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

Lou Piniella RANT

Yeah, we're all pretty sick of the 2010 Cubs. But just for a moment, imagine being Lou Piniella.

Close your eyes and just... imagine having to walk into the little "how come" room and explain this team to the media.

It has to be the absolute worst kind of hell.

Seriously, if you made a movie and had to depict hell, what better place than that little room? Day after day after day...

Now, I don't know exactly what he's thinking, but I would imagine it would be something close to this.

I'd give a million bucks to have a beer with the man, hear it for real...

 


You can view Tim Souers work on a daily basis at Cubby Blue.

Comments

Maybe if the reporters asked him day after day why he batted the two worst RBI guys in the lineup 3 and 4 he would have gotten a clue by, say June 1st.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Exactly. Over the weekend I heard Len&Bob remark more than once, actually about ten million times, that Cubs hitting has been a problem all season and tailed off as the season progressed -- which is totally untrue. In fact, the Cubs started the season off at the bottom of the league in team batting and now are league average (Cubs-.257 .322 .408 .731 NL- .257 .326 .403 .729). And they rank 6th in home runs with 112. But somehow, the Cubs have managed* to take an average offense and utilize it to rank 12th/16 in runs scored. I'm guessing that a lot of that falls on Lou-- the manager* and the black hole in the middle of the lineup he keeps penciling in game after game. Not to mention hitting Tyler Colvin first even though he's shown no ability to hit at all at the top of the order and Geo Soto 8th even though he's been around .400 OBP all season. Yeah, the Cubs are lousy with RISP. It should be no mystery why. That'll happen when your 3 and 4 hitters suck as bad as Lee and Ramirez have.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

given the cubs "i give up" record colvin/castro are probably batting 1/2 for no other reason that getting them maximum ABs to prep for 2011. that said, meh... who's ready for castro leading off with dewitt hitting 2nd in 2011? woo.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

We've seen worse. Not sure why we don't do that now. If we're benching Colvin to get his head straight, why are we trying to maximize his at bats simultaneously? Castro DeWitt Soto Ramirez Colvin Soriano Byrd Hoffpauir Pitcher Seems alright to me.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

i wish mr. i can't run to 1st while i'm daydreaming about my winter vacation would have accepted a trade. if he's going to be like this i hope he's willing to re-up with the cubs for 1yr 5m-ish or something risk reasonable...and shows up ready to have his head checked in a bit more. i dont expect hoff or snyder to be suitable replacements, but dlee is a bit of a distraction, imo.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I think Byrd should hit higher. He's not a real number 3 in most other lineups but we don't have that type of hitter right now, unless you consider ARam to be a number 3 hitter when healthy. I always thought ARam to be better suited as a 3 hitter than DLee even when they were both in their prime. ARam makes more contact. Castro DeWitt Byrd Ramirez Soto Colvin Soriano 1b retread Pitcher

Is AZ Phil on vacation or something? I miss his reports and insight.

Lou: Not the Cub's biggest problem. A legit team has players that know and do their job. A manager basically manages personalities at this level.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

No lou is not. But if i'm soto, i ' m wondering why i' m batting 8th. If i'm z i'm wondering why i got shipped to the bullpen. If i'm colvin i'm wondering why i was on bench behind nada for a month. If i'm sori and byrd i'm wondering why don't get one game batting 3/4. Lot more questions tham answers from lou. But hey whatta you gonna do?

Wow, 4 first inning runs vs. Lincecum. If the Cubs hold true to form, they're done scoring for the evening. Demp better be able to make the 4 runs hold up.

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

and the cubs are trying hard to blow it...4-1, 2 on, 1 out someone out there needs to pull castro's choke collar, too. he's given LA hits in the past 2 games trying to play the OF from SS and blocking the OF'rs from making plays...and his stupid throws keep coming. hardcore superman syndrome even if he's not some egomaniac. -edit- woo, double play

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

i dunno if mlb.com has the replays, but if they do they'll show 1-2 guys standing or jogging while a youngblood coming full force and top speed missiles himself into the play regardless of who's calling what. it'd be like stepping in front of a truck...well, a car...well, a motorcycle...a honda.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

im talking about specific plays where castro decided he covers the entire field and kept OF'rs from making plays. it's just youthful over-aggression and not knowing how certain fields (even his current home field) plays with great familiarity. i'm not calling the kid trash...i'm just saying he needs to recognize his limits as well as the talents of those he plays with.

