Cubs MLB Roster

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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

Z Traded to Marlins

Pending physicals and the commish offices approval, the Cubs will send Carlos Zambrano and $15M to the Marlins for RHP Chris Volstad. More to come later tonight when I get a moment.

Comments

Was there ever any resolution to the 30 day suspension without pay situation? Did the MLBPA get a judgement?

At least our new pitcher could probably kick our old pitcher's ass. 6'8" 230 lbs? That's like 15% more pitcher!

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

nah, I was thinking of Farns/Affeldt. This was when he was with Detroit. Googled it was just to make sure that it existed, but he stormed out of the pen in a fight, and when things were cooling down, he picked up Affeldt and slammed him into the ground. The Wilson one was a good one as well though. Farnsy's been in his fair share of intriguing fights I guess. Watching the Wilson video right now, what the hell was Wilson thinking? Heck, everyone knew Farnsy's rep as an emotional (to say the least) guy, and he was jawing with Farnsy only a couple feet away. It wasn't even a typical Farnsy bad pitch - just looked like the pitch got away from him. There's a video of the Farns/Affeldt thing from a fan in the stand on youtube. Don't see too much, but around the 2:08 mark is when Farnsy escalated things. As a side note, glad to see Farnsy is still going strong. Strange to think that he's been one of the better arms from those mid-90's drafts. His control has sharpened as he's gotten older.

volstad is in transition as a pitcher. okay, he "only" has a low 90s fastball (90-92, usually), but he's got a decent curve and a decent slider...and a change. he's starting to use (and therefore hang) his slider more. he's also getting better at hitting the strike zone, though that's not always been a positive thing. i would not get bent out of shape about what he did last season in the majors or minors. imo...if the guy can help himself from being a 30+HR-given-up pitcher he can put up some respectable mid-rotation numbers...and he's got 3 years of club control.

If/once Garza is traded, who has the inside edge for the #2 starter: Wells, T-Wood or Volstad? This could possibly be the worst starting rotation in the majors. Collecting young #5 starters under club control appears to be replacing collecting second basemen.

[ ]

In reply to by Sonicwind75

i sure as hell hope they are done collecting guys like wood/volstad at this point...especially with randy wells still around (who i don't mind as much as some) and cashner still having a lot to prove as far as his "ace potential" goes. they got 3+ solid middle/end-rotation starting options for years who happen to be mlb-ready now. if garza's going next it's time to bulk up the bats or find a 2013-sure-thing top rotation SP, imo.

Since there is little chance Z will be on the team in 2013 and they are not likely to get draft pick compensation, it seems the Cubs turned a short term asset (which has little value to them) into a long term asset.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

It'll be two years before Jedstin can field a competitive team anyway, so two years of Volstd for one of Z is worth shaking the headache imo... Also in two years, Joey Votto is a 30 year old free agent... No chance the Reds can keep him. He might be just the right guy at just the right time and he fits the Jedstein mold. Fuck Fielder, give Pena a two year deal and wait for Votto.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

When the Zambrano deal was bruited yesterday, you dropped your payroll estimate from $80 to $70 million. Apparently you thought the trade would net the Cubs the difference, around $10 million. The actual net is something like $1 or $1.5 million. In theory, the Cubs could have let the Marlins keep Volstad and taken a low-minors prospect instead, and saved some millions. That way, they wouldn't have had to sell off the copper piping in the men's room to reach the $70 million target. Isn't dumping salary more important than getting a rotation starter in return for Z?

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

You seem to care about the payroll amount as though it shares a direct correlation with the number of wins the team will have. This must be the reason that you constantly bitch about the payroll going down. I understand why VA Phil made his comment.

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

I'm just frustrated by the fact that we are punting a season for no apparent reason. I think a big market team should act like a big market team. Either way, I'll get over it. It's just going to make following the Cubs a pointless exercise in 2012.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Volstad's estimated salary arbitration number is 2.6M and Cubs are allegedly paying $15M of Z's contracts (although some reports say between 15 and 16M). My guess is it's $15.4M and essentially the Cubs are saving nothing on the deal.

