Cubs MLB Roster

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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

Anticipated Pitching Duel Fizzles into Slugfest at HoHoKam

With two of the AFL's top starting pitchers on the hill, naturally the game turned into a slugfest, as the Mesa Solar Sox scored eight unanswered runs in the middle innings to overcome a 4-0 deficit, only to blow a four-run 8th inning lead, before scoring the game-winning run on a two-out single in the bottom of the 9th, en route to a 9-8 victory over Surprise Rafters in Arizona Fall League action this afternoon at HoHoKam Park in Mesa.

(And next time you come by, bring my stomach!)...  

box score

Cubs RHP Andrew Cashner got the start for the Solar Sox, and went just three innings. He left a lot of his pitches up in the zone, allowing four runs on seven hits (including three doubles and a home run) in what was his worst outing of the 2009 AFL season. 

Ike Davis (Mets 2008 1st round pick out of Arizona State) was Cashner's main tormentor, ripping a two-run double into the right-field corner in the the top of the 1st, and a two-run homer over the right-centerfield fence in the top of the 3rd, as the Rafters took an early 4-0 lead.

Cashner did strike out five and walked just one, but he had to throw 69 pitches (44 strikes) to get through his three innings.

Meanwhile, Rafters RHP Ian Kennedy (NYY) sailed through his first four innings, before falling apart in the bottom of the 5th. Like Cashner, Kennedy allowed four runs on seven hits, although at least he was able to get one out in the 5th before he was relieved. .

Red Sox CF Ryan Kalish clubbed a three-run homer off Yankees LHP Michael Dunn to cap the five-run Mesa 5th, and then the Solar Sox added two more runs in the 7th, one of the runs scoring on a Josh Vitters RBI single. 

Vitters returned to the Mesa lineup today as the Solar Sox DH, having missing five games after suffering a muscle strain while taking BP last week. 

Vitters grounded out to short in the 2nd, popped up to the catcher in the 4th, and lofted a singled over the third-baseman's head in the 5th, before ripping his RBI single to left in the 7th. (Vitters was called out for interfering with the catcher's throw to 2nd on a stolen base attempt in the bottom of the 9th--a VERY questionable call by the ump--leaving him 2-5 for the day).  

The Solar Sox took their 8-4 lead into the top of the 8th, but Doug Hogan (TEX) clubbed a two-run home run over the scoreboard beyond the fence in LF off Red Sox LHP Dustin Richardson to narrow the gap to 8-6, and then Cubs RHP Blake Parker blew the save, surrendering a towering game-tying two-run home run to Yankees 3B Brandon Laird off the light-standard in left-center with one out in the top of the 9th. Parker struck out two (including Ike Davis) in his one inning, while walking one and allowing the game-tying HR.  

The Solar Sox pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 9th, on a two-out RBI single by Cuban defector SS Jose Iglesias (BOS) following a walk and a single (overcoming the Vitters interference play), edging the Rafters 9-8. 

Michael Brenly entered the game as a pinch-runner in the bottom of the 7th, as Hank Conger (LAA) pulled up lame at 3rd base, and scored on the Vitters RBI single. Brenly then stayed in the game at catcher, and grounded out 6-3 in his one AB in the 8th.  

Starlin Castro had the day off, although he and Angels OF P. J. Phillips alternated as the Solar Sox 1st base coach (good experience for when their playing careers are over). 

LHPs John Gaub and James Russell threw yesterday at Surprise, and Gaub had a very bad outing, immediately walking the bases loaded and throwing a WP after entering the game in relief, before allowing an F-9 SF and an RBI single. Gaub was yanked out of the game after retiring only two hitters and throwing 26 pitches (only ten strikes).

If it's possible to pitch yourself off the 40-man roster by throwing piss-poor in the AFL, Gaub might be doing just that. Now, I personally do not believe what Gaub does in the AFL should have a bearing on whether he is added to the 40 on 11/20, but it might influence Jim Hendry. 

