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

Jackson Sets Pace Among Cubs 2009 Draft Picks

The Deadline for signing players selected in this past June's Rule 4 Draft ("1st-Year Player Draft") has passed, and the Cubs ended up signing 31 of their 50 picks (including their top 12 picks, and 14 of their top 15), although two of the players they signed (17th round pick RHP B. J. Dail and 23rd round pick OF Jeffrey Pruitt) had their contracts voided last month and are now free-agents.

The Cubs also signed two Non-Drafted Free-Agents (NDFA), but one (LHP Daley Cox) has already been released.

There is no deadline for signing college seniors who have exhausted their eligibilty, but the Cubs signed all of the college seniors they drafted this year.

Of the 29 '09 draftees (plus one NDFA) signed by the Cubs who are still in the organization, 1st round pick CF Brett Jackson (Cal) has had the most-impressive pro debut, hitting 328/427/480 with 6 HR & 34 RBI and 13 SB (2 CS) in 50 games at three stops (AZL Cubs, Boise, and Peoria). 2nd round pick INF D. J. LeMahieu (LSU) has also performed very well, hitting 322/370/391 (combined) at AZL Cubs and Peoria (although where he will ultimately end up defensively is yet TBD), and 4th round pick LHP Chris Rusin (Kentucky) has had a nice debut (2.67 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP with a 8/24 BB/K in 27 IP combined at AZL Cubs and Boise).

A couple of JC guys are flying under the radar and could be steals. 32nd round pick RHP Trey McNutt (Shelton State CC) has an array of quality stuff and looks like he could start or relieve, and 38th round pick Bobby Wagner (a Canadian kid who played JC ball at Panola, TX) is a power-hitting lefty-swinger with a definite HR stroke who was drafted as a 3B, but was moved to LF at Fitch Park.   

Jackson, LeMahieu, and Rusin appear to be the most advanced of the 2009 draft picks, and I would think that (barring injury) all three will likely open the 2010 season at Daytona.

2009 RULE 4 DRAFT

SIGNED:

NOTE: click on player's name for current minor league stats

1. Brett Jackson, OF (Cal) - at PEORIA
2. D. J. LeMahieu, INF (LSU) - at PEORIA
3. Austin Kirk, LHP (Owasso HS - Owasso, OK) - at AZL Cubs
4. Chris Rusin, LHP (Kentucky) - at BOISE
5. Wes Darvill, SS (Langley, BC) - at AZL Cubs
6. Brooks Raley, LHP (Texas A&M) - at AZL Cubs
7. Blair Springfield, IF-OF (MacArthur HS – Decatur, IL) - at AZL Cubs
8. Robert Whitenack, RHP (SUNY – Old Westbury) - at BOISE
9. Richard Jones, C (The Citadel) - at BOISE
10. Charles Thomas, 3B-1B (Edward Waters College) - at AZL Cubs
11. John Mincone, LHP (Suffolk CC – West) - AZL Cubs 60-day DL
12. Runey Davis, OF (Howard JC) - at BOISE
14. Danny Keefe, RHP (U. of Tampa) - at BOISE
15. Cody Shields, OF (Auburn U. – Montgomery) - AZL Cubs 60-day DL (TJS)
18. Matt Williams, C (Duke) - at BOISE
19. Sergio Burruel, C-1B (Trevor Browne HS - Phoenix, AZ) - at AZL Cubs
21. Greg Rohan, 1B-3B (Kent State) - at BOISE
22. D. J. Fitzgerald, INF (Dyersburg State CC) - at BOISE
25. Justin Bour, 1B (George Mason) - at BOISE
26. Steve Grife, RHP (Mercyhurst College) - at AZL Cubs
27. Corey Martin, RHP (Western Carolina) - at BOISE
28. Jordan Petraitis, 3B (Miami U. of Ohio) - at AZL Cubs
29. Tim Clubb, RHP (Missouri State) - at AZL Cubs
32. Trey McNutt, RHP (Shelton State CC) - at BOISE
36. Brandon May, IF-OF (Alabama) - at AZL Cubs
38. Bobby Wagner, OF (Panola JC) - at BOISE
39. Nick Struck, RHP (Mt. Hood JC) - NOT ASSIGNED YET
41. Jake Schmidt, RHP (Concordia U. – St. Paul) - at AZL Cubs
46. Glenn Cook, OF (U. of Miami) - at AZL Cubs

