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

Ten Moves I Wouldn't Mind the Cubs Pursuing

Before the first "the Cubs can't afford that" comment, let me preface all this by saying I wouldn't mind the Cubs making any of these moves, not necessarily all of them. And it's just a bunch conjecture and speculation and "damn, I'm bored, let's make up some stuff". I did attempt to be reasonable at least.

1. Sign Kelly Johnson if he's non-tendered and non-tender Mike Fontenot. There's not a big difference between the two, but I like Johnson better. I'm also not opposed to a trade for Johnson for some marginal low-level minor league talent.

Tigers vs. White Sox

2. If the Tigers decide to move Granderson for prospects only - as opposed to major league pre-arbitration talent - something along the lines of Josh Vitters, Darwin Barney or Hak-Ju Lee and Chris Carpenter (although you have to think Rafael Dolis, Andrew Cashner or Jay Jackson would need to be included). Welington Castillo, Sam Fuld, Tyler Colvin or Ryan Flaherty I imagine could also be of some interest to the Tigers.

Although I still think the Tigers wll only move Granderson if they can attach one of their bad contracts with him or get some early arbitration or auto-renewal players.

3. While they're talking to the Tigers about Granderson, see if adding Randy Wells and one more pitching prospect would get Edwin Jackson.  Hell, let me propose a blockbuster: Vitters, Lee, Jackson, Colvin and Wells for Granderson and Jackson. Mix and match at your discretion.


UPDATE: Just a terrible idea on my part about Jackson, apologies for even bringing it up. In my mind, Jackson had a much better 2008 than he really had and much higher strikeout totals and I failed to double check my assertions with the actual stats. Please let's forget this ever happened.


Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers.

4. Trade Milton Bradley for Pat Burrell, suck up the 2nd year of the deal or see if adding Jake Fox into the trade could get the Rays to take some of the salary. I'm under the assumption that this is the only reasonable offer the Cubs have and it's just a matter of how much the Cubs are willing to pay at this point. I have doubts the Cubs can do any better and Hendry should learn from his Sammy Sosa mistake about waiting too long on a deal. While the Cubs would probably then have to pay someone to take Burrell off their hands, Burrell wouldn't be a terrible bench/platoon/"when Soriano gets injured" option.

5. Bring back Reed Johnson to platoon for Fukudome and possibly Granderson if the Cubs can get him. One year deal max though.

6. Offer Rich Harden arbitration. On the off chance he accepts it -which he wouldn't - there are worse things that could happen then having a guy with an ERA barely over 3 the last two seasons and 51 starts around. 

UPDATE #2: And of course, Hendry decides it's not worth the risk...No arbitration offers for Harden, Gregg or Johnson.

7. When Harden goes somewhere else, see how Ben Sheets is doing.

8. Kick the tires on the following starting pitchers assuming no Harden and Ben Sheets arm isn't working: Justin Duchscherer, Randy Johnson, Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Erik Bedard and Mike Hampton. See what a one year deal with incentives would cost.

9. Sign one of these relievers, Billy Wagner, Takashi Saito, Kiko Calero, Kelvim Escobar or J.J. Putz with the caveat that Escobar and Putz medical records and rehab give them a clean bill of health. Wagner's the only one I would go past a year deal on.

10. Give Mark Prior a tryout. I'm only half-joking, but I would love to see him make a comeback, even as a reliever. And if it means I could unretire my Prior jersey, all the better.

In the comments yesterday I suggested the following potential roster for the Cubs.

Starters: Granderson, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Fukudome, Soto, K. Johnson/Baker

Bench: Burrell, K. Johnson/Baker, Hill, R. Johnson and Miles (or Blanco if they can move Miles)

Rotation: Z, Dempster, Wells, Lilly, Gorzelanny

Bullpen: Marmol, Guzman, Grabow, Saito, Marshall, bullpen musical chairs for the last 2 spots

That's a team I could live with next year. Johnson and Burrell can platoon for Fukudome and Granderson on most days. Oh sure, the outfield defense will suck on those days, and on the other days your left-handed bench bats are K. Hill and A. Miles. but there's no such thing as a perfect baseball world. Plus, you're probably not gonna do a strict platoon with Granderson anyway. Replacing Fontentot for Kelly Johnson isn't gonna make much of a difference if that falls through. Of course, it unravels like a house of cards if the Cubs can't swing a trade for Granderson.

