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 Trade Pitcher

The Cubs made a move today to clear some much needed....minor league roster space? Rotoworld says the Oakland Athletics have acquired pitcher Rocky Roquet for the ever popular player to be named later.

Roquet, a 26-year old right-hander was always a favorite of Arizona Phil and was a non-roster invitee to camp this spring. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League the last two years and Scout.com had him at #18 in their 2008 prospect rankings

I'm not sure why the move was made unless the Cubs felt they were full at the minor league levels or Billy Beane really liked Roquet and promised a decent return for the Cubs on that ambiguous future player they'll eventually receive. Or the Cubs know they're going to have to bite the bullet on Chad Gaudin's salary and the deal will just end up being for cash...an unlikely but possible scenario.

UPDATE: Muskat also says the Cubs have released LHP Ed Campusano.  I believe over the last month the Cubs have cut ties with their top picks from 2003-2005 (Ryan Harvey, Grant Johnson and Mark Pawelek), plus pitchers Ryan Acosta, Campusano, Micahel Cooper, Jim Henderson, Jordan Latham, John Muller, Audy Santana, Harol Tolentino, catchers Mario Mercedes and Tony Richie, 1B Bryan Jost and SS Erick Almonte.

UPDATE #2: The Cubs VP of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita says the trade was simply due to a minor league roster crunch.

“He’s a great kid with a chance to pitch in the major leagues,” Cubs Vice President of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita said of Roquet.
 
“We were simply full and had to create (minor league roster) space.

Comments

Pawelek was let go on Sunday, Grant Johnson was let go last week. In other news the Cubs have signed another Korean, 18 year old outfield prospect Ok-suk Wang.

The Cubs also cut Ed Campusano. No comment? What is he, chopped liver?? or maybe I just missed it elsewhere... I know Ed had Tommy John surgery and sat out 2007 so why cut him now after being an NRI to spring training? He's got talent. But maybe Lou put him on his hate list because of the 5 walks. And I reeeeeeeeeeeeally don't understand dumping Rocky Roquet. His minor league averages speak sweetly (3.14 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 10.5 K's - 7.4 Hits - 0.5 HR's per 9 innings pitched). Can't the obviously depleted Cub organization use some of that??

And, in other news, navigator is reeeeeaaaally negative, just about all the time...

I'm glad to see that the Cubs are cutting dead wood, if young ballplayers don't have a chance in hell of making the big club we shouldn't waste time or money developing them.

The Cubs have clearly adapted the idea of a fire sale to their own philosophy. Rather than sell the declining, high-priced big leaguers for a bunch of talented and cheap minor leaguers, they are attempting to clear minor league roster payroll in the hopes of affording another star or at least someone paid like a star. $80k here, $120k there -- it adds up quickly people. Who knows, after we clear out the rest of Tennessee and Daytona's roster, we might be able to afford ... Bernie Williams? Frank Thomas? I don't know, I'm thinking big here.

A sure sign that spring training this year is ENTIRELY too long--when Cubs fans get uptight about the departure of future hall-of-famer Rocky Roquet. Nearly all of the Cubs' minor leaguers have zero big league talent. I'm struggling to identify ANY minor leaguer the Cubs have given up on over the last five years who has mattered a hill of beans. Ricky Nolasco is the only one I can think of, maybe Jerry Blevins too. Clay Rapada was cut by the Tigers today, Scott Moore didn't make it with the Orioles. Orange Guy is back in the minors. Etc... Frankly, I think the Cubs have been pretty darn good assessors of their minor league talent, or lack thereof, in recent years. No complaints on that end. I just wish they'd draft better in the first place. (Tyler Colvin rant deleted).

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

yeah...it's not that i dont think he could play OF somewhere...but expanding his OF coverage by putting him in the huge COL outfield is the main reason i find COL wanting him odd. that's a place where you can let guys score from 2nd on a single or let a guy turn a single into a double if you screw up out there.

