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 #73 Preview: Cubs (32-40) @ White Sox (37-34)

Back on June 13th, after Ted Lilly nearly no-hit the White Sox at Wrigley Field, the Sox' record was 28-34, and the Cubs stood at 28-35. The White Sox haven't lost since, and the Cubs have continued to stumble. They're now eight games under .500 and the same number of games behind the division-leading Cardinals.

On this, his 32nd birthday, Aramis Ramirez returns to the lineup after a stint on the DL with that nagging thumb problem, and Chad Tracy has been DFA'd. Tracy hit .250 (11-for-44) in 28 games for the Cubs.

In the big news of the day...

Steve Stone was on WSCR a little while ago and said that he and Lou Piniella had an agreeable meeting in the Cub clubhouse which included multiple handshakes. No back-patting or playful tousling of the hair was reported.

Cubs vs. Jake Peavy (6-5, 5.07; 4-2, 2.72 all-time vs. Cubs)
Fukudome 9, Colvin 7, Byrd 8, Lee 3, Ramirez 5, Soriano DH, Fontenot 6, Soto 2, Theriot 4

White Sox vs. Carlos Zambrano (3-5, 5.10; 5-3, 4.56 all-time vs. Sox)
Pierre 7, Vizquel 5, Rios 8, Konerko 3, Quentin 9, Kotsay DH, Pierzynski 2, Ramirez 6, Beckham 4

Comments

Only thing I might do differently with that lineup is swap Byrd and Colvin to break up the LH hitters. Hopefully Z will get it going versus the rival today. As bad as the season is and as bleak as our outlook is for 2011 - imagine what it would be like had we traded Cashner, Marhsall and Vitters for Jake Peavy.

Has anyone seen Russ Canzler play? He is one of the few prospects in the system showing any kind of power from an infield corner (I see he is getting time at 3B in addition to 1B), and is now hitting .307/.390/.569. At 24, is he starting to put things together and becoming a legit prospect, or is this just a temporarily productive ~140 ABs?

[ ]

In reply to by Ross_Barnes

Submitted by Ross_Barnes on Fri, 06/25/2010 - 1:30pm. Has anyone seen Russ Canzler play? He is one of the few prospects in the system showing any kind of power from an infield corner (I see he is getting time at 3B in addition to 1B), and is now hitting .307/.390/.569. At 24, is he starting to put things together and becoming a legit prospect, or is this just a temporarily productive ~140 ABs? ============================================ ROSS B: Russ Canzler is in his 7th season in the Cubs organization, and has never played above AA. He is also repeating AA. (This is known as the "Brandon Sing Syndrome"). Canzler will be a Rule 55 minor league free-agent (6YFA) post-2010, and will probably want to move to another organizational where he will at least get a shot at AAA. Canzler does have some HR power, and he can play corner IF-OF (although he is basically a 1B), but his ceiling is very limited.

great...now Z and dlee are fighting (verbal). water cooler knocked down...lou had to get in the middle of it. z went into the tunnel...still not back in the dugout. gorz. is warming up. think Z might be done... "this has been a dead ass team" - bob brenley

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

On the way home last night I heard in the postgame show that Zambrano said in his initial rant: We're playing like shit. This is a horse shit team (etc) On the video you can read Derrek Lee's lips: Shut the fuck up! Shut the fuck up! That's bullshit (repeated several times) When Zambrano hears Lee tell him to STFU, he wheels around and starts yelling directly at Lee, I can only assume telling him that he wasn't fielding his position properly. But who knows I say mad props to Lee for telling Zambrano he was out of line. I like Z's "fire," but this was a little much. Apparently the whole team must really hate Z if the mild mannered, lead by example, DLee has had enough. Everyone else on the team has probably been wishing he had done it a long time ago. Curious thought, what if Fontenot or say, Colvin had told Zambrano to STFU? Would he tear his head off immediately? Kick him into LF?

