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 Win Streak Ends at 5

The Cubs five-game win streak doesn't make it to six and and the loss coupled with the Cardinals win over the Dodgers, drops the Cubs back to second place. Ryan Dempster returned from the disabled list and was nothing short of awful. 5 IP, 9 H, 3 K and 5 ER, 6 total and the error was his own. But at least he didn't walk anyone! With the Cubs catching a huge break when Roy Oswalt left in the second inning with a back injury, the Cubs just needed some decent pitching to stay in this one and they sure didn't get it from Dempster or the bullpen. 

Armchair Managing: The Cubs first comeback started in the fourth when Wesley Wright just completely lost it and missed the strike zone on 10 straight pitches and quite a few more before and after as well. He walked the bases loaded on two occasions with a sacrifice fly in-between and with lefty Mike Fontenot in the original lineup with Oswalt starting, Lou went to the bench early and called on Reed Johnson to pinch-hit and he came through with a 2-out, 2-run single. Then a nicely executed double steal put runners on 2nd/3rd but also gave the Astros the opportunity to intentionally walk Koyie Hill and force Lou's hand with Dempster due up. Lou didn't take the bait and let Dempster hit and he naturally struck out. If you're already going for the big inning by pinch-hitting for Fontenot, I think you have to do the same with Dempster there. And if Lou called for the double steal, he basically ended the Cubs inning if he wasn't going to pinch-hit for Dempster, since you know Cooper would walk Hill there. This all leads me to believe that Lou is a terrible chess player. Dempster then rewarded Lou's faith by giving up a 2-run HR in the top of the fifth that gave the Astros a 6-3 lead.

Ramirez's three-run dinger int he bottom of the fifth neutralized the damage though and then the bullpen proceeded to flush the game and first place with it.

Half-Ass Parachat Recap:

  • Miggy's 3-run HR in the first
    • well it looked like a HR, sac fly instead
  • Debating Top 10 defensive plays of the decade
    • Was Giambi safe?
      • no
  • laughing at the Astros misfortune with Roy Oswalt
  • Valverde with Fulchino is delicious
  • Transmission's date with his sister
  • Following Buehrle's quest for back-to-back perfectos and congratulations on the new record...now go die!
    • "Ryan Dempster is NOT pitching a perfect game" - Ryno
  • Finding Trans a date on craigslist
    • We wouldn't have to do this if you weren't having dates with your sister.
  • I get bored doing the Parachat recap...
    • stupid blackout rules, bring Trans back to us
And congratulations to the Angel Fan Wife on being married to me for 8 years...I imagine it's been just as insufferable as being a Cub fan sometime over the last 100. Lots of expectations, but neither of us deliver....

 

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Comments

best parachat recap ever!

You're a thick gurl, and you've gone too far 'Cause you know it don't matter anyway You can rely on Trans's good lovin' Oh, you can rely on Trans's good lovin' And don't you know Don't you know...

I rarely pull the "I just knew it" card, but I just knew when Lou failed to ph for Dempster that he was going to suck in the next 1/2 inning. I'm more upset with the Dodgers though. What's the point of best record in the league you bastards? At least the Nats are embarrassing the Brewers.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

That is simply unbelievable. How is it even possible for a baseball player to suffer from dehydration? It was an 82 degree night game, no less. Not exactly the Gobi Desert out there. I've played basketball for 3-4 hours at a time and managed to not get rushed to the hospital. This idiot pitches 3 innings, and can't just take a couple sips of Gatorade?

I was flipping the dial last night and Dye hit a homer to put Sox up 1-0, and Stoney was recapping "with that blast Jermaine Dye has put the Cubs...I mean White Sox up one to nothing." Nervous laughter. Hawk made an angry chuckle noise and went back to the game. Classic.

This was a "Sacrificial Lamb" game. I realize it - however unfortunate I felt that the cards lined up that I had to be there for this one. However, the baseball gods gave a break to the Cubs when Oswalt got pulled. What had me furious was KNOWING in advance that Demp was going to throw no more than 80 or so pitches, and since he was up to 68 when his AB came up with the bases juiced, what the fuck is the difference in pulling him there, as ROB G states? So - you're going to wast a go-ahead scenario to save 13-15 pitches for the bullpen? This is one more reason why I will be happy when Lou does not return next year. That is just OLD. Not mentioned: Bourne's game-saving catch on Theriot which would have put the Cubs ahead 7-6 at the time. He had an All-Star night on us.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Then he pinch hits for an actual hitter, and uses a third player to replace Fontenot defensively then he double switches in Hoffpauir even though the pitcher he put in would have never come up, and Hoffpauir's defense in right costs us a run or two. Then he puts in Heilman to put out a fire, even though Heilman has been the worst guy on the team doing that this year. Finally, in the 9th, all of his pinch hitters used, in part because he used 3 for one at bat (2 on) when not using any for a different at bat (pitcher up bases loaded), and we need a walk, so he sends up Big Z, who is just about the least likely guy to take a walk on the team. Without a doubt the worst in game managerial performance by this guy since he was here.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

