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 Offense Tied in Nots at Papago Park

The A’s scored two runs in the bottom of the 7th to overcome a 2-0 deficit, and then neither team could plate another run, as the Cubs and the A’s Split Squad #1 played to a 2-2 tie in AZ Instructional League action at Papago Park Field #2 in Phoenix this afternoon.  

The Cubs managed only two hits off A’s pitchers today, a Jae-Hoon Ha infield single with one out in the top of the 2nd, and a lead-off bunt single by Marco Hernandez in the top of the 9th. Ha’s hit led to the Cubs scoring their two runs, as the daring young Korean CF stole 2nd base, and then scored when Willson Contreras reached base on an E-5. Ha never stopped as he rounded third, scoring in a cloud of dust in a bang-bang play at the plate while Reggie Golden—who had reached on an HBP after Ha stole 2nd--advanced to third on the play at the plate, before scoring the second run of the inning when the A’s catcher rifled a throw into the LF corner trying to nab Golden at 3rd.

The Cubs pitching highlight of the day was RHP (ex-catcher) Alvaro Sosa working out of a bases-loaded & no outs jam in the bottom of the 3rd inning, getting two clutch strikeouts and a 5-4 FC to preserve what was at that time a 2-0 Cubs lead.

The Cubs maintained their 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the 7th, but 19-year old LHP Hunter Ackerman (Cubs 2010 4th round pick out of Louisburg JC) surrendered two doubles and a single (and the lead), as the A’s plated the tying runs. Ackerman has racked-up a 10.29 ERA and 2.57 WHIP so far in AZ Instructional League play, after putting up an 8.22 ERA and 2.02 WHIP for the AZL Cubs this past summer.

While the Cubs and A’s were kissing their sisters at the Papago Baseball Complex, the Mesa Solar Sox opened Arizona Fall League (AFL) play with an 8-3 victory over the Phoenix Desert Dogs one mile south at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Solar Sox are an amalgam of five MLB clubs, with the Cubs, Angels, Mets, Pirates, and Phillies each contributing seven prospects to the Mesa roster. Cubs assigned to the Solar Sox this year include RHPs David Cales, Chris Carpenter, Jake Muyco, and Kyle Smit, 3B-1B Josh Vitters, INF Ryan Flaherty, and OF Brett Jackson. None of the Cubs players assigned to the Solar Sox played in today’s game.

Here is today’s abridged box score (Cubs players only) from the AZ Instructional League game played at Papago Park:

LINEUP:
1a. Hak-Ju Lee, SS: 0-3 (K, 6-3, P-1)
1b. Marco Hernandez, SS: 1-1 (1B)
2a. Logan Watkins, 2B: 0-3 (5-3, 2-U, K)
2b. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 0-1 (L-6)
3a. Sergio Burruel, C: 0-3 (K, 6-3, E3)
3b. Engel Santana, C: 0-1 (L-8)
4. Ryan Cuneo, 1B: 0-3 (3-U, K, HBP, P-4)
5. Jae-Hoon Ha, CF-DH: 1-3 (1B, 6-3, K, R, SB)
6. Reggie Golden, DH-CF: 0-2 (HBP, 1-3, 4-6 FC, R)
7. Willson Contreras, 3B: 0-3 (E5, 6-3, K)
8. Xavier Batista, RF: 0-3 (6-3, K, E5)
9. Delbis Arcila, LF: 0-3 (K, K, K)
10. Oliver Zapata, DH #2: 0-3 (K, K, F-7)

PITCHERS:
1. Alvaro Sosa: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 48 pitches (31 strikes), 4/3 GO/FO
2. Tarlandus Mitchell: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 30 pitches (19 strikes), 4/1 GO/FO
3. Hunter Ackerman: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 24 pitches (13 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
4. Charles Thomas: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 21 pitches (10 strikes), 1/4 GO/FO
5. Austin Reed: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 12 pitches (8 strikes)

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Sergio Burruel: 1-1 CS
Engel Santana: 1 PB

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

ATTENDANCE: 20 (mostly scouts)

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy, with temperatures in the 90’s

 

Comments

Phil Are the Cubs players sent to the AFL about what you expected? Any real surprises? Is Vitters recovered enough to play after his wrist injury? Thanks

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

Submitted by Jumbo on Wed, 10/13/2010 - 4:28am. Phil Are the Cubs players sent to the AFL about what you expected? Any real surprises? Is Vitters recovered enough to play after his wrist injury? Thanks ============================================ JUMBO: I was surprised that the Cubs did not send one of their AA lefty relievers (either Ryan Buchter or Luke Sommer) to the AFL, and I was also surprised that Jake Muyco was selected to participate. As for Josh Vitters, he looked fine at Instructs. No evidence of any lingering hand problem.

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).