Remember, Donald Veal appeared to be a virtual "lock" to get added to the Cubs 40-man roster this time last year, but then he stunk it up in the AFL, got left off the 40-man roster, and was selected by Pittsburgh in the December 2009 Rule 5 Draft. (And Veal has been the best pitcher in the AFL so far this year, too).   

Although Gaub had a poor outing yesterday, James Russell had another fine one, throwing 1.1 IP of shutout ball for Mesa in relief of Gaub. The 21-year old Russell has now thrown 9.1 innings of four-hit shutout ball (2/7 BB/K) over his last eight appearances for the Solar Sox.   

Comments

from Rotoworld Mike Fontenot became the final super-two eligible player, MLB announced, winning a tiebreaker with Adam Jones and Micah Owings. All had two years, 139 days of service time. This is terrific news for the Orioles, who would have spent millions of dollars more over the next few years had Jones been eligible now. Whether it's good news for Fontenot remains to be seen. He's a candidate to be non-tendered by the Cubs, though it's possible someone will want to trade for him. Other super-two players this year include Tim Lincecum, Hunter Pence and Matt Garza. Mark Reynolds barely missed out.

Trade thoughts: The Cubs need a lefthanded power bat. Prince Fielder or Adrian Gonzalez would be perfect. In my opinion moving DLee now would give us the ability to go after Gonzalez. The lefthanded hitting options in center or right are limited.

[ ]

In reply to by carmenfanzone

my snarky response aside...

Fielder doesn't sound like he's going anywhere and it sure as hell wouldn't be to the Cubs. Gonzalez would be fantastic, but the logistics don't sound realistic. 

First you have to move Lee and get him to waive his NTC. Then you have have to get enough prospects that the Padres want plus some of your own prospects. Then you have to outbid the 3-5 other teams that would certainly make a run at him. At the end you could be without Lee, Gonzalez or a first basemen....

but you know, if you Hendry can pull off trading Lee, Dempster and maybe Fukudome and get enough prospects and payroll space to turn them into Gonzalez and Halladay...then I totally think he should do that :)

Phil Rogers is out of his freaking mind, and that's saying something since he's mentally challenged to begin with. The Tigers reportedly are willing to deal Curtis Granderson, and Rogers says the Cubs have to go all out to get the .240 hitting outfielder. Here's a quote that should scare the crap out of anyone... "If Dombrowski wants to talk about Carlos Marmol, potentially a closer for the next two or three years, and Starlin Castro, who could have a Shawon Dunston impact and tenure at shortstop, Hendry should be willing. Granderson -- at this point in his career -- is worth paying a huge price to get." http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-12-rogers-on-bas…

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

I think it's difficult for Cubs fans to practice the art of "buy low." We advocate for it all of the time and scream when Hendry misses his window to trade away a guy with value or trade for/sign a guy right after he has a break out season (i.e. Bradley). We're good at preaching a "buy low" strategy, but piss poor in practice. My point is that Curtis Granderson is a potential "buy low" candidate. After two very good years in 2007 and 2008, he had a down year in 2009 hitting just .249/.327/.453, all below his career averages. If the Cubs are going to trade for a guy like Granderson, now is the time to do it. It's kind of like buying stocks. Everyone wants in when the stock is at it's high point, but the guy who makes money on the stock is the one that buys when the stock price is down, before it heads to its high. Buying low is easy to say, but hard to do.

[ ]

In reply to by Sweet Lou

I'm for buying low on Granderson--I love his defense and he was strong offensively in 2008 and 2007 (note his significantly lower BABIP in 2009). I'm not sure I can justify giving up Marmol and Castro for him, though. That seems like a lot, especially considering we don't have other closer candidates. I'm also not sure that Granderson is really the leadoff hitter than Hendry reportedly wants--his OBP usually tops out around .360 and he hasn't blossomed into an especially good base stealer. The question for me is more how badly do the Tigers want to deal Granderson away. I'm not good at deciding how much a player is worth, but again Marmol and Castro seems like a bit too much for a buy low candidate. We don't have any promising center field candidates on the way in the next year or two, though, so that's another pro for Granderson.

