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

I-Cubs Get Thumped by River Cats

Nate Spears and Brad Snyder smacked home runs, but it wasn't enough, as the Sacramento River Cats (the Oakland A's AAA affiliate) scratched out a 10-5 victory over the Iowa Cubs this afternnon at the Papago Park Sports Complex in Phoenix.

Spears missed several games after being hit on the hand with a pitch last Saturday, but he returned to the scene of the crime (and the lineup) with a bang today, hitting the first pitch of the game over the RF fence.

The first three I-Cubs pitchers struggled, as Randy Wells and Dumas Garcia had difficulty throwing strikes, while Ken Kadokura was just plain awful (five runs on eight hits--including three doubles and a triple, in just two innings of work), but Justin Berg and Jeff Stevens retired the last six batters they faced, Berg with an easy 1-2-3 nine-pitch 7th (eight strikes and only one ball, resulting in a 6-3, Ks, and P-3), and then Jeff Stevens struck out the side in the 8th.

In Iowa Cubs roster news, hard-throwing 26-year old RHP Rocky Roquet (who has been terrible since reporting to the Iowa Cubs) has been traded to the Oakland A's for a PTBNL (Roquet was an NRI to big league camp), LHP Edward Campusano (another NRI to big league camp who got sentt back to Iowa) has been released (couldn't throw strikes, never really recovered from April 2007 TJS), and OF Richie Robnett (acquired from OAK in the Michael Wuertz trade, and then outrighted off the 40-man roster last week) and IF-OF Matt Camp have been demoted to AA Tennessee. So the Iowa Cubs roster presently stands at 33 (16 pitchers, four catchers, eight infielders, and five outfielders), with nine cuts left to make by the end of the week (the AA and AAA regular season roster limits are 24, not 25).  

Here is today's abridged box score (Iowa Cubs players only). Randy Wells batted twice (including once after he had already been replaced on the mound) because he is being prepped as a rotation starter for Iowa, and the Cubs wanted him to get a couple of ABs in addition to extending his pitch count up past 50 (he was used as a one-inning reliever in Cactus League games before he was optioned to Iowa from big league camp).

LINEUP:
1. Nate Spears, DH #1: 1-3 (HR, 6-3, 4-3, BB - 1 R, 1 RBI)
2. So Taguchi, RF: 0-4 (F-8, F-9, 5-3, 4-6-3 DP)
3. Esteban German, 3B: 1-3 (1B, 5-3, BB, 6-3 - 1 R)
4a. Randy Wells, P-DH #2: 0-1 (3-U SH, F-8)
4b. SKIPPED
5. Jake Fox, 1B: 0-2 (Kc, HBP, BB, F-8 - 1 R)
6. Brad Snyder, CF: 1-3 (4-3, 3-U, BB, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI)
7. Jason Dubois, LF: 2-4 (1-3, 2B, Ks, 2B - 1 R)
8. Mark Johnson, C: 2-3 (1B, F-8, BB, 2B - 2 RBI)
9. Andres Blanco, SS: 0-4 (P-4, 6-3, 4-3, Kc -1 RBI)
10. Luis Rivas, 2B: 0-3 (6-3, 5-3, L-8)

PITCHERS:
1. Randy Wells - 2.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 1 WP, 51 pitches (26 strikes), 6/1 GO/FO
2. Ken Kadokura - 2.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R (6 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 43 pitches (27 strikes), 3/1 GO/FO
3. Dumas Garcia - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 46 pitches (22 strikes) , 1/4 GO/FO
4. Justin Berg - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, nine pitches (eight strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
5. Jeff Stevens - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 17 pitches (10 strikes)

ERRORS: NONE    

Comments

Arizona Phil - Thanks for the great updates. How does Brad Snyder look in CF? I figure Fuld will get the majority of the CF AB's, but if Snyder can play all over the outfield, then I like the Iowa team carrying four outfielders (Fuld, Snyder, Dubois, and Deeds). If Snyder isn't great in CF, then I see the Cubs needing a 5th outfielder like a Taguchi (or I thought Matt Camp could be the backup CF'er, but he was just sent down).

