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

Mike Quade Era Starts With A Bang, Will Surely End with a Whimper

The Cubs came out thumping last night for their new manager knocking out 15 hits and taking 6 walks, 3 of them by Soto as they pitched around him in the 8th spot. The last time the Cubs had an interim manager it was 2002 and the job went to Bruce Kimm (with Rene Lachemann getting one game before Kimm took over). The Cubs responded well that first game for Kimm, winning 7-3 over the Braves, but he ended up going 33-45 on the year, nearly identical to Baylor who was 34-49 before being fired.

You have to go to 1991 for the next mid-season firing, when Don Zimmer got canned after going 18-19 and once again a one game gig was given to bridge the gap, but this time to Joe Altobelli before Jim Essian took over.  If my math is right, the Cubs won that game as well for Essian, a 5-2 win over the Mets thanks to Greg Maddux, but Essian didn't fare much better than Zimmer did for the rest of the season finishing with a 59-63 record.

Some other interim manager results since 1970 for the Cubs.

1987 - Frank Lucchesi (8-17), lost first game to Pirates 4-1. Replaced Gene Michael (68-68).

1986 - Gene Michael (46-56), lost first game to Cardinals 1-0. Replaced Jim Frey (23-33).

1983 - Charlie Fox(17-22) , won first game 2-0 over Reds. Replaced Lee Elia (54-69).

1980 - Joey Amalfitano (26-46), lost first game 14-6 to Giants. Replaced Preston Gomez (38-52).

1979 - Joey Amalfitano (2-5), lost first game 3-1 to Mets. Replaced Herman Franks  who resigned (78-77).

1974 - Jim Marshall (25-44), lost first game 10-2 to the Phillies. Replaced Whitey Lockman (41-52).

1972 - Whitey Lockman (39-26), lost first game 6-5 to the Astros. Replaced Leo Durocher (46-44).

Kimm nor Essian got to keep the job the following year and I'm sure the same will happen for Quade unless the team goes on a crazy hot streak to finish the year. Gene Michael was the last interim manager to keep the job after the '86 season although he didn't even make it through the '87 season. Amalfitano did get a chance in the strike shortened '81 season but with poor results. Marshall stayed through 1976 before being replaced by Herman Franks in 1977 and Whitey Lockman stayed on for 1973 and part of 1974.

Quade's big move for tonight against the lefty Lannan is to move Soto up to the 6th spot, offsetting that inspirational move by batting Jeff Baker 5th and playing him in RF. Dewitt stays in the leadoff spot after going 3/5 with a HR and a 2B. Byrd sits after being hit in the hand yesterday and leaving the game early.

DeWitt 2B, Castro SS, Nady 1B, Ramirez 3B, Baker RF, Soto C, Soriano LF, Colvin CF, Zambrano P

And Justin Berg has been optioned to Iowa, lefty Scott Maine has been recalled (acquired in the offseason in a deal for Aaron Heilman).

Comments

Memories- Essian use to greet players back in dugout after a homer with his hat in his hand. I wished someone grabbed it from him and took a shit in it. Kimm- Still confused he didn't look George Takei, had to keep Fred McStiff in lineup to try to set some frivolous homer run season streak record. Otherwise good times!

God, ROB G, what a demonstration of pathetic ineptitude. It just shows that the organization from top to bottom, has really been one of the worst organizations in Major League Baseball over the last 50 years. It seems that 1984 was the year expectations started rising some, and 2003, of course was the attempt to finally overcome the "lovable loser" image. Of course Gene Michael won a World Series and Frey could have gotten there except for Leon "Blow" Durham.

Z flys back to Venzuela to be with 11 year old nephew who has deadly infection. Will be back for Monday start

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I can't really foresee a scenario where Sandberg doesn't get the job. The public relations hit would just be too much for the team to take after this disastrous season. Cubs fans will put up with a 71 win season with Ryne Sandberg in the dugout. They're not going to put up with one with Mike Quade.

