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

What's Up Down Under?

Halfway through the MLB Australian Baseball Academy Program (MLBAAP) season at Palm Meadows (Gold Coast), here's how the five Cubs players playing "down under" are doing:

19-year old RHP Ryan Searle leads the MLBAAP in wins, strikeouts, and IP, and 17-year old OF Sean Williams (bats & throws left) leads the league in hitting, and is tied for the league lead in doubles, tied for 3rd in hits, tied for 4th in runs scored, and tied for 5th in SB. 

Former star cricket player (bowler) LHP Cody Hams (who was at Cubs Minor League Camp and EXST at Fitch Park for two months) has struggled with his control, although he does have 19 K in 14.2 IP. (The 6'5" Hams' pitching style closely resembles Rich Hill's, so I guess it's probably no longer a compliment to tell Cody that he is Rich Hill Redux).

PITCHERS:

RHP Ryan Searle: 3-2, 2.35 ERA, 30.2 IP, 24 H, 15 R (8 ER), 7 BB, 38 K, 0 HR, .197 OBA, 1.01 WHIP, in 6 games (6 GS) 

RHP Adam Spencer: 2-0, 4.37 ERA, 22.2 IP, 19 H, 14 R (11 ER), 11 BB, 23 K, 1 HR, .224 OBA, 1.33 WHIP, in 5 games (5 GS)

LHP Cody Hams: 0-0, 4.91 ERA, 14.2 IP, 13 H, 13 R (8 ER), 15 BB, 19 K, 0 HR, .236 OBA, 1.91 WHIP, in 5 games (5 GS)
 
POSITION PLAYERS

CF Sean Williams: 354/411/477, 6 2B, 6/13 BB/K in 73 PA, 7 SB (2 CS)

SS Hak-ju Lee: 286/444/500 (was at the MLBAAP on the "Two-Week Phase" program, played in only five league games before returning to South Korea).  

The MLBAAP season ends on July 26th.

Based on the way he has pitched so far, it's possible that Ryan Searle (who has a full-year visa) could return to Fitch Park for the last month of the AZL season, and/or for the AZ Instructional League in September/October. While Cody Hams resembles a young Rich Hill, Searle would be most camparable to Sean Gallagher.

The other four are supposed to report to Cubs Minor League Camp at Fitch Park next March, although Lee (who received a bonus somewhere in the neighborhood of $1M) might get an invite to Instructs if it doesn't conflict with his school schedule. 

Comments

15(!!!) UNearned runs between the 3 starters? Phil, what's the deal, are the infields made of concrete and gravel down there or is the defense just that bad?

Spencer was looking really good until his most recent start (his ERA went from around 2.80 to 4.37 thanks to that one start).

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 12:20pm.

15(!!!) UNearned runs between the 3 starters? Phil, what's the deal, are the infields made of concrete and gravel down there or is the defense just that bad? -

=================================

WISCGRAD: I was told the defensive play down under tends to be a bit spotty. 

Reed Johnson activated, Epat down...