for the interruption in service last night, back to your regularly scheduled programming. P.S. - Reds interested in Sheffield

Christina Kahrl (Baseball Prospectus) published this a couple days ago in an article entitled Bargains and Boondoggles.... Special overpriced scrub award: Because you can make mistakes on the bottom of the roster as easily as you can on the top, let's bring up AARON MILES of the Cubs, or perhaps more properly GM JIM HENDRY for giving Miles a two-year, $4.9 million contract. His projected value of his production in 2009 is $550,000, barely above league-minimum, and is projected to drop to $425,000 in 2010. Flushing $4 million over two years is small potatoes, but one of the things we expected in terms of changing free market behavior is that we anticipated that mediocre players would have a hard time while teams (wisely) pay a premium to top-end talent. That's still generally true, but every once in a while you still see bad deals like this. ... just Jim being Jim.

Question: Isn't Chad Gaudin's $2mil salary now guaranteed, since he wasn't waived yesterday? Just checking, because one option put out there was cutting Gaudin and saving most of his salary. Obviously the Cubs feel that he is in their plans, or tradeable at that price tag.

Nate Silver (BP) says the Cubs defense isn't going to be what it was last year....2nd best FRAA (measures the runs saved or lost relative to the MLB average) in NL. Notable reasons given include the loss of Mark DeRosa who was above average at nearly every position he played. Cubs (2008 FRAA: +58 | 2009 Projection: +6)

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

More DeRosa silliness. Contrary to rumor, DeRosa didn't cover right field and second and third bases at the same time. I know he has a strong arm, but DeRosa had zero outfield assists last year. In what way, then, was he an above-average outfielder? I remember him being wall-shy, like nearly all converted infielders. DeRosa is really a third baseman, so he got traded to a team that needed a third baseman. He couldn't play third for the Cubs, so they had to move him around. A good player can usually find a team and a position and stay there. Let's hope DeRosa has landed in a place where he doesn't have to perpetuate the myth of the "super sub."

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

i guess fontenot can't field...wait, he can...better than dero. Huh? He can field better than DeRosa? Not so sure about that... i guess bradley can't field...wait, he can...better than dero in RF... Umm... Bradley isn't replacing DeRosa in right, he is replacing Fukudome. Or, actually, he is really replacing Edmonds. the kicker is nate silver knows better...but BP doesn't "sell" that logic. Knows better? He is using stats to make a prediction. Sometimes those predictions are wrong. Often they are right. I am really not sure why people are getting so upset. His point wasn't only that DeRosa would be missed, but also that ARam and Soriano had pretty good defensive years last year (according to BP's defensive stats), but they are inconsistent and are unlikely to reproduce their defensive production. DLee is getting worse, not better, defensively. I would say that the Cubs are, at best, the same at 1b, 3b, LF, C, SS. They are probably worse at CF and RF. And there is a good chance that they are worse at 1b, 3b, and LF.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