And now your turn to mock me in the comments...

Comments

Rob, I've been on the get-Billy-Wagner bandwagon since the season ended, he'd give the Cubs a formidable bullpen IMO. Lefty/righty mix for end of games (Marmol and Wagner), pre-setup/setup (Grabow and Gooz), and long/middle relief (Marshall and TBD). OTOH, I don't understand those that would trade the farm for Granderson, he just isn't worth it. My make-believe blockbuster is still Zambrano and Theriot to the Dodgers for Matt Kemp and Rafael Furcal. I definitely agree on arbitration to Harden, it is just plain dumb not to offer it.

BTW, one of our favorite whipping boys--the interminably insufferable Chip Caray--was just fired by TBS. Heh.

1. Seems like rearranging deck chairs. It wouldn't be the end of the world to me, but Hendry will rightfully spend time on more important issues. 2. Can't figure out what you're saying here. Barney, Vitters and Jackson? OK - assuming Bradley is really out of town and he doesn't bring back a CF. 3. Yuck. Remember how you went on about sample sizes and FIP with Grabow? Apply all those concepts to Jackson who returned in the 2nd half to be the same pitcher he's been for the last 5 years. If Hendry traded Wells for Jackson even up, he would rightfully be laughed at by his contemporaries, and lambasted in blogland. 4. This trade downgrades the offense, the defense and the 2011 payroll flexibility in one fell swoop. Pass. Keep Bradley, tell him, Pinhead and whoever else had a problem with him to grow up. 5. A right handed CF one a one-year deal would be good. I'm over the Johnson experience, but it could be worse. Maybe Fuld can fill that spot (I know he's not RH). 6. Yeah. Another FIRE HENDRY moment is coming today. 7. Agreed, though I think Sheets if he seems ready to pitch is going to get a $5 million contract. 8. Smoltz, Dustcherer and Bedard, pass on the other guys. I think Smoltz is the only guy likely to be in our price range, though. (Assuming it's like $3 million guaranteed). 9. Throw the good Soriano on this list - but Hendry has already said he's done with the bullpen. Hopefully Parker and/or the DeRosa boys are going to get it done this year. 10. Agreed, though I think Prior has some animosity towards Hendry. Maybe he'll sign with Cincinatti. Mine: 1. Trade Bradley for Harang - who will cost approximately $15 million for 2010 counting his buyout. The Reds would presumably retain then trade Gomes. 2. See if Lilly/Barney/Vitters/Fox interests the Jays for Halladay. 3. Wait until the arb deadline passes (Dec 12th?) to look for your right handed hitting CF to platoon with Fukudome.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

mea culpa on that one, it would have helped if I didn't write this at 2am and looked at his stats apparently there's an Edwin Jackson that had a good 2008 and has a high K rate in the world I was living in last night when I wrote that.... no he sucks, my bad... I'm under the assumption that Bradley must go or the fabric of the Cubs universe will tear apart...at least that's what Sullivan and Wittenmyer tell me. Since I fucked up the Jackson one, I'll offer an alternative of Fire Lou and Hendry and find management that understands you can't just piss $21M away and will do what they can to help Bradley flourish in Chicago.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Edwin Jackson has a career ERA of 4.66 and a career FIP of 4.72. Randy Wells has a career ERA of 2.95 and a FIP of 3.90 and he will be paid $3.5 million less. Jackson had a really good first half in 2009 and then he went back to the pitcher he's always been - 2:1 BB to K ratio and a 5 ERA. Is it possible that Jackson can regain the form he had in the first half of 2009? Sure, he's always had good stuff. Are you willing to bet a guy who's a nice #3 starter with 5 years of club control on it? I wouldn't.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