Top Hitting Prospects 1. Josh Vitters (3B) - Age 18 2007 3rd Overall 356/381/525 in 59 ABs in Short Season A 2. Wellington Castillo (C) - Age 21 2004 NDFA 293/338/431 overall and 333/412/617 with 4 HRs in 18 games at Double A. 3. Ryan Flaherty (SS,3B) - Age 21 2008 Supp 1st round 350/409/575 in Short Season A through 11 games 4. Tony Thomas (2B) - Age 21 2007 3rd Round 266/315/414 with 6 HR and 12 SB at High A. 296/393/533 with 5 HR and 28 SB last year 5. Tyler Colvin (OF) - Age 22 2006 13th Overall 236/307/373 in 82 games at double A .488 SLG in 125 games with 16 HR in '07 6. Josh Harrison (2B) - Age 20 2008 6th round 250/354 with 5 SB in 12 games at Short Season A ball 7. Steve Clevenger (C) - Age 22 2006 7th Round 308/396 at High A 340/378/441 in 2007 8. Marquez Smith (2B,3B) - Age 23 2007 8th Round 298/369/505 with 13 HR in 79 games at low A 9. Luis Bautista (C,1B,DH) - Age 23 2007 32nd round 331/388/564 through 37 games at low A 10.Rebel Ridling (1B/DH) - Age 22 2008 25th Round 358/400/623 in 14 games at Short Season A 11.Ryan Harvey (OF) - Age 23 2003 1st Round 239/308/423 overall 265/342/490 and 6HR at High A 12.Nate Spears (2b) - Age 23 2003 5th Round 313/407 in 66 games at Double A. Acquired in C. Patterson trade, 6th year minors 13.Jovan Rosa (1b,3b) - Age 20 2006 22nd Round 286/353/401 in 73 games at low A. 14.Jonathan Wyatt (OF) - Age 23 2007 13th Round 255/353 with 10 SB overall 316/373 with 7 SB at low A 15.Ryan Keedy (1B/DH) - Age 22 2008 16th Round 333/400 in 15 games at Short Season A 16.Josh Donaldson (c) - Age 22 2007 Supp 1st Round 221/284/366 at low A through 57 games. 335/460/590 last year in 53 games. 17.Joseph Adduci (OF) - Age 23 2003 42nd Round 304/388 with 14 SB in 73 games at high A. Playing in his 5th minor league season. 18.John Contreras (3B) - Age 22 NDFA 19.Blake Lalli (1B/C) - Age 25 2006 NDFA 313/359/519 overall. 7 HR in 58 games at High A. Pitchers 1. Jose Ceda - Age 21 2004 NDFA 4.20 ERA in 21 games 0.90 ERA/.189 OppBA at Double A through 6 games. Acquired in Todd Walked trade. 2. Jose Ascanio (RP) - Age 23 2005 NDFA 11 saves and a 3.86 ERA in 24 relief appearances 3. Andrew Cashner - Age 21 2008 1st Round Huge potential to be a significant factor soon. He is likely a potential closer. 4. Jeff Samardzija - Age 23 2006 5th Round 3.00 ERA/1.58 WHIP through 12 IP at Triple A. He has to improve his control. 5. James Russell - Age 22 2007 14th round 3.78 ERA/1.31 WHIP overall, 4.45 ERA in 12 games/11 starts at Double A, 40K/17BB 6. Donald Veal - Age 23 2005 2nd Round 3.22 ERA/1.47 WHIP/.258 OppBA in 94 IP 33K/18BB in May 7. Jesse Estrada - Age 24 2004 31st Round 4.69 ERA/1.29 WHIP overall in 48 innings of relief through 23 games. .232 OPPBA/26k/4BB at Triple A 8. Casey Lambert - Age 22 2007 6th Round 3.02 ERA/1.28 WHIP in 35 relief appearances. Lefty with late inning potential. 9. Greg Rheinhard - Age 24 2005 6th Round 3.81 ERA/1.40 WHIP/.223 OppBA in 28 games, 49 IP. Acquired in Jae Kuk Ryu trade 10. Justin Berg - Age 24 2003 43rd Round 5.42 ERA in 16 starts overall. Acquired from the Yankees in the Matt Lawton trade. Compared to Brandon Webb. 5th year of minor leagues. 11. Dae-Eun Rhee - Age 19 2007 NDFA. 1.80 through 40 IP in 10 starts in his first pro season at Low A 12. Blake Parker - Age 23 2006 16th Round 1.33 ERA in 23 relief appearances at Low A, Opp BA .193 Promoted to Triple A 13. Mitch Atkins - Age 22 2004 7th Round 4.03ERA/1.25WHIP in 17 starts at Double A. 85K/26BB in 103 innings 14. Jordan Latham - Age 21 2006 29th Round 1.88 ERA/1.01 WHIP/53K in 53 innings through 26 relief appearances at Low A 15. Bill Muldowney - Age 23 2006 8th Round 2.74 ERA/.173 OppBA in 11 starts at low A/High A (4) 16. Alex Maestri - Age 23 2007 NDFA First italian born played. 