"Huh? He can field better than DeRosa? Not so sure about that..." it's one thing fonte can do well. his footwork is great. dero had good footwork and was good on popups, but that's about all i'd give him, personally. he didn't murder 2nd, he was good...but i'd take fontenot over dero at 2nd in a fielding clinic. it's not like one is a slam dunk over the other or something. and bradley is a new starter...the starter he's replacing is also staying a starter and he should have no issue in CF. and yes, nate silver DOES know better. FRAA is not something you'd place a prediction around, especially as a team aggregate, imo. It makes UZR look classy. i have no idea how you put RF as worse with bradley in RF...he's a superior arm to fuku if nothing else. he can definitely cover more ground than dero out in RF.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Here is what he said:
2008 FRAA: +58 2009 projection: +6 They had a great year in the field, trailing on the Rays with a +58 FRAA. The problem is that it had all the makings of a fluke, as this is a veteran club with streaky defensive players such as Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez. The Cubs also traded Mark DeRosa, who was a defensive asset at virtually every position he played, and are now counting on Milton Bradley in rightfield, even though he spent last season mostly as the Rangers DH. Overall, Chicago's defense should still be solid, just not he asset it was last year.
Later... in the same magazine, Tim Kurjian wrote:
Aramis Ramirez anchors one of the NL's better defensive clubs. Chicago's lone possible concern is the centerfield platoon of converted corner outfielders Johnson and Fukudome- although Fooky was huge in right.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Yeah, see this is where shit just doesn't compute. I can buy Silver's analysis if he's projecting, say, a +30 FRAA, half of what it was last year. I may not agree with it, but that's a defensible analysis of what that number would be. The problem is either 1) there's a huge drop in the stats that isn't explained well in the analysis or (more likely in my opinion) 2) Silver has some general ideas on the Cubs' D this year or needs to fill space at least and thus fudges the numbers around to make his point. Unless we can see the formula for FRAA (which, I might be mistaken, but I believe BP won't give out), there's just no reason to put much stock in this as "stat-based" material. It's an opinion, and one from a guy who's gotten a bad rap as a Cub hater in the past.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

If you accept the BP metrics (which at least generally align with defensive efficiency) It should be about a wash at 2nd with Fontenaught and Miles replacing Fontenaught, DeRosa and Cedeno - maybe a slight drop. Johnson and Edmonds were 9 runs below average, which Fukudome/Gahtright and Johnson should be able to better in center. In right will give a little back with Bradley over Fukudome/DeRosa. At catcher will lose a smidge with Hill instead of White. At pitcher we'll lose a little with Marquis gone. But still the defense should be solidly above average. An outfield of Soriano/Gathright/Fukudome ought to not let too many balls drop.

Submitted by Wrigley Rat on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 8:16pm. Arizona Phil -

Thanks for the great updates. How does Brad Snyder look in CF? I figure Fuld will get the majority of the CF AB's, but if Snyder can play all over the outfield, then I like the Iowa team carrying four outfielders (Fuld, Snyder, Dubois, and Deeds). If Snyder isn't great in CF, then I see the Cubs needing a 5th outfielder like a Taguchi (or I thought Matt Camp could be the backup CF'er, but he was just sent down).

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

WRIGLEY RAT: Brad Snyder can definitely play CF. He has plus-speed (especially for a big guy) and can cover a lot of ground, and he has an outstanding arm (he made a throw yesterday on the fly from in front of thc warning track in straight-away CF to 3B). He also has plus power. Very toolsy guy. But he's not a very good hitter. Lots & lots of swings & misses. He looks confused a lot of times when at bat. He appears to be the type of athlete where maybe baseball wasn't his first sport (reminds me a bit of when Michael Jordan decided he wanted to play baseball).

Depending on whether So Taguchi accepts an assignment at AAA, I would say the Iowa startimg outfield will be Deeds-Fuld-Snyder LF-CF-RF, with Taguchi as the 4th OF. Otherwise, Dubois could make the squad as a 1B-LF (but I think he will will probably get released) or Bobby Scales (who appears to be in decline) as a multi-positional 3B-2B-1B-LF-RF. Also, Jake Fox should get some reps in LF (the more I see him play 1B, the more I think he can't play there, either).

The starting infield should be Fox-Spears-Blanco-Reynolds 1B-2B-SS-3B, with Esteban German and Luis Rivas the back-ups (Reynolds should play some 1B, too). And then Welington Castillo & Mark Johnson should be the catchers (Jake Fox is still the emergency 3rd catcher), with Shawn McGill probably assigned to Daytona and Chris Robinson released .

Matt Matulia is still on the Iowa roster and he travels with the squad, but he has been the 1st base coach lately. I suspect the Cubs wil deactivate him by plaing him on the minor league 7-day inactive/DL list, and keep him around as a player-coach (coaching intern) as they have in the past with Casey Kopitzke and Issmael Salas and others. Matulia and I-Cubs Manager Bobby Dickerson have a good relationship, and Matulia is the type of guy the Cubs might project as a future minor league manager or instructor.