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

Point well taken that this team and organization are a joke, but coming from Z it smacks more of a desire to show everybody up than a real intent to fire up the team or fix anything (least of all his own cruddy performance). He wants to pretend he's not part of the crapulence when, in fact, he is. Showing up Lee is particularly ridiculous. Everyone knows he's having an all-around down year, but he's saved this team's bacon defensively way, way more often than not over the years. It's not like he's Todd Walker or Theriot or some other brick-gloved chump. I usually reflexively defend Z even when he's an idiot, but no can do this time.

[ ]

In reply to by Pell Mell

Yeah, it would have been nice if Zambrano had done something like this, say, before the game, and then went out and threw lights out and kept being pumped up in an effort to energize the team. Or again, if there were 2 errors or something and he strikes out the side around them to save the inning and then comes back and yells. Etc. But at this point he has no standing. The team is a horseshit team in part because its alleged #1 starter pitched so poorly he was the 6th best on his team and relegated to the bullpen, where he also struggled. And the team was down 4-0 not because infielders did not dive and knock down balls, but because Zambrano was leaving everything up in the zone and balls were getting scalded.

I hereby change my official stance, play Colvin and Castro, gut the entire franchise and every starting player besides those 2, hell pay the entire salaries of players so you can get good prospects back and just float a 15 million dollar payroll. Gut the front office and every coach and scout not named Ryne Sandberg. "Start Fresh" is my new theme, you ain't got to go home but you can't be a Chicago Cub anymore. This team sickens me.

Milton Bradley has ruined this team. --- Returning to the cell...an anniversary of sorts, when Lou sent MB home after calling him a POS. Hopefully Lou knows how to say POS in spanish. 6/26/09
...after Bradley threw his helmet and tossed a Gatorade cooler in the dugout following a bad at-bat.
Bradley had struck out in the first and the fourth innings, then flew out to left for the second out in the sixth. He threw a fit in the dugout, and Piniella decided to discipline the outfielder. "I told him to take his uniform off," Piniella said. "He threw his helmet and smashed the water cooler and there was water flying all over. I told him to take his uniform off and go home. "I followed him up to the clubhouse and we exchanged some words. I don't like when those things happen, but I was tired of watching it." Piniella said Bradley's actions have been a "common occurrence." "I've looked the other way a lot," Piniella said, "and I'm done with it."
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090626&content_id=5550086&vke…

I'm getting to like the 2010 team philosophy...lose the first two games of each series. Based on that we're seriously overachieving as our win percentage is well above .333 (started the day at .444) So we've got quite a ways to go, downhill.

Lou postgame says Z's behavior is unacceptable, at the least he will need to apologize to the whole team and expects Hendry to take disciplinary action. Lou asked about why he's always having to send someone home from the cell. Ozzie laughs at Z, saying he's gonna have plenty of time to make dinner reservations.

DennisCulloton (Ricketts PR Guy) This wouldn't happen at the Friendly Confines. followed by Paul Sullivan Ricketts' spokesman blames the Cell for Z outburst: RT @DennisCulloton This wouldn't happen at the Friendly Confines. followed back by Culloton that was a joke Sully. Where's my gatorade? RT @PWSullivan: Ricketts' spokesman blames the Cell for Z outburst followed by bleedcubbieblue @DennisCulloton "Jokes" like that aren't funny, especially in situations like this.

At the game today. Blah Guessing Z still had hard feelings from lee s performance at wriglry when he pitched. 2 errors in 1 inning Guessing Rob G was right sharks vs jets going on inclubhouse. call hendry in clubhouse for team meeting and throw grenade in there and let god sort them out.

In 2007 and 2008 Z was my favorite player. Old school - tough - offense and pitching. But man - he needs to get some professional help. I am assuming he will be doing it if he wants to pitch for the club anymore.

Brett Jackson hit by a pitch and removed from Daytona's game yesterday. Injury described in the game writeup as a triceps contusion - apparently was hit intentionally in retaliation for Junior Lake's first dinger of the season right before him.

Z still has a ton of value. A guy with a season ERA never above 4.00 and age 29? Yeah teams will come a calling, but what the Cubs do best is destroy trade value, they won't be offering much. He isn't a player on his last legs, he is a player that probably needs a whole new organization, a change of scenery. Zambrano and Zambrano alone has the potential to bring back better talent than anyone else. He is the single best trading chip on the roster.

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?