Ooh look... another passed ball by Koyie "defensive wizard" Hill. And then an error on by the Micah "slick first baseman" Hoffpauir. Please tell me that those two won't be anywhere close to the Cubs big league team next year...

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I never said that it was a meaningful sample. They both suck, and last night was just more evidence. I don't want them to have anything to do with the Cubs next year. Also... I wasn't using statistics, so "samples" are not very relevant.

"where the hell was i going with this?" - bob brenley after a rambling story hahahaha. highlight of the game...besides the 1st inning.

buster posey just got a double for no f'n reason what-so-ever besides official scoring off what should have been an error. at least it doesnt put us closer to WAS with the most errors in mlb... holy crap that was a clunker...horrible scoring not to call it an error, too. hey awesome...passed ball k.hill...never seen that before...scored a wild pitch on cashner, not arguing that one.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Yeah, they weren't really getting good contact off of Marmol (a lot of stuff off the end of bats, falling out of gloves, dribbling up the middle) but Marmol wasn't making anybody look sick like he usually does. Suddenly, the Giants got two runs and have the winning run at the plate and Marmol gets royally pissed off -- he blows three straight fastballs past Uribe (swinging), then gets two feeble swings from Ishikawa before making him dribble the ball to 1st. You could really see the difference that the extra adrenaline made on the quality of his pitches. One minute they were fighting him off and getting wood on the ball, to a greater or lesser degree, and the next minute they suddenly looked over-matched and pitiful. Damn entertaining!

Maybe if the reporters asked him day after day why he batted the two worst RBI guys in the lineup 3 and 4 he would have gotten a clue by, say June 1st. Brilliant after the fact insight. Lee and Ramirez are the teams best hitters, period. People wanted Soriano released to start this season, or at the very least buried at the bottom of the lineup. People got most of their wish and i think he has been wasted hitting 6th for our team. You pay Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano to drive in runs and score them. Your team lives and dies by what they do. Switching them out of the #3 and #4 spot to be replaced by who? Fukudome? Byrd? Ohhhh wait Tyler "one year wonder" Colvin? We wouldn't of won more games by doing any of that, because our team needed Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano's combined production to win the division. It sucks 2 out of the 3 decided to have a bad year and the 3rd got buried in the lineup because of knee jerk reactions. Come on dude arm chair managing is easy when you already know the outcome. Which is exactly where you comment comes from.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Sorry don't remember the names, but i do chime in time to time wondering why Soriano is still on the Cubs if he was so finished and washed up that he needed to be released ASAP according to some. Tyler Colvin is his successor afterall and the man deemed to take over his position. I have had far more confidence in Castro's ability to hit than Colvin's. I have had less confidence in Castro's defense being a massive upgrade over Theriot, that little myth hasn't become reality yet despite everyone saying it is so. I have no doubt he has the skills to be better, but right now? No way in hell. I want Colvin to play every single day so he can get exposed as a fluke and we don't go into next year hoping on his production. Because your going to get a massive Neifi Perez let down when that happens. Where did his power go? Why are his strikeouts up and walks down? Why isn't he hitting? Where is the 2010 Tyler Colvin "Awesome" show? Just get it over with now and don't go depending on something that won't happen with this kid as he goes on the Jerome Walton career path. Producing talent doesn't mean 1 year wonders, it means producing a talent that contributes heavily to the parent club for many seasons. We still haven't achieved that since Mark Grace in positional talent. And our best hitting prospect in that time? Its more than likely Casey McGehee and he plays for the Brewers. Just for perspective, the league seemed to have quickly figured out how to get Castro out, but he adjusted and is doing fine. Colvin the league might have had a harder time to figure out, but he hasn't adjusted anything in his game. And probably will not adjust anything, he has always been an aggressive hitter who ignores walks and thats gonna bite him in the ass. You see Castro making the fine tune adjustments needed to be a major league hitter, you don't see that in Colvin. Like with everything i have time to watch this play out. I remember being the sad lonely Dusty hater even when he was first hired. I knew eventually people would recognize what a shit hole of a manager he was. I can wait on the Tyler Colvin bubble bursting as well.

