minor league deal. Unless you are a diehard Iowa Cubs fan, there is barely a reason to care about this move. There were the same irrational fears when Hendry gave Simontacchi a minor league deal, and he didn't even make the roster. Now, If Womack is ever even rumored to be coming towards Chicago, then panic.

Overheard in Hendry's office yesterday "How soon can Vic Harris or Don Kessinger join the club?"

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).