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

Iowa Cubs Get Stung by Bees

I had so much fun watching the Iowa Cubs yesterday at Fitch Park, I decided to follow the Cubs' AAA affiliate to neighboring Tempe today as they took on the Angels AAA affiliate (the PCL Salt Lake Bees) at the Angels Minor League Complex at Diablo Park. 

While it isn't unusual for one or more Cubs major leaguers to play in a AAA game (esprcially when the big club has a night game), that wasn't the case today  

Kyle Reynolds smashed a two-run homer and Doug Deeds blasted a solo shot, but that's all the runs the Cubs could muster. And since tthe four Cubs pitchers were (mostly) ineffective, the I-Cubs lost, 7-3.

Here is today's abridged box score (Iowa Cubs players only). Some of the more observant among you might note that most all of the I-Cubs who played today were at big league camp not too long ago...  

LINEUP:
1. Sam Fuld, CF: 0-5 (4-3, 6-3, P-6, P-5, 3-U)
2. Luis Rivas, 2B: 1-3 (1B, BB, Ks, 6-4-3 DP)
3. Bobby Scales, 3B: 1-3 (BB, Ks, 6-3, 1B)
4. Jake Fox, 1B: 0-4 (FC, FP-3, F-7, Ks)
5a. Jason Dubois, LF: 0-3 (Ks, Ks, 5-3)
5b. Richie Robnett, LF:  0-1 (P-6)
6. Doug Deeds, RF: 2-4 (Ks, SOLO HR, Ks, 2B)
7a. Welington Castillo, C: 1-2 (2B, 4-3, BB + R)
7b. Chris Robinson, C: 0-1 (4-3)
8. Kyle Reynolds, DH:1-4 (1-3, F-9, TWO-RUN HR, Ks)
9. Matt Camp, SS: 1-3 (BB, L-7, 1B, 2-3)

PITCHERS:
1. Jesse Estrada - 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 HR (61 pitches - 33 strikes, 0/6 GO/FO)
2. Brian Schlitter - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K (30 pitches - 18 strikes, 1/1 GO/FO)
3. Justin Berg - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K (19 pitches - 11 strikes) 
4. Jeff Stevens - 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K (24 pitches - 12 strikes)
NOTE: Two very lengthy innings were terminated early (prior to three outs).

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Welington Castillo: 0-1 CS
Chris Robinson: 0-2 CS

ERRORS (1):
Welington Castillo - bounced throw past second base on SB attempt, allowing baserunner to take 3rd.   

OUTFIELD ASSIST:
Sam Fuld (runner at 3rd)

WEATHER: EXTREMELY windy. Absolutely ridiculous.

The Cubs AA affiliate (Tennessee Smokies) played the Angels AA affiliate on an adjoining field at Diablo, and while I am unable to provide the abridged box score for that game, I did observe CF Brandon Guyer hit a garagantuan solo HR over the LF fence.  

 

Comments

Bradley blast 1-0 wild swirling wind reminscent of candlestick...tumbleweeds blowing past the outfielders, coulda sworn it was a tumbleweed.

Not sure if this has been mentioned here, but with the talk of Ryan Harvey and why he didn't become a pitcher, Miles reports that the Cubs are converting 2006 pick Josh Lansford from an infielder to a pitcher.

How's the weather in AZ, AZ? I'll be there Sun-Wed, and am hoping it's not too much of a broiler. I screwed up -- my seats for Sunday's game are along the wrong lines of the field and NOT where the awning is at Ho Ho. Also, I guess Jason Dubois is formally a 4A guy (I know, it's just a formality).

Submitted by Romero on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 9:55am.

Thanks, Rob.

And is that information accurate about Chirinos? I remember him being converted to a catcher. Was he then converted to a pitcher?

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

ROMERO: Subject to change at any time (because rosters at Minor League Camp are altered almost daily), Robinson Chirinos is presently one of the three catchers with the AA (Tennessee) squad (Steve Clevenger and Blake Lalli are the other two).

I have never seen Chirinos pitch, although it's not unusual for catchers in the minors to take the mound in the 9th inning of a blow-out.

There are a couple of converted catchers presently assigned to the AA squad's pitching staff  though (RHPs Blake Parker and Jake Muyco).  

Submitted by Old and Blue on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 10:46am.

How's the weather in AZ, AZ? I'll be there Sun-Wed, and am hoping it's not too much of a broiler.

I screwed up -- my seats for Sunday's game are along the wrong lines of the field and NOT where the awning is at Ho Ho.

Also, I guess Jason Dubois is formally a 4A guy (I know, it's just a formality).

