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

Game 81 Recap: Cubs 1, Braves 2

Good Duel, Bad Result
W - Vazquez (6-7)
L - Zambrano (4-4)
S - Soriano (9)
Things to Take from This Game
1. Z does fine on short rest
Zambrano pitched an efficient six innings on three days rest, the only blemishes being a couple of run-scoring hits by McCann.  

2. Vazquez pitches like an All-Star scorned
Not as much shame in this weak performance by the Cubs' offense, as Vazquez, Gonzalez and Soriano pitched well.  Ramirez looked pretty good at the plate, with a couple hits to show for it.  Soriano managed to sneak a couple hits in, as well, and Hill got the lone RBI.  There isn't much to report in the way of missed rallies or failed execution or bad approaches at the plate, the team just ran into three good pitchers and...

3. Some good defense
Maybe no plays that make Sportscenter, but for the most part it was a well-defended ballgame.  No errors, and some particularly good D up the middle.  A satisfying game in everything but the result.

The hard-fought details, below.

Game Recap
Inning 1 - Top
  • In case you missed it, Z starts on 3 days rest, insted of Hart, who had been slated to take Dempster's place.
  •  Game starts with McLouth walking on five pitches, Z missing low of the zone.
  • Prado bunts McLouth over to second.
  • Z working very fast.  Z with a nice pickoff attempt at second, it looks like Theriot had McLouth, but he's called safe.
  • and Garret Anderson, hitting third (heh) grounds out to second, advancing McLouth to third.
  • McCann lines one sharply to right-center on the first pitch, scoring McLouth.  0-1 Braves
  • Escobar waves at a fastball, strikes out.
Inning 1 - Bottom
  •  Fukudome battles to a 3-2 count, before striking out swinging on a fastball.  Len and Bob praise Fukudome for at least seeing some pitches before making an out, a not too veiled swipe at Soriano
  • Theriot chops out to Escobar, coming across the middle.
  • Lee K's swinging, Vazquez looks tough.
Inning 2 - Top
  • Kotchman serves one out to Lee, takes it unassisted. 
  • Francouer with a fly to Hoffpauir in medium-deeo right.
  • Brooks Conrad (who!?!?) laces one off of the part of the right-field wall where the "well" begins.  Hoffpauir was turned around to begin with, and as it bounces off the well he has to go chase it down.  Conrad triples
  • Vazquez grounds to Theriot.
  • 23 pitches in 2 innings for Z.
Inning 2 - Bottom
  • Hoffpauir with a broken-bat liner into shallow right-center for a single.
  •  Ramirez with a nice stroke, hitting a soft liner into center for another single.  1st and 2nd for Soriano.
  • four straight breaking balls to Soriano, who K's swinging at one off the plate. Fans boo.
  • Fontenot with a nice battle against Vazquez.
  • Fontenot with a nice lined shot to deep right-center, McLouth makes a fine running catch, over his shoulder.
  • full count, two outs to Hill.  
  • Hill lines a pitch right back up the middle, scoring Hoffpauir.  Ramirez has to hold at second.  1-1 Tie.
  • Z K's swinging.
Inning 3 - Top
  • McLouth rolls out to Theriot.
  • Full count to Prado, hits a sharp liner to straight-away right for a single.
  • Anderson swings over the top of a splitter or slider, striking out on the third pitch of the at bat.
  •  McCann lines one down the left field line, getting into thecorner.  Fastball outside that got too far up in the zone.  Prado scores with ease, double for McCann 1-2 Braves.
  • Escobar swings over what might have been a change, striking out.  43 pitches through 3 for Z.

