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 Rally to Defeat Angels at Fitch

Tony Campana had four RBI, Logan Watkins scored three runs, Josh Vitters had two doubles and a walk, and Jake Optiz smashed a double and a triple, as the Cubs rallied from a 7-3 deficit to defeat the Angels 9-7 in AZ Instructional League action this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa. 

RHP Alberto Alburquerque (April 2008 shoulder surgery) got the start for the Cubs and worked two strong innings, allowing one run on two hits and no walks (29 pitches - 23 strikes), while striking out four. Alburquerque pitched aggressively, with a 91-93 MPH fastball, an outstanding breaking ball, and an effective change working for him, keeping Angels hitters off-balance. If he can stay healthy, Alburquerque could be in the starting rotation at Daytona next April (Daytona manager Jody Davis is the AZIL Cubs manager, so he has witnessed Alburquerque's two Instructs outings first-hand). 

2008 18th round draft pick LHP Jeffrey Beliveau (Florida Atlantic) followed Alburquerque to the hill and worked two innings (39 pitches), allowing two runs on a HBP, an RBI triple, and a wild pitch. The 21-year old Beliveau struggled some with his control, but he did strike out the last two hitters he faced. He has quality stuff. He just needs to throw strikes.

21-year old Dominican RHP Miguel Corletto (up at Instructs from the DSL Cubs) made his U. S. debut and worked a scoreless 5th inning, although he certainly didn't fool anybody (line-drive double, SH, and a L-4 DP that would have been a sure-fire RBI hit if Jake Optiz hadn't been standing in the way). Nothing very impressive about Corletto.

Peoria RHP John Muller pitched the 6th and had a nightmare outing, allowing four runs on two singles, a walk, a triple, and a wild pitch. Muller has one of the best sliders in the organization, but his fastball probably needs another couple of feet.

Daytona RHP Brian Schlitter (acquired from the Phillies last month for Scott Eyre), Peoria closer Steve Vento, and ex-OF (now LHP) Luke Sommer (converted to pitcher this past April at EXST) retired the last nine Angels hitters in order on just 23 pitches COMBINED, although Schlitter took a line drive off his left shin during his one inning of work. He was last seen limping to the clubhouse. Hopefully there was no fracture.

Today marked the 2008 AZ Instructional League debut of 2007 Cubs #1 draft pick Josh Vitters, and, the youngster picked up right where he left off at Boise (Vitters was rated the #1 prospect in the Northwest League by Baseball America), crushing two doubles and drawing a walk in his four PAs.  
 
LINEUP:
1. Starlin Castro, SS: 1-4 (SF-RBI, K)
2. Matt Cerda, C-DH: 1-3 (R, 2 BB, K)
3. Brandon Guyer, CF: 1-4 (2B, RBI, BB)
4. Rebel Ridling, 1B: 0-4 (2 K)
5. Josh Vitters, DH #1: 2-3 (2 2B, R, RBI, BB, K)
6. Jake Opitz, 2B: 2-4 (2B, 3B, R, RBI)
7. Juan Medina, DH-C: 0-4 (R)
8. Logan Watkins, LF: 2-3 (3 R, BB, K, SB)
9. Carlos Morales, 3B: 0-3 (R, SH, 2 K)
10. Tony Campana, RF: 2-3 (3B, R, 4 RBI, BB)

PITCHERS:
1. Alberto Alburquerque - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K (2/0 GO/FO) - 29 pitches (23 strikes)
2. Jeffrey Beliveau - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP  (3/1 GO/FO) - 39 pitches (25 strikes)  
3. Miguel Corletto - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (1/2 GO/FO) - 9 pitches (7 strikes) 
4. John Muller - 1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP (2/0 GO/FO) - 21 pitches (14 strikes)
5. Brian Schlitter - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (2/1 GO/FO) - 4 pitches (3 strikes)
6. Steve Vento - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (2/0 GO/FO) - 9 pitches (6 strikes)
7. Luke Sommer - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (1/0 GO/FO) - 10 pitches (8 strikes)   

ERRORS:
NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Matt Cerda: 0-2 CS
Juan Medina: 0-2 CS

WEATHER: 100+ hotter than hot degrees
ATTENDANCE: 16 (mostly scouts)

Cubs Player Personnel Director Oneri Fleita has been at Instructs all week, but he was to leave for Chicago after today's game, probably for pre-NLDS personnel & roster strategy meetings with Manager Lou Piniella and the coaching staff, GM Jim Hendry, Assistant GM Randy Bush, Scouting Director Tim Wilken, Iowa manager Pat Listach, Hendry's senior advisor (Gary Hughes), and special assignment & advance scouts Ken Kravec, Ed Lynch, Mike Valarezo, and Paul Weaver. 

Comments

I heard that Jared Weaver pitched a few innings throwing a lot of off speed pitches but we managed to get some hits against him. Is he rehabbing an injury?

Submitted by falcon on Sat, 09/27/2008 - 8:57pm.

 I heard that Jared Weaver pitched a few innings throwing a lot of off speed pitches but we managed to get some hits against him. Is he rehabbing an injury?

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

Falcon: Angels Jered Weaver versus Cubs at Fitch Park yesterday:

3 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 55 pitches

He wasn't particularly impressive (Brandon Guyer crushed a double off the LF fence and Tony Campana roped a triple down the RF line against him), but I don't think he's hurt. I suspect he was probably there mainly to get work and elevate his pitch count in case he's needed in long relief in the ALDS.

Last year, the Cubs had Sean Marshall and Will Ohman pitch in AZ Instructional League games to stay ready while the Cubs were playing the D'backs in the NLDS. Ohman threw just one inning, but Marshall actually went five innings and threw about 80 pitches.

So I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of the pitchers who don't make the final Cubs NLDS roster cut end up at Fitch Park and throw in Instructs games to stay sharp.

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).