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

OLD & BLUE: It was so windy last night (50 MPH+ winds) they actually shutdown Sky Harbor Airport! We had the windows open at the casa and it was blowing a steady gale through the house. It was like one of those blustery winter days in Chicago, but without the snow. Other than that, the weather has cooled off a bit.

As for Jason Dubois, I predict that he will be released prior to the start of the regular season, mainly because his AAA roster slot will be needed once the big club makes it's last wave of cuts (Andres Blanco, Esteban German, Brad Snyder if he clears waivers, etc).

Also, although they are probably getting paid about $200K on their minor league contracts and could be replaced by cheaper organizational players like Matt Matulia or Matt Camp, don't be surprised if the Cubs keep both German and Rivas "on retainer" at Iowa in case something bad happens to Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Theriot, Aaron Miles or Mike Fontenot.

Arizona Phil - I absolutely love your contributions to TCR!! I am from Peoria and can't wait until the Chiefs get rolling. Any insight as to where Vitters starts this year? It appears that Flieta would love to jump him to Daytona, but I haven't heard anything more about it. I would definitely be bummed to miss out on Vitters considering Cashner, Colvin & Samninja all leaped over Peoria.

Today (nine days prior to MLB Opening Day) is the first day MLB players can be placed on the 15-day DL, and it's also the earliest date a 15-day DL assignment can be backdated. (If a DL assignment is backdated to a date during Spring Training, the injured player cannot appear in an "official" Cactus League or Grapefruit League game during the backdated period, although the player CAN appear in a minor league Spring Training Game

(MLB players can be placed on the 60-day DL anytime during Spring Training, as long as his club's 40-man roster is full, and the injured player is replaced on the 40-man roster by another player).

Also, next Wednesday (4/1) is the deadline for a club to place a player with a non-guaranteed contract on Release Waivers (the player must be released by next Friday) so that the player is owed only 45 days termination pay (1/4 of his 2009 salary). This is how and why the Cubs ended up with Reed Johnson last year, after he got released by Toronto.

All non-guaranteed contracts automatically become 100% guaranteed on MLB Opening Day (4/5), and because it takes two business days for a player to clear waivers, and because Saturday and Sunday are not considered "business days" once Spring Training has ended, the waiver request must be made no later than the Wednesday prior to MLB Opening Day (which is a week from Sunday, even though there is only one game that day) so that the player can be released by the Friday prior to Opening Day.

All MLB clubs have to get their Active List (25-man roster) down to 25 players no later than Sunday 4/5, even if the club doesn't actually play its first game until Monday.  

Submitted by rob9999 on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 11:28am. Arizona Phil - I absolutely love your contributions to TCR!!

I am from Peoria and can't wait until the Chiefs get rolling. Any insight as to where Vitters starts this year? It appears that Flieta would love to jump him to Daytona, but I haven't heard anything more about it. I would definitely be bummed to miss out on Vitters considering Cashner, Colvin & Samninja all leaped over Peoria

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

ROB9999: Although it's possible that Josh Vitters could get moved up to the Daytona squad prior to Opening Day, it usually doesn't work like that at Minor League Camp. The movement of players is almost always downward (or in some cases, a player just gets released instead of being demoted).

Last time I checked, Vitters was the 3B with the Peoria squad at Minor League Camp, and Jovan Rosa was the 3B at Daytona, although I guess Rosa could be moved to 1B (or maybe even to a corner OF spot) at some point to make room for Vitters at Daytona.

Also, Tyler Colvin (rehabbing from TJS) is DH-ing with the AA (Tennessee) squad right now (because they use one or two DHs in minor league Spring Training games), but once the season starts, Colvin will almost certainly be the primary DH at Daytona (Peoria and Daytona use the DH in all their regular season games, while Tennessee and Iowa only use it when they play an American League affiliate on the road), so Colvin's presence would make it difficult for Rosa to be used as the DH at Daytona.

Do you have any insight into WHAT the Cubs were thinking by double promoting Josh Lansford last year (first to A+ then to AA) if they were going to (rightly) decide he was just a strong arm who couldn't hit (at all)? It makes a lot of sense to try to turn him into a pitcher (he's got a fantastic arm) but I really don't understand the fast track through minors he was on.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

What are you talking about?? Josh Lansford went to Cal Poly an hour, hour and a half or so north of here on the central coast. He started his Cub career at Peoria(A) in 2007. By the middle of 2008 he was already at Tennessee(AA). At each stop along the way he posted below mediocre .600+ OPS's. I call that a fastrack based on something other than performance. Contrast that with Ryan Theriot who started his third year in the Cubs organization in A ball and his fourth year at A+ Daytona while posting numbers similar to Lansford.