Inning 3 - Bottom
  •  Fukudome screws himself into the ground striking out swinging on a straight change.
  • Theriot with a sharply hit one-hopper back to Vazquez, on a fastball that got over the plate. Vazquez with a nice spinning backhand to make the grap, 1-3 putout.
  • Lee quickly grounds out to short.  very easy inning for Vazquez
Inning 4 - Top
  •  Kotchman walks.
  • Z blows a 94 mph fastball by Francouer, up at the letters, for the K. 
  • Conrad rolls one toward the right-side hole, Fontenot makes the nice pick and throw to beat Conrad at first.
  • and Vazquez grounds to Theriot.
Inning 4 - Bottom
  • Hoffpauir pops to Prado at third
  • Ramirez with a hard hit ball up the middle, it kicks off the mound toward Conrad at second, who throws him out. 
  • Soriano hits one back up the middle for a single.  Brenley congratulates him on the shortened swing with a two-strike count.
  • Fontenot grounds to second.
Inning 5 - Top
  • First pitch of the inning, WGN misses it as McLouth lines one sharply but right at Fukudome.
  •  Prado with the lazy fly out to Hoffpauir.
  • Anderson walks, bringing up McCann.  gyeh.
  • Z K's McCann with a nice fastball over the outside corner.
Inning 5 - Bottom
  •  Hill tries to bunt for a hit up the third base line, but McCann makes a nice pick, spin and throw for the out.
  • Z, batting lefthanded, hits a sharp grounder just to the left of second.  Escobar makes a nice diving stop and throws him out.
  • Fukudome rolls to Kotchman, unassisted.
Inning 6 - Top
  • Escobar lines out to Theriot.
  • I really don't get why they fell the need to do the Player of the Game promo at the top of the sixth. But it's Z.  Hooray.
  •  Kotchman hits a sinking liner into left-center for a single.
  • Francouer with an easy fly out to Hoffpauir.  That's a lot of unnecessary vowel combinations involved in that play.
  • Full count to Conrad, Z blows a fastball by him, up in the zone, for a swinging K.  Probably the end of the night for Z with 91 pitches and Marshall warming up.
Inning 6 - Bottom
  •  Theriot grounds to Escobar, easy play.
  • Nice full-count battle, but Lee K's swinging on a fastball that rides up and in.
  • Hoffpauir pops into shallow left, eventually Anderson calls everyone off and makes an easy catch.  Vazquez not meeting much resistance.
Inning 7 - Top
  • nice to see Angel Guzman making an appearance in relief of Z.  k's Vazquez on three pitches, last a 92 mph fastball low and away.
  • Full count to McLouth,lots of fouls, finally gets a low and in fastball, and one-hops the right-center wall for a double.
  • Prado hits a liner into right-center, Hoffpauir intercepts it, holding McLouth at second.
  • 0-2 to Anderson, fans on their feet to cheer for an end to the inning.  Fastball high, now fastball in, JUST off the plate, fans boo the "ball" call.  2-2. Now a fastball wide outside, fans groan.  Tense AB here.
  • 3-2 count, Anderson fouling pitches off.  Intense.
  • Finally flies out softly to Soriano.
  • some native Chicagoan comedian, who I know I've seen do the stretch before, does the stretch.  He's still as much of a no-name as the last time I watched him do the stretch.  Tom Dreesen, I guess.
Inning 7 - Bottom
  • Ramirez hits a sharp liner in front of Anderson for a single. 
  • Contrary to Dreesen's predictions of a homer, Soriano chops into a 6-4 force, unable to turn the 4-3 in time for the double play
  • Fontenot with a soft liner to Anderson.
  • Hill grounds to Kotchman, unassisted.
Inning 8 - Top
  • Marshall in
  • weird, scary play where McCann hits a swinging bunt right on the first base foul line.  Marshall tries to pick it up with his glove right as McCann is running by.  They avoid each other, barely, but Marshall drops the ball.  Picks it up again, and turns and throws to first, just getting McCann.
  •  Escobar with a broken-bat soft liner to Lee.
  • and Kotchman with a much easier tap back to Marshall
Inning 8 - Bottom
  • Mike Gonzalez in to pitch, with Bradley hitting for Marshall.  Bradley hits a sinking liner into left, Anderson makes a nice running catch.
  •  Reed Johnson pinch hits for Fukudome, flies out to Anderson.
  • Theriot dumps one down the right field line, holding up underneath the padding by the bullpen for a double.
  • Lee pops to Conrad on the first pitch. Nuts.
Inning 9 - Top
  •  Heilman in.  Francouer hits a grounder up the middle, takes a big hop on Theriot, backing him up as he runs to his left for it. Leads to a weak throw, Francouer safe.  Single
  • A bunt by Conrad, Heilman takes awhile to get to it.  Grabs barehanded and makes a twisting jump-throw to Lee, over his head.  Fontenot is backing up on the throw, and catches it on the fly.  Runners at 1 and 2.
  • Diaz hits for Gonzalez, and pops a bunt to Ramirez.  Len and Bob wonder about using your top pinch-hitter to bunt.
  • McLouth flies out to Soriano.
  • Full count, 2 outs to Prado, he hits one up the middle to the right of second.  Fontenot makes  a fine dive to save a run, double-clutches and it looks like there's no hope of throwing out Prado.  He makes the throw, Lee does a nice job of sprinting off the bag for the dugout from the second the ball reaches his glove, and they get the "out" call at first.  I'd like to see if Lee came off the bag early....
Inning 9 - Bottom
  • Soriano in to pitch. 
  • Hoffpauir hits a sharp liner, but right at McLouth.  It seems like McLouth always catches the ball right in front of his face, and sort of winces out of the way as he catches it.
  • Ramirez takes a big swing and miss for strike one.  And another, foul, 0-2.  a 1-2 pitch, and Ramirez takes it, just inches off the outside corner.  2-2.  Crowd realy in to it.  K's swinging over a splitter.  Nuts.
  • Soriano to hit against Soriano.  Slider over for strike one.  Next pitch, lines one up the middle for a single.  The WGN shot didn't show a shortstop anywhere in view, he must have been pulled way, way over toward third.  Odd.
  • Fastball, low inside strike one to Fontenot.  goes to a 2-2 count.  fastball wide outside, full count.
  • Fontenot hits one sharply, off Soriano's glove and toward Escobar.  Escobar fields it and the throw beats Fontenot by a step at first.  Game over
Parachat Recap
Inning 1
  •   Rob and I talk creative vision for TCR. 
  • People join.  Gripe about the call on the pickoff.
  • Over/Under line for Z's IP tonight?
    • I'll put it at 5 and 2/3.  Z's a horse.
  • How did you go on the TCR DL?
  • Trade rumors wiht Vazquez, Halladay
  • The contract I negotiated with TCR.
  • Rob's "minders" who follow me around.
  • Trying to remember just when we started writing/commenting at TCR.
Inning 2
  •  More efforts to try to remember TCR's sordid history.  We need an in-house archivist.
  • Who killed Ruz?
    • The same person who killed John Hill.
  • I'm filled in on the Whip/Eamus Catuli/Moustaches dust-up. Oh my.
  • I just want to let you all know how much you all mean to me.  You matter.  You are not just words on the screen.  I love you all, and may God keep you.
  • Whip thinks I'd make a sexier woman than man.  He's probably right.  Which is why they'll never take me to Prison alive.
  • If I were a Native American...
  • Prophylactics.
  • Silly things researched by sabrmetricians.
  • The Vagina Dialogues.
  • Historical articles I ought to write about baseball.
Inning 3
  • Carlos is easily deceived
  • Sexual pranks. 
  • The MJ funeral.
    • and obligatory jokes.
  • Comments found on you-tube video message boards.
  • Things from which Manny has been ejected.
Inning 4
  •  Yet more of The Vagina Dialogues.
  • Chad tells a harassment joke that everyone seems to think is brilliant, except me.
  • We're just regular everyday normal guys.
  • Jokes about deployment.
Inning 5
  •  Noticing that Brenley's being pretty quiet tonight.  So's Len.
  • Fruit Wrinkles.