The Cubs like to have one "organizational player" (in other words, somebody making less than $20,000) at AA or AAA signed to a player contract who can be reactivated short-term in case an infielder or outfielder at Iowa or Tennessee goes down with a relatively minor injury, so that they don't need to go out and sign a free-agent just for a week or two. This player takes BP and fielding practice, but otherwise is not active and is used as a 1st base coach until he's needed.

BTW, the position players at Tennessee will probably be Wright-Robnett-Adduci LF-CF-RF, Canzler-Thomas-Barney-M. Smith 1B-2B-SS-3B, with Justin Sellers (2B-SS-3B) and Matt Camp (2B-SS-OF) the utility guys. And then Blake Lalli (C-1B-3B), Robinson Chirinos (C-2B-3B), and Steve Clevenger (C-1B) will allternate at catcher. The one "wild card" is OF Brandon Guyer, who could get jumped all the way from Boise to AA, but might get squeezed out by the roster crunch at Tennessee and end up at Daytona. But Guyer is now a Top 10 prospect in my book. He reminds me a lot of Eric Byrnes.  .    

Submitted by Q-Ball on Thu, 04/02/2009 - 8:30am. Question: Isn't Chad Gaudin's $2mil salary now guaranteed, since he wasn't waived yesterday? Just checking, because one option put out there was cutting Gaudin and saving most of his salary. Obviously the Cubs feel that he is in their plans, or tradeable at that price tag.

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

Q-BALL: The Cubs had until 2 PM (EDT) yesterday (Wednesday) to place Chad Gaudin on Release Waivers if they wanted to save $1.5M. They still might have done that without announcing it. Or perhaps they are sure they can trade him before Sunday, with the only question being which offer they will take.

BTW, I wouldn't be surprised if the PTBNL the Cubs get back for Rocky Roquet might be halfways-decent, perhaps even somebody on the A's 40-man roster. Roquet had a bad spring, but he still projects as an MLB middle-reliever or set-up guy. The Cubs have four openings on their 40-man roster right now  (most teams' 40-man rosters are full and they're looking to drop somebody to make room for an NRI who made the team out of ST)  and so the Cubs can easily afford to take somebody back in a trade who has options left. Jerry Blevins, maybe?

The A's and Cubs see a lot of each other in Spring Training (the Cubs minor leaguers only play SF, OAK, and LAA in minor league ST games), so the Cubs know the A's prospects VERY well (and vice-versa).

Have you seen JOHN GAUB LHP this spring? I'm wondering what the plans are for him. According to Cub scout Stan Zielinski he's already got an average to plus major league fastball (89-95 MPH) and has a chance his slider will develop into major league quality as well. The Cubs thought about drafting him in 2006 but wound up taking Taylor Parker instead. At any rate Gaub was the guy Wilken liked even more than Stevens in the DeRosa trade.

Director of player personnel Oneri Fleita has a track record of making changes right up to the last day of spring training, so with a few more days left before they break camp, i'm sure there is a lot of discussion on these rosters still going on.

http://cubs.scout.com/2/852953.html “There were some personal issues,” Fleita said of Acosta. “We had reached a point where mutually we thought it was time to go in a different direction and try to start new somewhere else. He’s a nice young man who is still young obviously. These are tough decisions to make, but sometimes you reach a point that it’s best that both go in a different direction, and we certainly wish him well. Acosta btw was immediately picked up by the Royals. article also mentions that Latham was indeed released...and Gian Guzman(19 years old) has been converted from SS to pitcher. Fleita says Vitters has had a nice spring. Articles says he should start in Peoria, although possibly Daytona.