Michael Barrett makes the Blue Jays as their backup catcher... Jae-kuk Ryu returned to the Padres after the Indians claimed him off waivers, may be an injury there and could be headed to the DL.

Roquet has a pretty good arm, but the Cubs have quite a few good prospects that are at least comparable in terms of likelihood of future success. Kevin Hart, for example, is better than Roquet. Alex Maestri, Esmalin (sp?) Caridad, Blake Parker, Marcus Mateo are other good right handed prospects. Plus Jeff Stevens (acquired from CLE in Derosa deal). If we get something decent in return, particularly an OF, LHP or a low level 1B (each of which are places where we have a dearth of prospects), perhaps it will be a good trade. I actually am more upset at cutting Pawelek and Campusano. But neither of them, nor Rocky Roquet, were people who I expected much from this coming season.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

paw's "dead arm" turned into a "where's your velocity, kid?"... ever since he *cough cough* tripped over his playstation *cough cough* he's not been the same. he's a 88-90mph fastball pitcher now and when he cranks it up he can hit the low 90s. he's not a mid+90s kid anymore.

Hmmmm...not sure why Jordan Latham was cut. He's someone I had my eye on at the lower levels. Last year combined b/w Peoria (A) and Daytona (A+): 77.1 IP, 62 H, 17 ER, 4 HR, 25 BB, 71 K 5-2, 1.98 ERA Career minor league HR/9 is 0.5, BB/9 is 3.7, K/9 is 8.6 He won't turn 23 until late September.

[ ]

In reply to by Romero

Latham's name stuck out to me, too. Not doubting Rob's source--I know he has great sources--just wanted to see it in print somewhere so I looked through all the BA transaction reports back to January and the Felix Pie deal. All of Rob's names except Latham and the very recent duo (Roquet and Campusano) are listed. It's strange, if true. Latham is too new--his first season was short-season Boise in '07.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

It's strange, if true. Latham is too new--his first season was short-season Boise in '07.

Acosta was younger and drafted a year later, so doubt that has much to do with it. I'll ask him again to make sure it wasn't a mix up.

The Cubs do not put out an official list fwiw, they think it embarrasses the players. The info that Baseball America or any source puts out about minor leaguers being released is mined from their own sources. 

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

fwiw, it wasn't a mixup although nothing official from the Cubs...who don't officially announce minor league cuts.

When minor league rosters come out, it should "prove" it, although everything Steve (aka Inside the Ivy) has tipped me on before has come out true.

Soto HR's for the second time... Maestri struck out the side....

Hey, Matt Bush is available! Who says there's no talent to be had?

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

He's a Fort Wayne Tincap (Formerly Fort Wayne Wizards) alumni. He was real good at the low-A level. *rolls eyes* By the way, likely no one will really care about this but I'll put a plug in anyways. Fort Wayne is building a new ball park for our local low-A Padres affiliate. The Fort Wayne Tincaps will play at Parkview Field downtown Fort Wayne: Photos of the new facility: http://www.tincaps.com/parkviewfield/photos/ I walked around the construction site last Saturday and I was surprised how little security there was. I was able to walk around the concourse and the place is gorgeous (can a straight guy use that word?). The facilities boast of having the largest jumbotron in low and high A baseball, there will be a park in centerfield for children to play (hopefully they don't get drilled in the head by a home run to CF. SO if you are ever unlucky enough to be around Fort Wayne during the minor league season... stop in for a game.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Ryno, I am from Peoria and follow the Chiefs religiously. For the last 5 years, my father-in-law and I travel to the Midwest League All Star game. Last year it was in Midland, Michigan and the park was unbelievable! Unfortunately, it can be difficult to secure tickets, especially in a new venue. I understand that the 2010 MWL All Star game is in Fort Wayne! They usually reserve all the good seats for the season ticket holders and we have a difficult time getting anything other than general admission. Perhaps you have a source?

why Zambrano came out after 3.1 innings? He only gave up 1 ER on 2 H and 2 BB, so I doubt (though its not impossible) that he was at the pitch limit.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

he was set to just pitch a few innings...he asked if he could DH the whole game, but doesn't look like the A's allowed it or maybe the Cubs changed their mind about it. 