Inning 6
  • Carlos and Rob with bizarre knowledgability about midget-themed movies.
  • Diet soda
  • other drinks
  • is it odd they didn't X-ray Dempster until today?
  • The BEES!!!! Delay in the Hou/SD game.
Inning 7
  •  Andy loses his pointer.  Conspiracy theories abound.
  • Thoughtful evaluation of tonight's Fan Cam.
  • Andy manages to get both sizeism and sexism into his moped joke.  Jerk.
    • and now going after the disabled.  Andy is a cruel human being with a soul as black as my coffee.
      • and now the Waffle House jokes.  Someone stop him, before he insults again.
  • Aliens in the computer, and the WWF/Soriano video clip
  • No one knows who Tom Dreesen is.
  • Famous newspaper headlines
  • Baseballs have Assholes?
  • Dewey Defeats Truman vs. Extreme's "More Than Words."  wtf?
  • textsfromlasnight, stfumarrieds and stfuparents
  • Huh?
Inning 8
  •  stfumarrieds, stfuparents, and the dullest blog in the world
  • and internet comic websites.
  • Who decided to call it flomax?
    • other potential drug names:  shitjets and peemore -nice work, Mornington Crescent
  • Ryno with some ill-conceived NBC PSA"The More You Know" ideas.
  • Ryno confesses a fixation with watching Wario breath in Mario Tennis.  Sick.
  • I abuse the admin. controls in parachat in order to orchestrate a cyber-lynching of Crunch.  sorry, Crunch.
Inning 9
  • After what, 5 years maybe of Parachat, finally God has decided to join us. 
  • God gives us new commandments.
  • Vishnu's Crotch.
  • St. Peter joins.
  • $16 million singles
  • pinch hit Fox for Fontenot?
    • no.  Do it if you get to Hill or the pitcher.
Cubs record in games recapped since Michael Jackson's funeral falls to 0-1.
 