[ ]

In reply to by SheffieldCornelia

Submitted by SheffieldCornelia on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 8:41am. Since when do quality professional baseball organizations determine their front-office and managerial hiring choices by the fans' preferences? If Mike Quade (or whoever else) is going to be a better manager for the Cubs baseball team than Ryne Sandberg, then they better hire him over Sandberg. I don't want the P.R. team making the baseball side's decisions. ========================================= SHEF: Word inside the org is that Ricketts wants Sandberg to be manager because he knows the 2011 Cubs won't be contenders and he wants Sandberg as the "face of the franchise" to help sell tickets, while Hendry wants Girardi as manager and Sandberg as bench coach. Right now the Cubs have a projected $118M 2011 payroll ($98M+ for players who are already signed, about $15M for arbitration-eligibles, and $5M for auto-renewal guys), with additional savings possible if some arbitration-eligibles get non-tenderded (A. Guzman for sure, probably K. Hill, and maybe Baker, too) and if the Cubs can find a taker for Fukudome (even if the Cubs have to eat a lot of the contract), and it is unknown how much over that Ricketts will go. Because of recent trades (Lilly, Theriot, and D. Lee), the Cubs actuall payroll pay-out in 2010 is down to around $132M from $140M, so it's possible that the 2011 payroll might not be as low as was previously thought, with the some or all of the $8M saved in 2010 payroll possibly applied toward 2011 payroll. I doubt that the Cubs will give out any mega-contracts to free-agents again anytime soon. The Marlon Byrd FA contact will be used as a template for future deals, which will probably exclude Adam Dunn, Cliff Lee, and Ted Lilly. Also, look for the Cubs to sign free-agents later in the off-season (especially bullpen guys), picking off bargains at discount prices rather than making pre-emptive strikes to sign premier free-agents in November-December, and expect the Cubs to use the depth in their farm system (although they might not have as many "Top 100" guys as some other organizations, the Cubs do have a very deep farm system) to make trades for "rent-a-players" headed for free-agency to fill holes.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 9:15am. I can't see Sandberg being a bench coach for a guy he mentored when he reached the majors. Why would Girardi sign up for that? Making Girardi the manager just delays the inevitable push for Sandberg for three years - what's the point of that? ========================================= REAL NEAL: Although it might appear that Ryne Sandberg is on the fast track to be an MLB manager, there are those inside the organization who think Casey Kopitzke (who will be managing the Mesa Solar Sox in the AFL this year) will be a much better manager than Sandberg, and that Sandberg is not ready to manage in the big leagues at this time (Kopitzke isn't either, which is why Girardi would be preferred). Whether Girardi would accept Sandberg as his bench coach is unknown, but it would be a compromise between what Ricketts wants and what Hendry wants. Then Sandberg could seek other managerial jobs with other organizations while working as the Cubs bench coach. It's also possible that Girardi could replace Hendry as GM at some point in the near future (2012), with Hendry moving up to Team President (replacing Crane Kenny) and Sandberg moving up to manager from bench coach at that time. However, Ricketts supposedly favors Sandberg as the next Cubs manager, and since Ricketts is the owner, it will probably turn out that way, unless he is convinced otherwise.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 9:46am. Phil, I wonder if you can expand a bit on these points for us. When is a manager "ready"? What tangible skills don't these two have now that they would attain in time that would make them ready? I mean it's not like you don't make double-switches until you get to AAA or something. They are doing all of the same things a big league manager does, except working with high-paid primadonnas - experience you can't get until you become a big league manager. So what specifically do "those inside the organization" that you cite see that needs work? Thanks. ================================================= WISCGRAD: Questions about Sandberg have absolutley nothing to do with in-game tactics or general baseball knowledge. It is all about managerial temperament and learning the league (how to use advance scouting reports to plan a game, the tendencies of rival managers, how far to push certain umpires, etc). In the case of Sandberg, serving a year as bench coach would help him with the latter, but the temperament issue is what it is. It is sometimes hard for a perfectionist Hall of Famer to deal with incompetence (players, umpires, front office, et al).

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 10:11am. Fair enough, but isn't the best place to deal with incompetence the minor leagues? The fields suck, the buses suck, the umpires suck, the players often suck, etc. If he was going to be challenged by incompetence, he wouldn't have lasted these years in the minors. That's my opinion. I also think that using scouting reports and knowing how far to push the major league umpires, etc. is why you give Sandberg an experienced bench coach. A guy who can say, I've know ump X for 15 years now, he doesn't like it when you do Y, he is best worked like this, etc. ============================================== WISCGRAD: Fans like it when a manager complains out loud to the press (Ozzie Gullen), but some of the Cubs front office people like to keep everything in-house, and might be worried that Sandberg might get frustrated enough at some point where he talks "out of turn" when he disagrees with a move. Fans who remember Sandberg as a quiet player would be surprised how much he has changed as a manager. He has a VERY short fuse and has been almost Larry Bowa-like as a minor league manager. I think Ricketts probably likes that, but I'm not sure Hendry does.

