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 vs. Brewers Series Preview

Cubs (2-1; 1st in NL Central) vs. Brewers (1-2; 4th in NL Central) at Miller Park

Head-to-head Record
First meeting in 2009. Cubs won 9 of 16 games between the teams in 2008.


Pitching matchups
Friday, 3:05pm
Rich Harden (0-0) vs. Braden Looper (0-0)

Saturday, 6:05pm
Carlos Zambrano (1-0, 1.50) vs. David Bush (0-0, 18.00)

Sunday, 7:05pm
Ryan Dempster (0-0, 3.00) vs. Jeff Suppan (0-1, 13.50)


Hot

Cubs
Hard to say anyone is "hot" after just three games, but the big bats came out in Houston after a couple of lackluster games. Ryan Theriot (5/9, .556) and Aramis Ramirez (6/14, .429 with team-high 5 RBI) are off to good starts and hit safely in all three games in Houston. Kosuke Fukudome (4 hits Wednesday night), Mike Fontenot (5/13, .385), and Alfonso Soriano (5/15, .333, 2 HR) have also contributed. Zambrano had an outstanding, highly controlled start in the opener, yielding just one run in 6+ innings.

Brewers
Milwaukee opened on the road in San Francisco, where Mike Cameron went 4-for-7 with 6 BB and a homer. Ryan Braun, 4-for-12 including a pair of doubles, was the only other Brewer regular who did much hitting. Yovanni Gallardo, not pitching in this series, homered against Randy Johnson on Wednesday, the first time Johnson has ever been touched for a home run by an opposing pitcher.


Not So Hot

Cubs
Milton Bradley is hitless in 9 AB so far, though he has drawn a team-high 4 BB. Derrek Lee was 1-for-6 Wednesday night with 3 K's and is hitting just .154 (2-for-13).

Brewers
Against the Giants, Weeks,Fielder, Hart, Hardy, and Kendall went a combined 7-for-57 with 17 K's.


Other notes: The series opener matches the sometimes brilliant and generally brittle Harden against the former Cardinal, Looper, whose Brewer Spring Training debut was delayed until late March by a muscle pull; when he pitched, he didn't pitch well...In case you forgot, the last time the teams met was on the final weekend of the '08 season, when the Brewers took two of three from the Cubs to clinch the NL Wild Card...This series will mark the first matchup between the two teams since former, WGN extra guy in the radio booth, Cory Provus, left 'GN to start calling Brewers games. I thought Provus did a nice job in Chicago, but since he bailed out on us, he is officially dead to me.

 

Comments

Harden hitting 93-94 with regularity in the first. Should put some doubts to rest.

Just catching up on my pre-game notes from Len & Bob. Harden scheduled to throw between 90-95 pitches. Four pitches into the third inning, he has thrown 38 pitches.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Why? What happened? I only saw the small highlight on gameday (blocked out for Brewers games in Wisconsin). Looked like he went deep in the hole, fielded cleanly, and threw home right away. Better throw would have got him. I'm just getting worried about Gregg, so far his outings have looked like this: Game 1: Single, Single, Sac Fly, Flyout, Groundout Game 2: Flyout, Intentional Walk, Walk-off RBI Single Game 4: K, Groundout, Walk, Double, Wild Pitch, Walk, Walk-off RBI fielder's choice.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

I don't agree with this line of thinking, but I'm guessing that Gathright came in for Fukudome instead of Soriano for two reasons: 1. Lou is more concerned about Soriano's ego than Fukudome's. 2. Lou was hoping for extra innings and didn't want to downgrade from Soriano's bat to Gathright's (the downgrade from Fukudome to Gathright being less noticeable). I could be completely wrong, but that's my guess.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

We talked about this in parachat after it happened. I'm not 100% certain that they turn the double play, but they certainly have a much better shot at it than gunning down the run at the plate. I'd also rather lose trying to turn it on Braun than getting Weeks at the plate from that deep. The question I have is - why does he even try that when they're already at double play depth? You're at double play depth for a reason - turn it!

[ ]

In reply to by Wes

It always kinda bugged me that Dusty would be so stoic while losing. I liked it when Lou got pissed after Gregg lost control of that pitch to the scrub. I don't remember his name. If I was a pitcher I'd never walk a guy, and then, sure enough, Gregg served up a fat fastball to Weeks. He'll need to learn how to pitch for Lou pretty damn quick. Gregg coulda gotten a coupla calls from the ump, too. I didn't see much of the game but from what I saw the ump had a worse game than Gregg -- although he was right about Theriot's throw. Not even close.

Things that sucked about this game: -Theriot awful in the field. Drops a short fly to left after calling Soriano off to try and make a catch with his back to home plate and drops the ball, and throws home in the 9th on a double play ball that would have ended the inning tied. -Lou torching through the bullpen..but Cotts, Marshall, and Heilman all failed in their roles, not to mention Gregg who will not make anyone forget Kerry Wood by the early returns. -Did I mention Gregg looks like a crap closer? -We pull Marmol out of the game so Miles can pinch hit with one out and runners on the corners, only so he can hit into a DP? If you are not going to squeeze, why the hell isn't Hoffpair hitting? This is the second time this season Miles pinch hit ahead of Hoffpair...what is the point of that? I thought Hoff was your new pinch hit guy and he is 1 for 2 in that role???!! There is no way I should be this frustrated this early in the season...help me out here.

[ ]

In reply to by Pat Kane

Agreed on all points. What is bothering me is that this team will clearly win a lot of games and likely make the postseason. But so far they look like the same old Cubs in close games. The 9th in game one was way too exciting, game two was lost in extras, game 4 lost in the 9th. They need to develop that killer instinct or attain that level of confidence that championship teams have. Right now, they don't have it, but it's early.

[ ]

In reply to by Pat Kane

K hill actually took some nice cuts in Spring training while I was there. I thought I noticed it last year, too. Not sure where the bad rap comes from. Maybe he has lousy stats -- I haven't checked. But catchers can come on late as hitters -- witness one Hank White, who has definitely improved over the last two years. They're students of the game and ...blah blah

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

If you're right about that and they make the post season, I'd worry more about D Lee than some of the other stuff, which will work itself out overall. It's true that they didn't have a killer instinct but Bradley may help with that if he doesn't implode into a gelatinous pile of broken tendons. D Lee got under a pitch really bad today that he would have driven out of the park on a line drive during his one good year with us. Small sample size, but a trend worth watching. I hope Lou starts easing Hoffpower into more at bats at 1B if that continues, and takes the same attitude with Lee as he has with Kfuk. Although I don't know what our infielders will do if that happens. I guess they'll have to aim at the first baseman's mitt. Which will be really weird for them.

There is some good news today: A 22-year-old man was charged with three murder counts and drunken driving Friday in the crash that killed Los Angeles Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others. I enjoy a nip or three, but I NEVER drive. Which is why I'm old (being a Cubs fan for all these years is why I'm blue).

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).