Tags

Comments

In something totally unrelated. My memory is that the 1996 issue BA with the 5 aces on the cover was Gressinger, Dickey, Benson, Koch and Jim Parque. Is that right? If so, does that make the guy with no UCL the only one in the majors?

Shelled out some Billy Bucks to take my son to tonight's game, which was probably the most boring sporting event I have ever attended. Vasquez worked in slow motion and numbed the Cub hitters and the crowd. A handful of singles, zero extra-base hits, and no real threats. Lou seemed so numb he didn't try to steal or hit-and-run to try to create offense. The other game I shelled out for this year was the Sunday night game against the Dodgers where it was 5-0 before the Cubs got to bat. In today's economic environment -- high-priced Cubs tickets (and they are the only kind) aren't worth the risk. For a decent-sized pile of money, I have sat through 6 hours of lousy entertainment. Baseball tickets are the riskiest of all sports, IMO, because there is always the chance you will see games like I have. But, given the economy, and the price of admission, it's just not good use of cash right now.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 9:18pm.
In something totally unrelated. My memory is that the 1996 issue BA with the 5 aces on the cover was Gressinger, Dickey, Benson, Koch and Jim Parque. Is that right? If so, does that make the guy with no UCL the only one in the majors?

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

REAL NEAL: I remember Baseball America running a cover titled "Four Aces" in the early 90's that featured Oakland A's "can't miss" pitching prospects Todd Van Poppel, Kirk Dressendorfer, Don Peters, and Dave Zancanaro.

And then BA pushed Mets pitching prospects Jason Isringhausen, Paul Wilson, and Bill Pulsipher as "Generation K" in the mid-90's.

I don't remember BA hyping Gressinger, Dickey, Benson, Koch, and Parque like that, though.

I'm w/ Billy Bucks re: $$$ & baseball games & also w/ Cubster re: Gonzalez & his pro wrestling windup; take it to the bush leagues...

I guess I am now officially a fair weather fan. What happened to Demp? Hey, it could be worse. I could actually be following this stupid ass team on a daily basis afuckinggain. But, seriously, at some point, you really do throw up your hands and say, I give up.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I'm hanging in there, but I'm certainly sympathetic to your giving up and don't blame you for doing so. They aren't playing like division winners. They can't score. The only thing giving me hope is they are really not that far out of first and there's no denying this lineup is completely different with A-Ram. Sure, the Dodgers lose Manny and rake anyways, but the Cub's aren't stacked like the Dodgers. I'd take Andre Ethier over 6 or 7 of our regular starters... I'd take Matt Kemp over any one of the starters. Losing Demp for a few starts will suck, but the rotation this year has been good enough and deep enough to absorb that loss, in my opinion.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

For July the Cubs have scored 4.3 runs a game Yes, good, thank you: The last 7 games they have scored some runs and have gone 5-2 in that span. It's unfair to characterize that as a month's worth of data, which is what you did by saying "For July", but okay, point taken. This season as a whole, however, they have continuously had trouble pushing runners across the plate. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see some optimism. If the Cubs want it, they're going to have to keep up the recent offensive improvements.

I've been keeping tabs on the Cubs in a very passive, arm's-length kind of way. I check scores, often in mid-game, and I visit this site every day, but I haven't done a whole lot of watching or listening live and in-progress. It's like watching a horror movie through your fingers. Helps to deaden the despair. Such a disappointing first half.