Now, you see everybody dress up nice. Font got his new outfit from "Gap for Kids" and Theriot's suit is from "Men's Wearhouse." When you see those things, you know it's time to go. Guys are excited and ready to get out of here. The new luggage tags are good, Otis yelling at everybody is another good sign. Like I said before, guys are excited and they want it to count. This trip will help us regain our focus. You have those Opening Day jitters and hopefully we get them out of the way and roll into Houston and start playing good baseball. Johnson seems to like David Patton as well.. http://reedjohnson.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/04/goodbye_arizona_hello_n…

LF Alfonso Soriano, RF Joey Gathright, CF Kosuke Fukudome, 1B Micah Hoffpauir, 2B Mike Fontenot, 3B Bobby Scales, SS Andres Blanco, C Koyie Hill, P Ryan Dempster. The Cubs are taking several extra players to New York for the two-game series, including Justin Berg, Doug Deeds, Bobby Scales, Mark Johnson, and So Taguchi.

Cubs up 7-1 in the 2nd... Soriano leadoff HR, K. Hill bases-loaded triple... Dempster with another hit, .429 spring average.

Going back to our discussion about the lone female reader who has since abandoned TCR (Jessica, I believe) from a few days ago (and forgive me if this is Scott-Eyre-is-broke / 3/44): I think I accidentally discovered her whereabouts. http://deadspin.com/5195852/brewers-fan-saves-bikini-girl-from-rogue-ho… In the comments thread, someone posted a picture of Greg Maddux. In response, a commenter with the handle, "J-No" (with a Chicago Blackhawks avatar), replied, "Is it getting warm in here?" Now I love Maddog as much as the next Cubs fan, but that has to be her, right? Considering the dude looks like a pedophile, I can't imagine that many blog commenters have a crush on him. In conclusion, I've now reached the end of the internet.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

I am not a fan of Jay Cutler. If the QB is the leadership position (and I think it is), Cutler is NOT the guy I want leading my team. He clearly seems to lack maturity as evidenced by his continual whining to the media, to the ways he's handled relationships with people, the way he's publicly called out some of his teammates, to the general division he seems to create around him. The guy has skills, but he's not a guy I'd ever want to go into battle with because I just don't believe in him and I just wouldn't trust him. (I live in Philly and this is true, to a lesser degree, about our QB.) I am not a Bears fan (I'm not from Chicago-- being a Cubs fan is a product of childhood loyalty created by growing up on Harry Caray on WGN), so I don't lament this move. But I feel for you guys, because I think Cutler is a guy that will disappoint you.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I don't that the argument is as simple as you're making it. (No offense, but the booing Santa comment is old) And to qualify my statement, I've only lived in Philly for two years so I don't want to pretend that I'm an expert on Philadelphia sports teams. What I will say is that people in Philly gripe about McNabb for the same reasons I predict Chicago people will gripe about Cutler-- they are both really talented athletes who seem to sincerely (and unfortunately) care more about themselves than their team and their larger responsibilities. McNabb has QB-ed at least 2 NFC Championship teams (I don't think it's 4, but I could be wrong), but I really didn't observe that the leadership came from him. It came from players like Brian Dawkins who, ironically, is now in Denver (which everyone in Philly is still steaming over). The best way I can boil it down is that McNabb has the ability to win games, but he doesn't always have the desire. And I want my QB to ALWAYS want it, not just when he feels like it, and not just when he's pissed off because he got benched (which is what happened this year). Pretty much everyone in Philadelphia just wants McNabb to shut it, suit up, and focus his energies on winning instead of all of the other distractions he seems to create around his own personal needs. I expect everyone in Denver felt the same way about Cutler, and I'd expect that to carry over to Chicago unless Cutler goes through some kind of purposeful rite-of-passage.

[ ]

In reply to by Romero

If you're not a Bear fan, then you probably don't recognize how shitty our QB's have been for a long long time. I'm not looking for a buddy. I want a QB who's not a piece of shit on the field. He can hate puppies and talk shit about Samardzija all he wants after the game. I'd have been more than happy to have had McNabb...well, maybe not 2009 McNabb but a few years ago maybe. Also, Cutler is, what, 25? Still got some maturing to do.