[ ]

In reply to by CincyKid

Why can't Jedstein field a competitive team for two years? I've heard the statement a few times, but it makes no sense. The Cubs have $70 million coming off the books over the next year ($20 in 2011, $50 in 2012). That's more money than 10 teams spent on their entire major league payroll in 2011. If JedStein can't build a competitive team with that much money then they probably don't deserve to have their jobs. And who knows what might happen with Votto in a couple of years. He could be extended, accept arb, be traded and then extended, break his neck, etc. Counting on him being available in two years is just wishful thinking at this point.

[ ]

In reply to by Sweet Lou

The issue isn't whether they could throw some money at a few vets and make some token run at the playoffs. It's whether you want go through the yo-yo cycle of Hendry of boom or bust or do you want a sustained level of success of never winning less than 86 games as Theo did in Boston. Sure, they could have maybe squeezed all those players into their budget that AZ Phil suggested in the WWJHD post, which I have my doubts they could have fit in their payroll, but I have bigger doubts on expecting Beltran, Ramirez, Soriano, etc to stay healthy and then you'd be stuck in more bad deals. You have to trust a little that they have a plan and they should be allowed to execute it.

If I got this right, with Z gone and Kerry Wood unsigned as yet there's only 6 Cubs left who played on the 2008 team: Dempster, Marmol, Wells, Samardzija, Soto, and Soriano.

Our current slotting of pitchers reminds me of the pitching staff the year after Greg Maddux left for Atlanta (he was with the Braves in 1993). It was a rotation without a #1 and Mike Morgan was supposed to step up. The 1993 Cubs did win 84 games though so I guess the net results will probably be much better from that staff. I'm assuming Garza isn't getting traded since the market seems to be rapidly thinning. 1993 Cubs rotation: Mike Morgan (starts 32); 10-15 Jose Guzman (starts 30); 12-10 Greg Hibbard (starts 31); 15-11 Mike Harkey (starts 28); 10-10 Frank Castillo (starts 25); 5-8 2012 Cubs rotation (as of January 2012): Matt Garza (as Morgan) Ryan Dempster (as Guzman) Travis Wood (as Hibbard) Chris Volstadt (as Harkey) Randy Wells (as Castillo) I realize at best Zambrano hasn't been more than a #3 starter for awhile so I don't consider our staff that much worse without him. But looking at the current starting staff, it won't look as ugly if they can get a #1 sometime in the next 2-3 seasons. Not sure how that happens unless this season's draft pick at #6 can select the next David Price/Mark Prior near ready college ace who needs just a short amount of seasoning in the minors (or the 2013 draft's #1-2 pick comes our way due to the current asset reallocation strategy).

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

tough to see that level of power development for Marwin in one off-season. Not impossible, after all, Casey McGehee had a sudden surge, but tough to see it happen. A couple years down the line, perhaps. That said, I think Marwin is going to have a good chance to win the Astros starting shortstop job.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

i completely forgot they dealt for Lowrie. Edit: Their third base situation is pretty ugly. Not so sure that, at some point in the year, that Marwin at short and Jed at 3rd wouldn't be the best defensive and offensive combination. Anyhow, yeah, totally blanked on the Melancon trade when I typed that.

Quick question for Phil or anyone else aware of the details: Even though it is very unlikely Z will finish in the top 4 Cy Young voting for 2012, if he did, is it not the case that now Florida lives with that possible outcome and the Cubs are totally off the hook?

[ ]

In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

Wed, 01/04/2012 - 10:10pm — Jim Hickmans Bat Z 2013 obligation Quick question for Phil or anyone else aware of the details: Even though it is very unlikely Z will finish in the top 4 Cy Young voting for 2012, if he did, is it not the case that now Florida lives with that possible outcome and the Cubs are totally off the hook? ================================= JIM H: The Cubs could agree in advance to pay all or part of any potential vesting option, but the new team (the Marlins) would normally be on the hook for 100% of the 2013 $19.25M vesting player-option should Big Z qualify for it and exercise the option. Also, if the player-option does not vest, or if it does vest and Zambrano does not exercise his 2013 $19.25M player option, the Marlins could choose to offer Zambrano a one-year guaranteed contract for 2013 with a salary equal to the average salary of the 125 highest-paid players in MLB in 2012 (which this year would have been about $12M) even though it would be more than a 20% cut from his 2012 salary, and if Zambrano declines the contract offer and signs a major league contract with another MLB club for 2013, the Marlins would get a compensation pick between the 1st & 2nd rounds in the June 2013 First-Year Player Draft. So in effect, the Marlins could end up getting a Supplemental 1st round draft pick in 2013 in return for getting one year of Zambrano for around $3M (essentially the same salary they would have had to pay Chris Volstad, who is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this off-season).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