Watching the game at my desk on the iPhone with the MLB At Bat app. SWEET! Len: "That was one of the worst calls I've ever seen!" No reason to pull punches on that one.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

The ball was still a good 3-5 feet away from the bag by the time Fukudome slid into it. The ump was standing right there with a perfect view of the play and just flat out blew it. In full speed it looked like an atrocious call, and given the benefit of a replay it looked absolutely unbelievable. That same ump (Daryl Cousins) also gave the Braves a really iffy call at 2B on a would-be double play. The ball was thrown wide of the bag and he called the runner safe even though replays showed Theriot's foot was either still on the bag or, at most, an inch off the bag. Given the shitty call from earlier, I would have certainly expected that one to go our way. In other ump news from this game, the home plate umpire has been giving Kawakami about a full 6 inches off the outside corner all day. We're talking mid-90's Tom Glavine strike zone calls.

[ ]

In reply to by Doug Dascenzo

Until the owners get together and fucking force true professionalism among the shoddy fat-asses collecting paychecks and changing the outcome needlessly that the fans pay money for, things will not change. It is not just this play, which I will admit, was worse than Little League, it is all of them. Strike zones, "judgement calls", etc.... Let the dick-heads strike, too. See how much support they will get!

Don't tell me they are going to waste a good start by Kevin Hart too? unbelievable. Sometimes I'd rather lose 22-1 then be so frustratingly close and not be able to score. Ah well plenty of game to go...right?

[ ]

In reply to by waveland

Living the lifestyle described in that article is absurd for the net worth they postulated. If you own a gulfstream and buy an $18.5M house and a Rolls Royce Phantom when your net worth is only $60M, it's hammertime. Repo man is coming soon to melt down your faucets. $60M sounds like a lot of money, but not enough to support the kind of lifestyle described. Those three things pretty much add up to $60M.

We have now crossed the halfway point of the season, and Milton Bradely as NINETEEN RBIs. Sheesh. So much for the feel-good buzz from Brewer series.

BTW - props to Kevin Hart for one game! In fact, he would have left with no runs if it were not for DLEE's tough play at 1B. There is no way the team will compete for the Division unless they can start hitting with RISP. As many have said here, it is tough watching this.

Aramis finally back...But same old SHIT! 3 games, 6 total runs. Bunch of guys still batting .230-.250. And it is past half way, time to call a spade a spade and some of these guys flat out SUCK (Yeah I am looking at you Bradley, Soto, Fontenot, Soriano, Harden). Tough to see how this team is anything better than a .500 team. I hope we can finally get this sale done to get ownership in here and really take a look at management. If Lou retires this offseason, let's hope they kick Hendry to the curb too and start fresh.

Go easy on Fontenot. He's having a monster July (except in this series), and he "is 4th on the team in RBI"! Re: Dykstra, I propose the following: "Lenny Dykstra is broke", as an addendum to 3/44 for post ASG.

I am a Cubs fan. I truly am. I have watched Andre Dawson run into the well and dig it out, and Sammy, too. I am not going to go into some old dude poetic thing. For me, it's really fucking simple. Hendry needs to go, because our outfield is the joke of the NL. Nobody can even field the fucking position, much less fucking hit. This is fucking ridiculous. I am beyond pissed. I don't even fucking watch this joke of a team any more.

Wow, O & B! you are worse than Manny or I with disgust and pessimism. Its still early? With Crane Kenny admitting they are not "buyers", we gots what we gots. Good or bad. Unfortunately, too many parts are the latter right now.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

HA HA!! Guess you don't disagree with my comment, just the timing, and that's fine good to see you are on board. But just to let you know, I don't think I did post when they won 6 of 8, but I also don't think I posted much, if any, when they lost 7 of 9 before that. Is that OK? Should I ask you permission next time I post? You should stick to focusing on what I have to say and not the timing. I guess you agree with what I had to say, so not sure why you care when I post.

You tend to post negative things when the team is losing. When the team is winning, you don't seem to post very much. If you do, it's still usually pointing out flaws. I'm hardly the first one to notice/point this out. I don't care when you post or if you post. I was seriously wondering if you had posted, due to the tendency noted above. Yes, next time ask permission so it can be denied.

Well, above I just proved your "tendency" theory has flaws. I didn't post much, if any, when they lost 7 of 9. And sorry if I am not blinded by the beautiful ivy or wearing cubby blue shaded glasses. This team/organization has many major flaws. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

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).