"then he double switches in Hoffpauir even though the pitcher he put in would have never come up." Hoffpauir was the third batter in the Cubs next half-inning. Guzman had only faced one batter and was going to stay in the game. Lou tends not to overmanage, but sometimes he yanks guys punitively. It was out of character for Lou to pinch hit for a starting second-baseman early in the game, but I assume he was pissed at Fontenot for the missed bunt the night before. And Bradley got the hook (in favor of Hoffpauir) after another terrible left-handed at-bat in the bottom of the fifth. He came out in the top of the sixth.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

You're right on that first part. So after he fucked up by leaving Dempster in, the next stupid thing Lou did was taking out Marshall, which he meant he had to use 3 players instead of 2. Hey Lou, the game is 6-6 in 6 innings and you just had a 13 inning game the night before. Try not to burn 2 players in single at bats. It's just simple math. "It was out of character for Lou to pinch hit for a starting second-baseman early in the game, but I assume he was pissed at Fontenot for the missed bunt the night before." If he was mad at him for the night before he should have started Blanco or Baker, not burned through his bench before the 7th inning was over.

Espn-1000 radio said Cubs calling up Mitch Atkins for a fresh arm in the bullpen, not confirmed elsewhere yet...nor the other roater move...they did interview Samardzija so I doubt he's going to Iowa

TRN: Do the Houton fans believe they are playing way over their heads, or do they expect this post-asg hot streak?

from the I-Cubs site: Aaron Miles is with the Cubs on his second Major League rehab assignment of the year Miles has been on Chicago's disabled list since June 21st with a hyperextended right elbow. He joined the I-Cubs on July 16th and is batting .213 (10-for-47) with four doubles, four RBI, and three runs scored 11 games on this rehab stint. Question: what is the limit allowed (if any) for a mlb rehab assignment? Somewhere I recall it's in the 2-3 week range and Miles is at 13 days now. --- also noted in BJ Ryan's outing.. Pitches 11- Strikes 5. Kind of odd but innocuous considering a 5 pitch walk. He got a fly out (3 pitches, 2-0 count), walk (on 5 pitches), double play (3 pitches, 0-2 count)

lineup, via len and bob twitter... RJohnson (CF), Theriot, DLee, ARam, Bradley, Soriano, Baker, Hill and Wells

looks like Victor Martinez could be on the move as well from Indians, Red Sox and Rays seem the most interested....

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Four of the six starters the Cubs could expect to face in a first round playoff series are now left handed. Wonder if this inspires the Cubs to look at doing something a little bigger than adding a reliever. It's hard to argue, even healthy, that we're better than the 3rd best team in the league now.

of Whoop-ass on Mike Hampton! That's a fun thing to see in the first inning!

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Nice start!! Bet by next inning Hampton grabs his elbow like Rodney Dangerfield in "Caddy Shack" Oooh!Oooh! Its broken.

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Typical f'ing Cubs. Score a touchdown the first time on offense, then miss the extra point.

Aramis Ramirez is a beast. And since Fonzie is going to hit now, it's cool that he can do it with guys on base.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I always find this a very bizarre "conventional wisdom" argument. No stats, but I am willing to bet that in less than 5% of MLB games does a catcher leave the game due to injury (or, in Michael Barrett's case, get tossed for punching a prick). Maybe less than 1%. With a 10-0 lead, on a warm, humid day, with a catcher who has caught every game for weeks, I'd be willing to roll the dice that Fox wouldn't get injured so badly he would need to leave the game in the last 2 innings. If he came up to bat, tell him not to swing so he won't foul a ball off his foot.

I tip my cap to Koye -- catching every game, a day game after a night game, and he gets 2 hits. "When the hell is this offense gogin to score some......why won't they move Soriano down in the....Soriano can't hit with runners in scoring....they can't expect A-Ram to come back and be the same..." Aw, forget it.

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).