[ ]

In reply to by Sweet Lou

I understand buying low, but dealing Marmol and Castro for Granderson isn't buying low in my opinion. Everyone seems to be raving about Castro as a franchise caliber talent, and it's not like we have an all-star SS now. I look at Granderson's stats and see a very athletic player who runs well but k's way too much, and last season struggled to make contact, and is owed $23 million over the next 3 years. In today's climate, $8 million per isn't really a bargain if his .249 average isn't a fluke. I wouldn't gamble Marmol and Castro to find out. If they wanted some other combo, like Bradley and a prospect, sure, I'd be interested, but I'm not out of my mind in love with Granderson like Rogers seems to be.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Everyone seems to be raving about Castro as a franchise caliber talent, and it's not like we have an all-star SS now. That's the selling high part. Granderson is undervalued due to a low BABIP. Marmol is also at a low value right now though (too bad we didn't trade him one of the last two off-seasons like some poster here suggested). Unfortunately, Hendry is our GM so he will hang on to Castro until the bloom is off the flower, then bundle him up with another couldabeen and turn them into a middle reliever three years from now. *Point of Fact- Granderson K'd less, walked more and hit more HR's last year than he did in his 'breakout '07 season. The James people have projected him to hit .275/.353/.491 next year which is probably pretty accurate.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Granderson is Soriano from his prime with better defense and better appeal to the media and the fanbase. I think that teams are salivating over him more for marketing reasons more so than his overall performance. He is an exciting player with speed and power. While I really like Granderson and I think his defense would vastly improve this ballclub, I would bawk at the idea of ridding Marmol and Castro. Maybe I am still hangning onto the threads of homegrown players like Grace,but I want to see at least some movement from the player development front. Marmol on the other hand to me would be expendable for the right price if we had other options. We don't, which is partially why we have been hearing about Hendry adding to the seesaw bullpen from last year. I do not think anyone can honestly say that they would feel comfortable with the 7-9 guys in a NLCS series.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

First, Phil Rogers is a dumbass. That's pretty obvious from anyone who reads the Tribune here daily or watches him on Comcast's 'Chicago Tribune Live' every week. Second, I don't think Phil or anyone else really knows if Granderson is available let alone what it would really take from any team to get him. Third, how does trading your only viable closer candidate for 2010 and your #1 position prospect help your team get better in 2010? Yes, you solve CF and maybe your lead-off position but who's going to close out the 35 to 40 wins you need to make the playoffs (Grabow, Guzman, Blake Parker?). Fourth, I'm not infatuated with Marmol (he's got a boatload of flaws with the biggest being he can't find home plate with a search party many times) or Castro (I'd trade the whole farm system if I thought it would get the Cubs to the World Series). But here's a moment when it sure would be really nice to have a competent GM who could work inside the $140M budget he has, make a real good trade, and still realize where his team has depth and where it does not. Fifth, this is where a team like the old Dodgers would trade a Joe Ferguson because they had Steve Yeager, or Billy Grabarkewitz because they had Davey Lopes. In other words, you keep Castro but you package Vitters (AZ Phil calls him the Cubs mostly likely prospect to flame out). Or you trade a Carpenter or Wells instead of a Cashner. Of course, going back to Hendry and his whiz kids, it would really help if your baseball 'brain-trust' could really evaluate talent - both present and potential.

Bradley-for-Burell being discussed, but money's an issue — 9:35 p.m. The Cubs and Rays continue to discuss a Milton Bradley-for-Pat Burrell trade, but money remains a major obstacle. Burrell will earn $9 million next season, while Bradley is owed $21 million over the next two years. The Rays want the Cubs to pay the vast majority of the difference. One source described the negotiations as "worse than Chinese water torture." Another said, "I wish cattle prods were legal." http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10353396/Wednesday%27s-buzz-from-the…

the guy hit 30 HR's in Yellowstone National last year and walks at a 10% or higher rate, think we could find room for him in our lineup, even with all the K's...

that being said, I think Marmol and Soto would be the starting points as suggested...

he's also a waste of space versus lefties

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).