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 133 Thread / Cubs @ Pirates (3 of 3)

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP Jason Marquis
SP *Zach Duke
  8-7, 4.76, 71 K, 52 BB, 134.1 IP

4-12, 5.29, 72 K, 42 BB, 151.1 IP
       
LF
Alfonso Soriano RF
*Nyjer Morgan
SS Ryan Theriot
SS
Jack Wilson
1B Derrek Lee
CF *Nate McLouth
3B Aramis Ramirez
1B
*Adam LaRoche
CF Reed Johnson
LF
*Brandon Moss
RF
Mark DeRosa
2B Freddy Sanchez
2B
Ronny Cedeno 3B Andy LaRoche
C
Henry Blanco
C
Raul Chavez
P *Jason Marquis
P *Zach Duke

 

The Cubs go for the sweep, and once again I am reminded that I don't know how to add Rob's broom graphic to the game results box at the top of the right-hand column. I'll make you a deal, Jason Marquis: you win the game, and I'll work on the broom.

As they try for their 13th victory in their last 14 road games and their 14th win in 18 games against the Pirates this season, the Cubs will go with their all-righty starting eight, including Henry Blanco in place of Geovany Soto behind the plate.

I hope Hank got the memo about our catchers being required to contribute at least 7 RBI per game. 

 This Month

Pitcher GS
W-L
IP
H
ERA
AVG. GAME SCORE
Jason Marquis
4
2-1
 23  24 5.09
46
Carlos Zambrano
5
1-1
 26.2  31 7.43 39

Comments

It's a "travel day" lineup today, clearly. Good for Soto to have the day off, but why DeRo - and in that case, not why DLee? AZ Phil, can you add your thoughts about the AZ Fall League selections and why the Cubs chose to target these individuals for that coveted assignment?

Alfonso Soriano, Oh no! Ryan Theriot no go Derrek Lee's not studly Aramis Ramirez who says? Reed Johnson is pondscum Mark DeRosa where's Sosa? Ronny Cedeno is no volcano Hank White has no fight Jason Marquis pitches BP This poem sucks.

what happened on the Derrek Lee out in the first? Yahoo has Soriano on third and a groundout to SS. Did the Pirates have the infield in?

Soriano needs to get his head out of his ass. Another error in the first where he took his eye off of the ball and then picked-off trying to steal second just now - out by 10 feet.

Can we get Lee out of the 3rd hole already?!? Man on 3rd less than 2 out, Ground Out to SS (We need a flyball) Man on 2nd No out, Ground Out to the left side, instead of the right side!! At this point we need start playing the hot hands. Ram 3rd Derosa 4th Lee 5th Edmonds 6th Soto 7th Anyone else agree?

suicide squeeze by Blanco?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Yeah, bad bunt that worked out well. Popped up down the first base line but no one caught it and it didn't roll foul.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Yep, despite the well pitched game by Marquis -still dislike him. He is exceptionally average, but as Rob G. and others have repeatedly pointed out he is a solid #5. Maybe it's his personality/public comments (with a healthy dose of above-market contract)? I remember him being offended by questions re Marshall taking his spot in the rotation, not referring to his pitching (which was equal to Marshall in ST), but suggesting he'd take a trade before he'd move to the bullpen. Now seems to be annoyed (and not motivated) by Lou's skipping him "to give him rest." All-in-all comes off (to me at least) like he's entitled to his position, regardless of his performance. Or, it cd just be me. I guess I shd just accept the (temporary)appearance of his doppleganger with a beer and a "Holy Cow."

Nice that the Cubs had their stopper going today! I soooo love it when the Cubs win an early game. You gotta think that demoralizes MKE a bit when they look at the scoreboard.

[ ]

In reply to by champsummers

Except that Chicago is a huge market, with the wherewithall to field a winner -- we simply had to hope that the owners, front office and scouts would get their heads out of their assesmake good decisions and eventually get the right talent on the field. Pittsburgh? I don't know man. It's a proud baseball city, but it's really hard to see a light at the end of that tunnel. My heart goes out to the fans of that team. They're living the kind of hell Cubs fans lived for years, and they have less reason to hope for better.

Updating Cubnut's numbers after the game: This Month: Pitcher: GS | W-L | IP | H | ERA | AVG. GAME SCORE Jason Marquis: 5 | 3-1 | 30 | 29 | 3.90 | 50 Carlos Zambrano: 5 | 1-1 | 26.2 | 31 | 7.43 | 39 Props to Jason, concern for Carlos.

Well, Cubs can go 2-27 and match last years division championship performance. Something leads me to believe it will take more than 85 to win the division this year. If Cubs go 8-21, Cards and Phils would need to go 18-11 to tie. I like the Cubs chances of making the playoffs this year.

I'm old enough to remember when the Pirates were perenially near or at the top of the National League - teams that had Manny Sanguillen, Willie Stargell, Clemente and so many others. If they had proper management at the top, they could be very competitive. But Dave Littlefield wasn't the right guy, and did some damage for which they'll need some time to recover.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Unless I'm mistaken, the financing of PNC park by the public was engineered over their objections, which had been expressed through the rejection of a public referendum. Again perhaps mistaken, but the same true for Heinz field I believe. Thus the understandable public disgust at the continued "unwillingness of Pirates ownership to field a winning ballclub" as if it is ever this formulaically simple. As an adopted Pittsburgher now for eight years, IMHO the disillusionment with the team has reached a "steady state" and you're looking at the continuing model for "how to make a neat profit from MLB profit sharing" which isn't likely to change any time soon. The owners know they put a stinker on the field, but can now count on a finite but steady amount of ticket sales due to promotions and an increasing proportion of fans who turn out to see the OTHER TEAM. [Last night was no exception- easily majority vocal Cubs fans, even Santo commented on it today during the broadcast.] Add in the MLB cash to the predictable amount of red ink, and they're in the black to an extent they're apparently happy with? When the season ticket sales and attendance continue to slide (as they have since the 2006 ASG) then ownership's response: this ain't coming out of our pockets, we're going "youth" and letting big payroll go.

[ ]

In reply to by nohit

Regardless of payroll, if you have a losing record for 16 straight years, your front office is just awful. If you're drafting in the top 5 every single year, you should eventually get some impact players. And then if you can't pay them, you trade them for more young, impact players. That's where the Pirates have continually fucked up. Trading a young, 36-homer 100 RBI Aramis for Bobby Freakin Hill is the perfect example, and I'm sure there have been plenty more I'm not aware of. Did they even get anyone decent for Bay? I'm sure in the next year or two they'll trade away McClouth for some shit too.

Btw, wasn't Littlefield hired by the Cubs as a scout or something? ------------ Rob, you hit that one out of the park! Right now, as I type, there is a round of golf going on with Ed Lynch, Grady Little, Dave Littlefield and Hendry is fleecing ALL those bobo's out of their milk money. two littles and a lynch...as Jack Brickhouse would say...whooooboy! it's an honorary position I'm told, and they do have to wear Cub Scout uniforms for their golf outings. http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?ctlg=05NDC&ctgy=PRO…

personally i ike b. moss who came over in bay deal alos whenever i here sister sledge WE ARE FAMILY i think of the 79 pirates stargell parker hebner moreno sanguillen and so on

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).