I love how you just arbitrarily pick names to prove a point. I think that Wells is just like Ryan Dempster. (Not really but I just want to throw out an arbitrary find that Hendry made that proves everything I say). There was an article during the season that went over the quality of Wells's slider, which I know Rob G linked. If he adds a run to his ERA - he's still a solid #3 starter. Wells, was just underrated. Look at his Minor league numbers before he got to Iowa. Then in Iowa you can see he was a victim of bad defense, .354 BABIP in 2007 and .316 in 2008 despite giving up 64% pop-ups and ground balls. For your reference, Rusch, at one time was considered probably a top 5 starting pitching prospect, and Corey Patterson was considered a top 3 prospect in the game.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I used to always get a magazine called... Spring Training Annual or Guide which did a top 100 list which was pretty good. It would be fun to track down that publisher and compare their lists to BA's. Unless, of course, they just took theirs from BA. There's some really funny ones on BA's. Hard to imagine Rusch being ranked so low coming off a 1.74 ERA as a 20 year old in High A.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

2008 - Fukudome hadn't signed yet I'm guessing so not on Cubs top 10 but 30th and top Cub on major league rankings. Ceda was ranked between Colvin and Gallagher, but not in their top 100, Colvin was 75, Gallagher was 82 2002 - they flipped Nic Jackson(68) and Zambrano(80), but Z is 6th and Jackson is 7th 1996 - they flipped Wood(16) and Kieschnick(47), but Kieschnick is #1 for the Cubs...

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Like every GM has been after him his entire career? A 1.47 career whip is not good. It sucks. Just because he's had a couple acceptable years as a starter doesn't change the fact that he sucked Donkey Balls for 10 big league seasons before that. He's a Michael Barrett clone - likable when you hear him interviewed but a shitty player with little talent. He needs to go, instead Jimbo the Donut Bimbo gives him a 4 year, $52 million deal after a fluke career year. Hendry and Dempster can share a taxi to the airport.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Like every GM has been after him his entire career? Why don't people realize that recent years are more relevant than career stats? Dempster has been a different pitcher (read: much better) since moving back to the starting rotation two years ago. And Dempster has "little talent?" Seriously?

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

did dempster kick your dog? Top 20 in ERA last year (which technically makes him a #2 starter), had some rather legit personnel issues to begin the year as well. The last two years, he's pitched like a #1 or #2 starter and you think $12M a year is too much?

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

You were probably against the A's re-signing Dennis Eckersley after '87, huh? Here's a list of pitchers who have 6+ years of MLB experience (AKA reached free agency) and had a better ERA+ and a lower salary than Dempster last year: Javier Vazquez

-If you indeed trade Milton for Burrell, then I move Soriano to RF and play Pat the Bat in LF. -Reed Johnson isn't really needed. Give Sam Fuld the 4th/5th OFer job. -Keep Jake Fox to back up 1b/3b/lf/rf -Absolutely look into trading Wells and a Tyler Colvin type prospect for Edwin Jackson -Offer Arbitration to Harden -Kick the tires on the Non-Tender, non-arbitration pitcher list

1. Not a bad idea though it will likely make little difference in the long run. 2. I don't think it would be a very good idea to trade everything away for Granderson. His only real plus to me is he is signed to a decent contract but everything else has been getting worse. He can't hit left handed pitchers and strikesout too much. His defense is good but he is not a guy who is going to change the cubs lineup and put them back into serious pennant contention so why give up the farm? 3. I'm not sold on Wells. But, I'm not sold on Jackson either. It's a toss-up for me here. 4. Pat Burrell is really the only market for Bradley right now. I would prefer just to have him on the roster again but that won't happen so Hendry needs to take what he can get. 5. Bring back Reed if the price is right. 6.This one is a no-brainer. I think everyone see it the same way EXCEPT Hendry. The back end of the rotation is going to be unpredictable without Harden... 7. Eh. Worth a shot. 8. Agreed. Need a veteran 4th or 5th starter though I could easily see Hendry leaving that alone. 9.The bullpen needs some help but its not a priority. The other holes need some work but if you can get some of those guys at a good price then can't go wrong. 10. I wouldn't mind. Still feel bad for the guy. I have accepted that the Cubs need some work. They had a window and they may have just missed it but they have a decent farm coming up and can still contend for the playoffs each year in a division where I cannot fathom the Cardinals being as good as they were last year.