3.69 ERA in 14 starts at high A 16. Marco Carillo - Age 21 2005 NDFA 3.29 ERA/1.15 WHIP in 17 games/11 starts at High A 17. Harol Tolentino - Age 19 2005 NDFA 2.25 ERA/0.88 WHIP in 3 relief appearances at Short Season A 18. Jay Jackson - Age 20 2008 9th Round 14K/1B in 9 innings at Short Season A 19. Jeffry Antigua - Age 18 2007 NDFA 0.00 ERA/0.86 WHIP 5K/1BB in 7 innings at rookie ball 20. Jose Pina - Age 22 2003 NDFA 1.42 ERA/1.11 WHIP/.174 OppBA through 4 games at Short Season A. In 2007 at Low A 23 Games, 19 starts 4.29 ERA/.261 OppBA 21. James Leverton - Age 22 2008 8th Round 3.00 ERA/1.17 WHIP in 2 starts at Short Season A 22. Mike Perconte - Age 22 2008 NDFA 3.09 ERA/1.29 WHIP/.255 OppBA in 8 innings 3 games, 1 start at Short Season A 23. Marcus Hatley - Age 20 2007 NDFA 0.79 ERA/.220 OppBA 11K/5BB in 11.1 Innings 3 games, 2 starts at Short Season A 24. Robert Hernandez - Age 19 2005 NDFA Suspended for PEDs, has looked strong at EXST so it is difficult to assess. 25. Mark Pawelek - Age 21 2005 1st Round - Lots of injuries but still very young. This is a huge year for him and he could move up on the rankings. Unranked Hitters in the System with MLB experience/no longer prospect/Unranked 1.Micah Hoffpauir (1B,RF/LF) - Age 28 2002 13th Round .624 slugging at Triple A 2.Felix Pie (CF) - Age 23 2001 NDFA .353 BA in last 10 games 3.Jason Dubois (LF/RF) - Age 29 2000 14th Round 300/413/711 at Triple A 4.Andres Torres (OF) - Age 30 304/408/509 at Triple A 5.Sam Fuld - Age 26 2004 10th Round .325 BA/7 walks in last 10 games at Double A 6.Jake Fox (c,1B,OF) - Age 25 271/366/464 at Double A 7.Bobby Scales (2B) - Age 31 291/374/473 at Triple A 8.Josh Kroeger (RF/LF) - Age 25 2000 4th Round 274/348/474 at Triple A Unranked Pitchers in the System with MLB experience/no longer prospect 1.Kevin Hart (SP/RP) - Age 25 2004 11th Round 3.86 ERA (14 ER/32.2 IP) in 24 relief appearances 2.Randy Wells - Age 25 2002 38th Round 3.61 ERA in 15 games, 9 starts at Triple A. Recently selected in Rule 5 draft. 3.Rich Hill (SP) - Age 28 2002 4th Round 4.Mike Burns (RP) - Age 29 2000 30th Round by Houston 5.Carmen Pignatiello - Age 24 2000 20th Round 6.J.R. Mathes (SP) - Age 26 2004 16th Round 7.Hector Carrasco (SP/RP) Wait and see Aaron Shafer Christopher Carpenter Justin Bristow

AZ Phil, how advanced do you think Searle is? Could he skip the AZL next season and go straight to Boise or Peoria?

Phil...thanks for the reports. It sounds like our Asia/Australia recruiting is going well. Will be fun to see how Hams develops as he learns the game of baseball. My question is about our Latin American program. the July 2nd signing date has passed and I have not seen any report on players signed by the Cubs. Baseball America had information on top signings by some teams, but not all. It doesn't seem like the Cubs focus on getting top players as much as other teams -- Larry Suarez was a pretty big signing, but I don't think there have been many during this decade. Our big name signings also seem almost exclusively pitchers (we sign lots of hitters, but none of those seem to be prized prospects). Do you have any information on players we have signed? I am sure I am mischaracterizing our Latin American signings as well, so please feel free to correct anything I said.

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).