2009 Non-Drafted Free-Agents (NDFA) SIGNED:

Daley Cox, LHP (Santa Fe CC) - HAS BEEN RELEASED
Jesse Ginley, RHP (St. Petersburg CC) - at AZL Cubs

 

SIGNED - CONTRACT SUBSEQUENTLY VOIDED:

17. B. J. Dail, RHP (Mt. Olive College)
23. Jeffrey Pruitt, OF (Cal State – Northridge)

 

THE 19 WHO GOT AWAY (deadline was August 17th):

13. Chad Taylor, SS-RHP (Jefferson HS – Tampa, FL) - signed NLI with U. of South Florida
16. Keenyn Walker, OF (Judge Memorial Catholic HS – Salt Lake City) - signed NLI with Central Arizona JC
20. Eric Erickson, LHP (U. of Miami) - JR (rehabbing from TJS)
24. Gerardo Esquivel, RHP (De La Salle Institute – Chicago, IL) - signed NLI with Kansas State
30. Daniel Sheppard, C (Downers Grove North HS – Downers Grove, IL) - signed NLI with U. of Iowa
31. Andrew Clark, 1B (U. of Louisville) - JR
33. John Lambert, LHP (NC State) - JR
34. Rett Varner, RHP-OF (UT – Arlington) - JR
35. Kevin David, C (Oklahoma State) - draft eligible SOPH
37. Peter Mooney, SS (Palm Beach CC) - JC FRESH
40. Eric Whaley, RHP (Cardinal Gibbons HS – Ft. Lauderdale, FL) - signed NLI with LSU
42. Trey Ford, SS (Chaparral HS – Scottsdale, AZ) - signed NLI with Chandler-Gilbert CC
43. Colin Kaepernick, RHP (U. of Nevada) - JR
44. Frank DeJiulio, RHP (Daytona State CC) - JC FRESH
45. Addison Dunn, RHP (Warren Area HS – Warren, PA) – signed NLI with Kent State
47. Joey Jocketty, 3B (Ladue Horton Watkins HS – St. Louis, MO) - will attend Mami U. of Ohio
48. John Nasshan, RHP (Niles West HS – Skokie, IL) - signed NLI with Bradley U.
49. Christian Segar, OF (McQuaid Jesuit HS – Brighton, NY) - signed NLI with Bradley U.
50. Zach Cleveland, RHP (Central Arizona JC) - JC SOPH (will transfer to U. of New Mexico)

Comments

We should have spent an extra $10 million an signed all those players. I mentioned before I am really happy about getting Raley. Obviously he's a real coup for the scouting department since almost everyone figured he'd be asking for crazy money go forgo his last two years after tailing off at the end of the season. Have you gotten to see him yet, AZ Phil? Any talk of him doing things other than being a starting pitcher? What about Glen Cook, hitting some BP bombs and looking foolish against real pitching? Also, any idea how if the Cubs signed the number of guys they wanted to sign? How does a team figure out the number of players they want to bring in, or do they just bring in the guys they think have a chance and let things sort themselves out?

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

"Can the Cubs use bankruptcy court to shed Soriano's contract?" It might be theoretically possible but there are numerous practical reasons why it would not even be attempted. Consider first that the run through bankruptcy court has been characterized as a device to expedite the sale of the Cubs to the Ricketts family. If the Cubs were to try get the bankruptcy court to shed their obligations on players’ contracts, the entire process would get bogged down in very messy litigation with the players' union over the entire matter and we wouldn’t see the sale get completed any time in the foreseeable future. I’d gladly wager in advance that such a maneuver would never even be attempted.

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

I would imagine that the players union might agree to this if it were an all-or nothing scenario. Make all the Cubs players FA's by voiding all thier contracts. The Soriano, Bradley and Zambrano would get screwed but guys like Theriot, Marmol, and Soto would be quite happy.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 1:59pm.

I mentioned before I am really happy about getting Raley. Obviously he's a real coup for the scouting department since almost everyone figured he'd be asking for crazy money go forgo his last two years after tailing off at the end of the season. Have you gotten to see him yet, AZ Phil? Any talk of him doing things other than being a starting pitcher?

What about Glen Cook, hitting some BP bombs and looking foolish against real pitching?