Check out Peavy's line today in his final tune-up for the season---5 innings, 0 runs, 0 bb, 4k's---it says 22 pitches, 22 strikes---he WILL look good in Cubbie Blue!!!

[ ]

In reply to by carmelo

Peavy was so November. This spring/summer, it's going to be the Halladay Show! Heads up, just based on talent, I'd rather have RH anyways; factor in the contracts, and it seems more than obvious. Of course, if we did end up with Peavy, we could do a heck of a lot worse.

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=10107794 Mesa Mayor Scott Smith said Tuesday that "while it's hard to imagine Mesa and the Cubs not being together," the reality is baseball is a business. Smith said it's a top priority for the city to do whatever it can to meet the Cubs' needs.

Vizcaino gives up a 2-run HR to Travis Buck in an inning of work Guzman gives up 2 H, 1K, 1 unearned run and a K (error by Kyle Reynolds) Cotts gives up 3 Runs in an inning of a work along with 5 Hits...struck out the side though as well. Maestri struck out the side in his inning, Waddell with a scoreless inning Samardzija in to close and immediately gives up a leadoff single representing the tying run, followed by a sac bunt

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Sorry Rob G. but it was a leadoff error by Hoffpauir the run scored was not earned. Must be watching Comcast sports you got wrong again.

[ ]

In reply to by jakester

i was listening on the radio, announcer didn't mention an error just that it got by Hoffpauir...so apologies to the entire Samardzija family and Cubs fans everywhere for besmirching his good name.

what did I get wrong before? 

[ ]

In reply to by jakester

Blown save for Smardypants. The no K, one unearned run inning got his ERA down to a stellar 7.63 ERA. I too don't understand why Iowa would need to make room for him on the roster. The only place that needs to make room for him is Cooperstown.

[ ]

In reply to by Little Nate Lewis

bo jackson was so f'n awesome... not a HOF'r...not a fringe HOF'r in waiting...and yes his media blitz was sickeningly annoying sometimes, but at least once a week he seemed to do something "wow." without even trying.

Last Arizona game tomorrow vs. Indians, probably won't see too many starters... cross-country flight to NY for Fri/Sat (could be rain)... almost cross-country flight back to Texas to play Houston Monday.....

[ ]

In reply to by CA-Phil

O'Hare Tower: "Alright Cactus League 1549. It's going to be a left. Traffic to runway 3-1." Jeff Samardzija: "Unable. Rob G. doesn't think I can do it." Tower: "OK, what do you need to land? Cactus League 1549, runway four is available if you want to make left traffic to runway four." Jeff Samardzija: "I am not sure if we can make runway. Oh, what's that over to our right? Anything in Indiana, maybe Hammond?" Tower: "OK yea, off to your right is Hammond airport. Do you want to try and go to Hammond?" Jeff Samardzija: "Yes." Tower: "Hammond, uh, O'Hare actually. Mesa departure got an emergency inbound. Hammond: "OK, go ahead." Tower: "Cactus League 1529, Over the Skyway Bridge wants to go to the airport right now." Hammond: "He wants to go to our airport check. Does he need any assistance?" Tower: "Ah, yes, he, ah, was a bird strike. Can I get him in for runway one?" Hammond: "Runway one, that's good." Tower: Cactus League 1529, turn right 2-8-0, you can land runway one at Hammond." Jeff Samardzija: "We can't do it." Tower: "OK, which runway would you like at Hammond?" Jeff Samardzija: "We're gonna be in Iowa City."

[ ]

In reply to by carlosrubi

awesome... i mean, ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░▐▌░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒░░░▐▌░ ░░░░▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒░░████ ░░░░▒██▒▒▒████▒▒▒████▒▒▒██▒░░░██░ ░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░██░ ░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒████░ ░██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█████████▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░██░░░██░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░██████░░░██████░░░░░░░░░░

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).