One move missing from this list is the strategic move of hiring the mob to kidnap Aaron Miles and put him on an island in the middle pacific for the next two years. When he doesn't report for spring training, we can use his salary to pay an actual Major League player.

Crossed out the E. Jackson section and updated that Harden, Gregg and Johnson will not be offered arbitration.

if the Tigers are inclined to move Granderson for prospects, I would think Barney or Lee Vitters Jackson, Cashner or Carpenter would get it done. They may also have interest in Castillo, Flaherty or Colvin as a replacement for one of those 3 or maybe tacked on instead of having to give up Jackson or Cashner. It's a steep price for a guy that should be a platoon player and they probably should hold on to their prospects, but besides Vitters, the Cubs are trading away mostly excess prospects.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

This continually goes to my point of the hopelessness that is the 'Hendry Administration'. Allegedly, the Tigers want to move Granderson and others to bring down salary. Admittedly on this board, Granderson can't hit LHP well enough to play everyday. Then why the hell give up possibly 3 of your Top 10 prospects for a platoon player? I don't care if they trade all the Top 10 prospects, but for heaven's sake, how about getting legitimate everyday players in return? This, again, begs an answer from Hendry -- 'What is your plan to reach the World Series?' Really, what can the Cubs do with $135M committed to these virtual roster locks: Z, Lilly, Dempster, Samardzija, Grabow, Guzman, Marmol, Marshall, Wells, Gorzelany, Soto, K. Hill, D. Lee, Theriot, A. Ramirez, Baker, Soriano, Fukudome, Bradley, and Miles. All you're going to do with Bradley is swap salary - no payroll $$ gains. No one is going to take Miles. OK, cut Baker, Fontenot and save $2-3M but then have who to take their place - J. Fox and A. Blanco? Hendry has $7-9M left to spend for 2010. Yeah, good luck with that. I fear 2010 is a write-off season with nothing approaching a workable salary situation until 2011 when D. Lee, Lilly, Samardzija, and Miles salary comes off the books.

I wonder which Cub executive fed Van Dyck this line...
Harden ($7million), reliever Kevin Gregg ($4.2 million) and outfielder Reed Johnson ($3 million) will play elsewhere next season. If they had been offered arbitration, they could have accepted and played next season for whatever an impartial arbitrator decided. The Cubs felt none of them was worth the almost-certain raise that would be coming.
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/12/cubs-wont-offer-arbitratio…

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/3003
The other question I've been asked is why the Cubs didn't trade Harden to Minnesota after the Twins claimed him on waivers in August. From what I've been told, there would not have been much in the way of prospects coming back, and the Cubs weren't ready to quit on the season at that point.
well that makes Hendry about 1/12 on prognosticating how 2009 would go... http://muskat.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/12/121_arbitration_update.html
New Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts has said the payroll will only go up "slightly" in 2010, and the Cubs have to factor in raises to arbitration eligible players such as Marmol, Marshall, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, and Jeff Baker.
by all means Cubs really need to make sure there's money for Fontenot, Baker and Theriot and let an actual talented player go... for everything that went right in 2008, it all went wrong in 2009.

Valverde offered arbitration, Tejada, Hawkins were not...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I just posted that comment to demonstrate that I don't actually read the articles linked to, I just respond based on what I think they are about. (I thought we were talking about the Cubs trying to get new facilities built in Arizona.) Reading is way too much work.

Okay, Harden not offered arbitration. Not surprising (at least not to me), but the logical question now is: Why the f*** didn't Hendry trade Harden at the deadline for... well... anything? Anything would be better than nothing. It's not like Harden was going to be the Cub's key to a miracle comeback in September.

Random thought. I'm happy that Texas offered Byrd arb, right? That means we won't pay him a gajillion dollars to suck next year, right? Or does it mean he'll turn it down because he already knows we're going to... Come on Santa Rob, pleeeeeease??

Anyone see where Halladay gave Toronto an ultimatum to trade him before spring training, or he would veto any attempted deal thereafter? Olney reported it on Sportscenter. Sorry if it's old news. I hadn't heard it.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s a fantastic deal for SF

  • 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?