[ ]

In reply to by SheffieldCornelia

I think the Cubs are going to be profitable with or without Sandberg, as long as management makes moves with the roster that give us hope that we can win. You started the discussion by saying or implying that the manager has an impact on wins and losses, now you've changed your position. So why would you prefer Quade or anyone over Sandberg? I think the player budget will be the same regardless of who is managing the team. Do you have any evidence to base this conclusion on? The last time we brought in a big name manager - what happened to the team payroll? Big name managers, and Sandberg is the biggest name out there, generate excitement which generates revenue. Without the high revenue projections there will not be a high projected payroll. What's the one single thing that Cubs management could do to help them get to 3 million tickets next year?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I'm not sure where I said the manager makes a difference in revenues. I stated that I'd prefer that the manager be chosen for baseball reasons, rather than P.R. reasons. I am far from qualified to determine whether Ryne Sandberg is a better manager than the other candidates; maybe he is. If it turns out Sandberg is legitimately the best manager for the team, then I'm all for hiring him. But, I don't want the hiring decision to be based solely on "who's going to make Cubs fans happier?" Also, I don't have any evidence on which to base the assertion that hiring a certain manager is going to jack up the payroll. But, it should be fairly clear why they're not going to expand the budget for a certain manager. a) The budget is probably more or less set for next year, within a certain range, as the Cubs probably have financial planning processes in place to estimate future expenditures b) they spent more money because Zell was trying to flip the team for profit, not because Lou demanded it, and c), and this is a less solid reason, but I find it hard to believe the Cubs can estimate the financial impact of hiring one guy over another, to the extent that they know exactly how many dollars they're able to add to payroll. I'm pretty sure there's no chart sitting around Crane Kenney's office that says "Ryne Sandberg = $15.2M extra revenues, Joe Girardi = $14.0M extra revenues, Bob Brenly = $5M extra revenues, Mike Quade = $10M less revenues". I do agree with you that hiring Sandberg would generate more buzz around the team than hiring Quade would, and again, I'm no insider and I don't have access to the Cubs' books (though I would've loved to see them on that Deadspin posting), but I doubt the results of that decision would make a big difference on the actual 2011 budget.

[ ]

In reply to by SheffieldCornelia

But, I don't want the hiring decision to be based solely on "who's going to make Cubs fans happier?" Just about EVERY decision made by the Cubs organization is based solely on "who is going to make Cubs fans happier". Remember this GM that leaked sensitive internal information to the press in order to run Sosa out of town. All baseball teams make EVERY decision based solely on who is going to make their fans happier. They balance potential revenues against the costs to drive those revenues. Sandberg is going to be a slam dunk. When signing a draft pick they say "will spending an extra $500K, pay off in TV revenue and gate revenue in the future?" Maybe there's a manager that they think has a good chance to help the Cubs win 2-3 more games than Sandberg, but when you weigh that against the public relations (or revenue or good feeling or whatever you want to call it) boost of putting the most popular Cub of the last 40 years at the helm of the team, it's a no brainer. In sort of an "I think of absolutes and Joe Girardi will definitely win 3 more games than Ryne Sandberg will in 2011" sort of non-sensical thinking, you've got a valid point. In the real world would you trade a 100% chance at $10 million for a 25% chance at $20 million? No, and you will soon see, neither will the Ricketts family. To pretend that they could guarantee that any manager would definitely put the Cubs in the playoffs in 2011, and that Sandberg definitely wouldn't - well, it's just not operating in the real world of business or baseball.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I'm having a blast reading this back-and-forth, and think there're good points on both sides. I disagree that EVERY (even in all caps) decision is made based on the fans, and here's why--the Yankees have more fans than anybody not solely because they're in NY, but because they're a dynasty through and through. They know before starting next year that their gross income based on merch alone is going to be higher than other teams, which gives them more flexibility on the baseball side. I'm willing to bet what Ricketts wants more than anything is the Cubs to be the Yankees of the NL; winning long-term is what keeps the fans AND dollars rolling in long-term, and the empty seats at the end of this summer are evidence that the Cubs' fan base has finally joined the rest of the baseball universe (TCR excepted, we tend to be die-hards). And as far as the Sandberg conversation specifically, Girardi is an anomaly, the only one. Your Ryno vs. Girardi math applies to every other managerial choice except Joe Girardi. The reasons why are he, too, is an ex-Cub (although obviously not on the Sandberg level, still true), his track record (especially with the Marlins in his FIRST YEAR), and his WS ring. Because of all this, Ricketts needs to look at, yes, the nigh-guaranteed money Sandberg brings NEXT YEAR vs. which ex-Cub has the better chance of beginning the Cubs (Ricketts) dynasty. This all makes Girardi look like a better choice, especially if you can convince them both (and it actually works in practice) to have Ryno come up as his bench coach. PLUS, you've got your insurance right there on the bench if Girardi's overpaid and can't get it done. Lots of 'ifs'. One more side note, Ricketts needs to start his winning ways with the next Cashman/Epstein/etc, probably someone we've all never heard of. Even in his "Hendry is our GM going into next year" soundbite that came with Lou's retirement, Ricketts didn't sound too married to the idea. I'm betting that whichever manager they go with, if it's not producing results pretty quick, Hendry is gone by a year from Christmas.