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

I am fairly certain that I didn't start complaining about Lee and Ramirez batting 3-4 yesterday. I know I've been complaining about Soto batting 8th since April, but don't let the facts intetrude on your rants, they're much more entertaining this way. I love the "You're making these conclusions in hindsight, but I can see Castro is better than Colvin" bit too, that's classic. As to the other things you said about Colvin - he's hitting for about the same isolated power as he has been all season. During July and August he's struck out less often (once per 4 PA's) and walked more often (oncer per 12) than he did in June and May (3.3 and 21) - so really you don't know what the fuck you're talking about. If you don't see the difference between Theriot and Castro's fielding, I don't know what to say. I can only assume you're not watching games. Going by UZR which you can find at Fangraphs - (which I am not a big fan of), it puts Castro at saving about 23 runs more than Theriot over the course of a season - and that's including his errors (but probably not the bad tags on SB's attempts).

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

Lol..Soriano is only having a good year, when compared to Lee and Ramirez....Soriano has stunk too for a good part of the season.. June: .234/.310/.468 July: .225/.271/.450 August: .188/.229/.375 Poor Alfonso..getting "buried" hitting 6th....and sucking it up too.

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

"...Tyler "one year wonder" Colvin?" So, are you going to come back next year and give us the, "The Cubs haven't had any farm-team talent in thirty years..." rant MikeC? Or will Colvin and Castro then become "TWO year wonders" in your view of things? We are waiting with bated breath.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Still too early to determine anything, imo. Personally, IF he can get better command of the strike zone, I think he could start no problem. Even as a 4th Ofer and I think, as AZ PHIL does that he will be playing more at 1B next year, he will be a productive MLB player for the Cubs or another team.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I don't know what's going to happen with Colvin - most of his recent issues have been from bad luck (read post above - ack no numbers anymore). To me the jury is still out, but he still looks like he's going to have more power than anyone expceted. If he can hit 25 HR's, play really good defense and walk and steal a little more, I can live with 170 strikeout seasons as a pre-arb player.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Because he is capable of playing 1st doesn't mean he should. Although I do agree he will have MLB value. Even if its just as a 4th outfielder who can defend all 3 positions. That is really the value of Fukudome on an MLB roster today.

I liked Trammell's lineup card last night with five left-handed hitters starting. I liked it so much I actually watched the game from about the fifth inning on. I haven't been able to stomach half of very many games this year. And then another lefty pinch hit and knocked in the deciding runs. Maybe it's just me, but I've gotten worn down watching right-handed hitters lunge at balls breaking outside. (Well, Soriano doesn't lunge, he just stands up straight and misses.) There's an easier way to deal with sliders thrown by right-handed pitchers. Just put a balanced lineup out there. Old-fashioned, I know. The Giants have a nice bullpen but they seem to be mostly righties. I'm glad Trammell noticed. I think he managed a little better than his boss yesterday.

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In reply to by Paul Noce

Fontenot told the Chicago Tribune he's happy with his performance this year: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/08/cubs-trade-fontenot-to-gia… "Fontenot lost playing time in May when Starlin Castro was called up and Ryan Theriot moved over to short. (2nd base) He said he was happy with his performance this year. "Yeah, there've been times when I wanted to get out there and play more," he said. "But I've always been a team guy. And things haven't gone the way we wanted them to... in the end, I feel pretty good so far this year." He's happy with his performance? This is one of the reasons this team sucks, everyone is complacent with mediocrity. 0 hr, 12 rbi in 40 starts this season. .287/.331/.382 as a starter. The avg is the only acceptable thing. His defense was crap, as usual. .969 fielding percentage at 2b. .909 at 3b.

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In reply to by WISCGRAD

Man, with ARam probably not available or preferred to not have to PH, and being down a spot from the Fontenot trade, I would expect Crunch will see his favorite Z pinch hit tonight with runners in scoring position.

John Grabow has been diagnosed with a torn medial collateral ligament and will miss the rest of the 2010 season. Grabow was all set to begin a rehab assignment when he felt a "pop" in his knee on Monday.

[ ]

In reply to by rokfish

he walked out of the cubs clubhouse and into the hallway where a CSN bay-area camera followed him on his walk from one clubhouse to his new one. panda was waiting there to greet him. it looked like the most awkward thing he's had to do in a long time, but he was smiling.

mike fontenot traded away...and blake dewitt busts up his lip so badly they have a delay of game to stop the bleeding coming back into the inning.

File this under money well spent (if you're an orthopedic surgeon) Per Wittenmeyer tweet... John Grabow out for rest of season, felt a pop in his knee pitching monday, wed MRI consistent with medial collateral ligament tear. --- Mcl tear if isolated (meaning no associated meniscus tear) recovers with rehab only in about 6 weeks Love that song...pop goes the weasel.

SF team color is black and fontenot had to take a black marker to his "cubbie blue" cleats. he did a real piss-poor hack job of it, too.

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).