Although some of them were subsequently released, the following Cubs minor league position players were converted to pitcher over the past few years:

Oscar Bernard (ex-C)
Randy Brown (ex-OF)
Gasner Guerrier (ex-C)
Leon Johnson (ex-OF)
Junniol Lami (ex-3B)
Josh Lansford (ex-3B)
Carlos Marmol (ex-C)
Jake Muyco (ex-C)
Blake Parker (ex-C)
Leonel Perez (ex-C)
Andres Quezada (ex-OF)
Luke Sommer (ex-OF)
Blake Taylor (ex-3B)
Randy Wells (ex-C)

There also were a number of "two-way" players (like SS-RHP Ryan Acosta, OF-RHP Marcus Hatley, OF-RHP Jay Jackson, OF-RHP Tarlandus Mitchell, and SS-RHP John Muller) signed by the Cubs out of HS or college over the past couple or three years who became pitchers (exclusively) after they signed.

Position players who were converted to catcher by the Cubs in recent years include:

Matt Cerda (2B in HS)
Robinson Chirinos (ex-2B)
Steve Clevenger (ex-2B)
John Contreras (ex-3B)
Blake Lalli (ex-3B)
Casey McGehee (although he kept playing 3B in addition to catcher)
Geovany Soto (ex-3B)

The only pitcher I can think of who was converted to a position player by the Cubs was Nelson Perez, who (with the release of Ryan Harvey) probably has the #1 or #2 OF arm in the organization (along with Kyler Burke). Perez has an absolute cannon for an arm.

BTW, the Cubs signed N. Perez at the urging of Alfosno Soriano (right after they signed him as a FA in November 2006), and Oneri Fleita very quickly decided he had too much power and athleticism to not be tried as a RF. If you've never seen him, Nelson Perez sort of resembles Sammy Sosa, except he hits LH.

Although I'm sure they hope he can develop as a RF (he is still EXTREMELY raw), knowing the Cubs, if the outfield doesn't work out for him (as a hitter, he murders fastballs, but is totally confounded by breaking balls), Perez could still end up a RHP. 

Today's game is on WGN - Cubs/Sox, Z pitching, and Kosuke debuts and hopefully lasts longer than Koskie. Good times. Cubs face Clayton Richard, a lefty, but I wonder if Lou bats Kosuke second anyways just to prove his point.

Submitted by navigator on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 12:10pm. Do you have any insight into WHAT the Cubs were thinking by double promoting Josh Lansford last year (first to A+ then to AA) if they were going to (rightly) decide he was just a strong arm who couldn't hit (at all)?

It makes a lot of sense to try to turn him into a pitcher (he's got a fantastic arm) but I really don't understand the fast track through minors he was on.

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

NAVIGATOR: I think it was partly because Lansford was blocking Marquez Smith at Daytona, and moving Lansford up to AA got him out of the way, and partly because the Cubs will not convert a postion player to pitcher or to catcher unless the player agrees to do it.

I don't know for sure, but I suspect the Cubs may have suggested to Lansford that he might consider a move to the mound, but he didn't agree to it until he found out for himself that he didn't have the chops to hit at AA, and moving him up to AA was a way to show him his limitations.

Lansford may have been conflicted about making the switch, because while his brother (Jared) is a pitcher is in the A's organization, his dad (Carney) was a big league 3B and A. L. batting champion, and a couple of his uncles (Phil and Jody) played 1B-3B in the minors.

[ ]

In reply to by Wes

dress codes are relics of the old anyway...most make no sense and are just what makes the manager (and in most cases...hell, almost EVERY case...the owners) wants. they wear suits to/from the airport...walk into hotels in suits (well, most of the time)...all that other image stuff while being "professional looking off the field." MATTINGLY...I TOLD YOU TO SHAVE THOSE SIDEBURNS!!!!! meh... this from a team that brought us scantily clad cheerleaders as part of their baseball image...yeah...whatever...

Superstar writes shit all over him in some form of protest. --- fortunately he did his writing with a sharpie and not his poop

they tried to convert Theriot to a switch hitter...looks like they abandoned that global strategy and replaced it with conversion to pitchers.

2 RBI's for Z today, a hit, a BB and 2 RBI's for Koyie... Theriot slides over a bat at home plate, grabbed his side but is probably fine...

Soriano makes a nice catch in left center...Fukudome loses one in the sun and ends up a ground rule double...9-2 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).