ryno tossed yesterday for 4th time; came out of dugout in top of 9th w/ team down a run to argue a 'ball' call on a 3/2 pitch w/ bases loaded...fleita in town & told des moines register that the organization has committed to samardzija as a starter [been starting regularly since mid-season]; says his "needle still points north..."

Thanks AZ Phil. It is nice to hear from you again! I understand what you mean about Sandberg not being able perhaps to deal with incompetence, and he would certainly be maddened by it on the North Side! Do you believe that Brenly or Listash have any legitimate chance as a Cubs managerial player, or would interviews be purely Hendry's sign of "veteran courtesy"? Personally, I cannot fathom why Girardi would even entertain joining this mess when he is running a squad that has the potential to be in the Playoffs every year.And, of course, there would be the matter of Ricketts coming up with the money Girardi required.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Submitted by The E-Man on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 10:20am. Thanks AZ Phil. It is nice to hear from you again! I understand what you mean about Sandberg not being able perhaps to deal with incompetence, and he would certainly be maddened by it on the North Side! Do you believe that Brenly or Listash have any legitimate chance as a Cubs managerial player, or would interviews be purely Hendry's sign of "veteran courtesy"? Personally, I cannot fathom why Girardi would even entertain joining this mess when he is running a squad that has the potential to be in the Playoffs every year.And, of course, there would be the matter of Ricketts coming up with the money Girardi required. ==================================================== E-MAN: I think right now it's between Sandberg and Girardi. Bob Brenly might become Hendry's favorite if Girardi backs away, but Ricketts (supposedly) really wants Sandberg, and he is the owner. Pat Listach will (just like last time) almost certainly be the required minority candidate interview, and he could be the next Cubs bench coach. Brenly would make a good bench coach for Sandberg, but he probably would prefer to stay in the booth until an MLB managerial job becomes available.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 10:49am. Assuming Sandberg becomes manager and Listash becomes bench coach. Who rounds out the staff? Rudy Jar stays on as hitting coach Rothchild seems firmly entrenched as PC Denier? DeJesus? Chico Walker? Is Bobby Dickerson still around anywhere? ================================================== DR AARON B: I doubt that Mike Quade will return to the coaching staff, although he could remain in the organization in the Player Development Dept. Rudy Jaramillo is a lock to return. Minor League Pitching Coordinator Mark Riggins (former Cardinals MLB Pitching Coach) could (should) replace Larry Rothschild as Pitching Coach. No matter who the next manager is, I would think Bob Dernier will probably be on the coaching staff in 2011 as either the 1st base or 3rd base coach. Ivan DeJesus could very well be the infield & 3rd base coach, unless he shows really poor judgment there the last month of the season. Minor League Field Coordinator Dave Bialas is another possibility for 3rd base coach. And the new manager gets to name at least one coach, maybe two ("Special Assistant" and/or possibly the 1st base coach, bench coach, or bullpen coach). If Girardi is the new manager, he will probably get to select two of his coaches (Mike Harkey might be one, as bullpen coach). Sandberg would have less leverage and might get just one pick, and maybe not even a "Special Assistant." Bobby Dickerson is presently a minor league coordinator in the Orioles organization (he runs the O's Dominican Academy).