If the Cubs DID agree to cover some of Z's potential vesting option though, wouldn't that info have been included in the announcement? The absence of any such info leads to the conclusion that the Cubs are indeed off the hook here. As for the Marlins, seems unlikely they'd play things as deep as you suggest Phil, but you are right--that would be pretty damn savvy to turn in essence Chris Volstad (who was rumored to be non-tender candidate anyway) into a supplemental 1st rounder for free, with a free year of Zambrano's services as a bonus. Nice job by the Marlins here.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I'd venture that if Z is good enough to be a top 3 Cy Young pitcher. He will be worth that option. I would also guess that he would decline that option and try to pull himself a multi-year deal. I can't wait to see who else will go in the firesale!!!! No doubt Joe Ricketts is the proudest papa in all of Chicago land right now. We are seeing record profits for the Ricketts clan in 2012!!!!!!!!

I for one am sad. I'm sure most people are happy to see him go (even if Vulvastad isn't much of a prize). Despite his, uh, quirks, Z was one of my favorite Cubs (seeing him attempt leg out a triple in spring training only to slip and fall on his ass was a shining moment) and I hate to see him end his career with another team.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

Thu, 01/05/2012 - 12:25am — The Joe I for one am sad. I'm sure most people are happy to see him go (even if Vulvastad isn't much of a prize). Despite his, uh, quirks, Z was one of my favorite Cubs (seeing him attempt leg out a triple in spring training only to slip and fall on his ass was a shining moment) and I hate to see him end his career with another team. ============================================= THE JOE: Carlos Zambrano is one of the nicest guys I've ever met. He used to organize games at Fitch Park during the off-season for MLB and minor league players who live in the Phoenix area ("Z" was the DH), and he spent a lot of time riding his bicycle up & down Center Street and hanging with the Cubs minor leaguers at Fitch Park during Spring Training, taking BP and sometimes DH-ing in minor league ST games when he wasn't scheduled to pitch in a Cactus League game. Baseball was not Zambrano's favorite sport, though. I think he likes soccer and boxing more than baseball.

I think Theo & co are doing an amazing job! I love Z and think he'll have a great year in Fla. Change of scenery is all he needs, new blood around him, not being big dog Etc. But back to Theo. picture being hired to come to a floundering business and being tasked with not just getting it on its feet, but making it The Best. Big distinction! You are not gonna mortgage your future with mid-long term contracts to "the best employees available" you are gonna want the best there is. You cannot accomplish this without some form of discerning patience. Plus the business you took over had painful few assets and a lot of veteran employees taking long lunches and collecting a paycheck, despite their diminishing skills and the company's complete failure on the market! Top reasons why things look the way they do right now: 1.) you don't want to fill roster spots with players who don't fit your model, just cause they are good and available. 2.) you don't want to block positions where your likely to need an upgrade to be a champion. Especially via free agency in which you over pay on returns. 3.) you don't want to over pay for peak years on players before your system is ready to peak (Fielder obviously, and likely Garza too). 4.) you don't want to deplete your assets to acquire players via trade when you have too many spots to fill and precious few assets. 5.) you have no control over who is a free agent, who you inherited when you took the job, and to some degree who is available via trade. I know none of this is groundbreaking, but it's important to see it laid out. I respect Theo for taking the job and for holding firm to an overhaul. We want to be the BEST, not pretty good, or marketable, or 'fun' for fans. We've had that for years and we all know how that is going with regards to the WS bottom line. I choose to believe and have every reason to believe that Ricketts and Theo want their legacy to be of the Championship variety. To those of you who believe there is any other motive or incompetency at play, I really think you are mistaken. Theo knows more than any of us about being a GM and not only that - but - each of his moves are making sense in the context of building a long term winner. I don't believe you can compete now and build a gold star organization at once, given the state of the organization when he came here. I think that is dreaming. All that said I think this team will be fun to watch AND outperform last year's team by the time it is assembled for opening day 2012.

For the record (literally) 72 victories is still not necessarily a watershed moment. I couldn't watch last year's team - gonna be hard to be less interesting than 2011 Cubs.

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).