[ ]

In reply to by Romero

Talking shit about Samardzija is the ultimate evil...I was just using that as an example of the douchiness I'm willing to accept from a QB. I'm also not refuting your opinions. Cutler may be a problem...personally I'd still mark a lot of it up to his youth. All I'm getting at is that our standards for QB have been set pretty low so someone of his talent is certainly a cause for excitement for (some of) us.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

Thank you, Joe. Same for Bradley hit 30 HRs, and 100 RBIS do what you want. "What I will say is that people in Philly gripe about McNabb for the same reasons I predict Chicago people will gripe about Cutler-- they are both really talented athletes" And you must not be much of a Chicago fan because I defy you to name one talented Cubs, Bears or Bulls player that Chicago griped about. This city reward mediocrity as much as greatness.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Jacos, As I mentioned, I actually am NOT a big Chicago sports fan (no offense). I've followed the Cubs faithfully since 1984, but never really got into the Bears or Bulls (except for when MJ was playing and, of course, that's when EVERYONE I know was a Bulls fan). Because of this and because I don't live in Chicago (although I like the city), I don't fully know the city's dynamic towards its athletes. You guys certainly have a better understanding of that than I do and I won't argue with that. I just thought comparing Cutler to McNabb seemed fair, though I could be wrong on this one. I'm just one dude talkin'. I guess what I'm questioning are the distinctions between ability and leadership, and how much these distinctions play themselves out on the field. For example-- does T.O. destroy teams, or not? (I am not posturing, I am only asking) Seems like these questions have come up a lot when we start talking about Sammy Sosa. By the way-- I'm new around here, so go easy on me.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Jacos, I am STOKED that I made it into your first Ipod post. That fucking rules. And the more I think about it, the more I wish I hadn't thrown a wet blanket on the Cutler trade. He certainly is a step-up, talent-wise, than Orton, Grossman, Miller, etc. I actually hope the dude works out great for the Bears because the more better players there are, the more the entire sport gets elevated (this same idea causes me frustrations in the converse).

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

"Also, Cutler is, what, 25? Still got some maturing to do."
Thank you. I'm not a Bear's fan...my team from IN hasn't had a quarterback problem in years...but reading this thread I couldn't believe nobody was emphasizing this point What is he a 3 year NFL player? That's just a guess, but it's certainly not long. NFL quarterback is probably the hardest position in professional sports to succeed at at a young age. The Colts were 32-32 in Manning's first 4 years...

[ ]

In reply to by kmokeefe

I don't believe that anybody's saying Cutler has production difficulties so much as being so self-centered as to be a problem. Some Jets D players were talking about not wanting Cutler because he was such a prick during their game last year. Also it seem to recall a number of Chargers talking about being especially amped to get the Broncos for the last game of the year, specifically because of comments Cutler had made. And finally it seems clear to me that he whined his way out of Denver because he got his feelings hurt for being a potential trading chip. Not production, attitude. Having said that, he's 25 or 26 and just been through a series of incidents that maybe didn't go so well. As a Bears fan, I hope he takes the fresh start, keeps some of the cocky, and tones down some of the over-the-top stuff. Seems to me Zambrano is about the same age and not as clowny as he was 2 or 3 years ago. It's a bold move by the Bears management, the first one I can recall. A good risk, as I see it...the D is getting older, the window may be closing, the division is there for the taking, maybe turn things around enought to get other guys more interested in coming here as free agents. Last thing is, in the next 2-3 years, if Kyle Orton improves at all it will be because he's with better talent. He sure as hell wasn't taking this Bears team past a first-round playoff loss. I'll bet the $20 internets bucks he doesn't get the Broncos any farther either. Cutler may be a strikeout and he may be a home run. Orton is either going to be a single, or a routine groundout.

2 IP, 3 ER...10.91 ERA in Arizona, if Hendry could get Neifi Perez for him I'd be impressed. Dempster 4 IP, 7 K, 0 BB, 3 ER Marmol 1 IP, 1 ER, 2 K Fox 1 IP, 0 ER

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).