Iowa closer Brian Schlitter to 7-day DL with a sore shoulder, and LHRP Luke Sommer gets promoted from Tennessee to Iowa. Sommer was an OF-1B his first season with the Cubs (237/299/401 with AZL Cubs), then was converted to LHP at Extended Spring Training 2008.

Z speaks... http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/08/big-z-move-to-bullpen-in-a… ----- Does he ever wonder if he'd be pitching like this had he stayed in the rotation from the outset? "What do you think?" he replied. "The situation we were in, when they moved me to the bullpen, it was kind of weird. But at the same time, they needed somebody in the bullpen in the eighth inning. We were losing a lot of games in the seventh, eighth innings. I think from my perspective we get too desperate too soon. To make that decision, that's OK. But you know what? I'm trying to finish the season strong and trying to be consistent and prepare for this last month."

[ ]

In reply to by ddp33

Submitted by ddp33 on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 4:34pm. Anyone care to speculate on September call ups/roster moves? Az Phil? =================================================== DDP33: Although most of these guys will not be brought up until the conclusion of the PCL playoffs, I suspect pitchers Mitch Atkins, Justin Berg, Jeff Gray, Jeff Samardzija, Brian Schlitter (if his shoulder is OK), and Jeff Stevens, catcher Welington Castillo, and OF Sam Fuld will get recalled from Iowa, Carlos Silva and Esmailin Caridad (if their rehabs progress without any set-backs) will be reactivated from the 15-day DL, and John Grabow will be transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL to make room for OF Brad Snyder, who will likely be added to the 40-man roster and brought up from Iowa. Robinson Chirinos will likely get added to the 40-man roster sometime in October (like Brad Snyder, Chirinos is eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league free-agent post-2010 so he has to be added to the 40-man roster no later than the 4th day after the conclusion of the World Series), and RHP Chris Archer, OF Brandon Guyer, and 3B Marquez Smith, and possibly C-1B Steve Clevenger will be added to the 40-man roster on 11/20. To make room for these additions (plus Angel Guzman and John Grabow reactivated from the 60-day DL no later than 11/20 or the 16th day following the conclusion of the World Series, whichever comes first), six or seven players will need to be dropped from the 40-man roster. Top candidates to get dropped from the 40 during October are Jeff Gray (out of options next season), Justin Berg, Jeff Stevens, Marcos Mateo, and Koyie Hill, and Sam Fuld could get traded (probably to Boston, Baltimore, or Oakland) sooner rather than later. Then Angel Guzman (for sure) and possibly Jeff Baker will get non-tendered on 12/12, and the Cubs will offer Guzman a minor league deal for 2011 so he can continue his rehab at Fitch Park.

[ ]

In reply to by ddp33

Submitted by ddp33 on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 6:52am. Thank you very much! So do you think Snyder makes the team next year? What happens if he has a mediocre or poor September/spring training? ================================ DDP33: Brad Snyder is a five-tool player who could be a late-bloomer. Or he might be the kind of player who is able to master AAA but can't cross the threshhold to become an everyday MLB player. But Snyder has showed at Iowa this seaon that he can hit LHP, something that was a problem early in his career and would have left him a platoon OF (at best). His big negative is making contact. He strikes out a LOT. That said, Snyder will be in MLB with somebody next year. To make it with the Cubs he would have to have a strong September AND Spring Training. He is eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league free-agent (6YMiLFA) post-2010, so if he isn't added to the Cubs 40-man roster by the end of the World Series he will be the #1 6YMiLFA on the market post-2010, and he is out of minor league options, too, so if the Cubs do add him to their 40-man roster and then he does not make the Cubs 2011 Opening Day 25-man roster, Snyder will either be traded or claimed off waivers if the Cubs try to send him to the minors. As things stand right now, Snyder will be competing with Micah Hoffpauir and Sam Fuld (both will also be out of options in 2011) for a spot on the Cubs 2011 25-man roster (and if he does win a spot, Snyder's role initially would probably be 4th OF and #1 LHPH), but even if he outplays Fuld and Hoffpauir, the Cubs will either have to move Tyler Colvin to 1B or trade Kosuke Fukudome during the off-season to make room for Snyder. That's why it is important for the Cubs to bring Snyder up ASAP once rosters expand in September, and then give him enough playing time to show what he can (or can't) do.

are no match for Quade!! Hope they can play spoiler against Reds this weekend, get the Pirates after that. If anything good audition for Quade's future managing prospects.

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?