Also, any idea how if the Cubs signed the number of guys they wanted to sign? How does a team figure out the number of players they want to bring in, or do they just bring in the guys they think have a chance and let things sort themselves out?

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

REAL NEAL: I think the Cubs probably signed everybody they really wanted to sign (at least the college & JC guys). The HS kids who didn't sign (Taylor, Walker, Esquivel, Sheppard, et al) were fall-back options is case the Cubs couldn't sign the high picks, but they all probably wanted more money than they're worth right now, and Erickson probably figured he would be better off going back to the U. and showing he's 100% and then maybe get the really big bucks as a Top 5 round pick next year.

Raley isn't really in shape yet. I want to see him throw in the AZ Instructional League when somebody like Dennis Lewallyn is around to work with him. The Cubs project Raley as a pitcher right now (probably because that's what he prefers), but he always could move to the OF if he fails on the mound. He's a legitimate "two-way" prospect (a good hitter with plus-speed and and an outstanding OF arm), so (hopefully) the Cubs will get their money's worth one way or the other.

Glenn Cook was sort of a long-shot when he signed (the Cubs based their evaluation on an old HS scouting report and a couple of pre-draft BP sessions), and I'm sorry to say he really doesn't look like he's going to cut it at the plate. And he's not that great defensively, either.

Z off the DL, Caridad down...I assume Gorzelanny to the pen?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

That would make sense, though he certainly hasn't done anything to justify losing his job, other than not making $8+ million or being a RoY candidate.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Wells will pass his inning total from last year during the 4th inning Thursday vs. Washington. Maybe him give 2-3 more starts after that, then shut him down. Gorz should probably get the job back by default, despite my earlier claim that Sanardzija should get an extended audition. Obviously if there's anything wrong with Z, Lilly or Dempster, you can shut them down as well. At this point, it's not only about winning next year, but also about doing it with this group of guys, Harden withstanding.

any thoughts on who the september call ups will be? i wonder what will happen with berg, stevens, caridad, atkins, scales, samardzija (guys who have contributed throughout the season), and if someone like chris robinson, who's had a great year, will get the nod.

I'm really not sure I could despise the two Aarons any more than I do now. At least we have hate to play with for the remainder of the season. Jim Hendry==FAIL. Why not turn Zambrano into an outfielder and be done with it already? God knows he sure as hell doesn't pitch like a $90 million ballplayer, maybe he can hit like one. What a joke. I wonder if the Cubs put Soriano on waivers, would anyone even bother to claim him? If they did, would they be willing to ante up even HALF the $$ on his remaining contract? Truly awful. 101 years and counting. I'm spent with this year's slugs.

I know nothing about this sports writer but... "but placing Carlos Marmol in the glory role was a no-brainer way back in March. Non-moves like this make me think that Lou Piniella really isn't invested anymore." http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/12111833/rss he seems like kind of a bad writer especially when he says he isn't giving up on them. Very silly. Obviously he's not a stats guy and doesn't see the RISP and record against good teams. Fuck Michael Barrett. He's still killing us.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=316534 General manager Jim Hendry said he was not aware of the report. Kenney last year signed Hendry to a contract extension through 2012. The extension was run by each of the ownership groups that were in contention to buy the Cubs, including the Ricketts family. In other words, Hendry is likely going nowhere.

Besides Cashner and Vitters, this year's top 2 picks are gonna be there, Strasburg and Ackley...and I'm sure others. Is there room on AZ Phil's couch for me to crash?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

from the same article...

Hendry said he isn't fazed about public calls for a housecleaning (because I have a contract through 2012, thanks Crane!!!).

''I don't really think much about it, to be honest with you,'' he said. ''We've done a lot of good things the last couple years. We're having a bad year. I just try to go to work every day and do the best I can.''

 

Dear Mr. Ricketts- Good luck with your recent investment. You purchased a deterioratng ballpark and a team that the fan base can't stand (the players don't seem to like the fans, either), and most of the players are signed to long-term, expensive contracts. Also, all of your players seem to have had their testicles removed, and curl up into a fetal position at the first sign of pressure. Congrats!

Phil - can you answer a hypothetical? Suppose Castro was put on the 40 man roster today and brought up to the ML club for the rest of this season. Next spring he does not make the big league roster and remains at Iowa for the entire 2010 season. Does either 2009 or 2010 count as one of his three option years?

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).