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

Cubs Projected 25-Man Roster

The Cubs are a wasteland of news at the moment. Let's look at how Project .500 is doing...

Starting 8 (total guesses right now):

vs. righties: DeWitt, Castro, Pena, Ramirez, Colvin, Soriano, Byrd, Soto

Bench: Fukudome, Baker, Hill, Barney, Guyer or other outfielder

vs. lefties: Baker, Castro, Ramirez, Pena, Byrd, Soriano, Soto, Fukudome

Bench: Colvin, DeWitt, Hill, Barney, Guyer or other outfielder

Starting 5: Zambrano, Dempster, Wells, Gorzelanny, Cashner or Silva

Bullpen: Marmol, Wood, Marshall, Grabow, Cashner or Silva, Samardzija, 1 of Russell, Caridad, Berg, Maine, Rice, Diamond, Coleman or Chad Fox.

The hints from Levine are that Colvin will get the bulk of playing time over Fukudome who would sort of super-sub throughout the week. Personally Fukudome is about the only leadoff option the team has right now against righties, so we'll see if that changes over spring training. My guess at a lineup versus righties is just that, a guess. Managers tend to like alternating lefties and righties so I could see that as an option.

The better bet and what I'd try with the current personal is Fukudome, Castro, Pena, Ramirez, Soto, Soriano, Byrd, DeWitt and I think spots 3-7 could all be shifted depending on the hot hand. You could also try Fukudome, Castro, Ramirez, Soto, Pena, Soriano, Byrd, DeWitt to break up the righties in the middle of the order(and have Pena and Soriano leave a shit load of runners on base) and it does depend if Aramis rebounds this season (let's hope for a rebound contract year).

The bullpen actually looks pretty good at the moment, but those have a way of being unpredictable. The rotation, well guess it depends on which Z we get and if Wells bounces back a little. It's solld, but definitely behind the Cards, Brewers and most likely Reds at this point.

Comments

What does this have to do with the Bears? More seriously, it looks like Project .500 is proceeding rather nicely, although it could be a struggle to get there. I think Colvin will have to earn that bench spot, though.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Jacos, I agree. When I saw that list, I thought 81 wins would be amazing. Considering they will likely be the 4th best team in the division, I think 77 wins is about the best we can hope for as the team is currently assembled. Amazing what a $140 MM payroll gets you. Thanks Teflon Jim!! Sign him up for another 3 years. Fire Hendry!

MANNY! Enjoy Penn State in a Bowl game! Guess JoPA is gonna have to die on the field before they replace him, huh? Go Big Ten! Go Bears! Go Cutler! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! I'm going 74-88 for the 2011 Cubs. Just am not confident much after the first two starters.

I have posted this before, but here are what I think will probably be the most likely Opening Day rosters throughout the Cubs organization in 2011, as things stand right now and very much subject to change (trades, DL, etc)... * bats or throws left # bats both CHICAGO CUBS PITCHERS: Justin Berg Andrew Cashner Ryan Dempster * Tom Gorzelanny * John Grabow Carlos Marmol * Sean Marshall Jeff Samardzija Carlos Silva Randy Wells Kerry Wood Carlos Zambrano CATCHERS: # Koyie Hill Geovany Soto INFIELDERS: Jeff Baker Darwin Barney Starlin Castro * Blake DeWitt * Carlos Pena Aramis Ramirez OUTFIELDERS: Marlon Byrd * Tyler Colvin * Kosuke Fukudome * Sam Fuld Alfonso Soriano IOWA PITCHERS: David Cales Esmailin Caridad Chris Carpenter Casey Coleman Thomas Diamond * John Gaub Jay Jackson * Scott Maine Marcos Mateo * James Russell Brian Schlitter Jeff Stevens CATCHERS: Welington Castillo Robinson Chirinos INFIELDERS: * Matt Camp * Bryan Lahair * Scott Moore Nate Samson # Bobby Scales (player-coach) Marquez Smith Tony Thomas OUTFIELDERS: * James Adduci Brandon Guyer * Brad Snyder Ty Wright TENNESSEE PITCHERS: Chris Archer * Jeffrey Beliveau * Ryan Buchter Alberto Cabrera Rafael Dolis Ty'Relle Harris Trey McNutt * Brooks Raley * Chris Rusin Aaron Shafer Kyle Smit * Luke Sommer CATCHERS: * Steve Clevenger Chris Robinson INFIELDERS: # Marwin Gonzalez Junior Lake D. J. Lemahieu * Blake Lalli Rebel Ridling Josh Vitters OUTFIELDERS: * Tony Campana * Ryan Flaherty * Brett Jackson * Matt Spencer DAYTONA PITCHERS: * Jeffry Antigua Yohan Gonzalez Su-Min Jung Aaron Kurcz * James Leverton Robinson Lopez * Jeff Lorick Oswaldo Martinez Dae-Eun Rhee Ryan Searle Nick Struck Brett Wallach Robert Whitenack CATCHERS: Michael Brenly Luis Flores INFIELDERS: * Justin Bour * Matt Cerda * Hak-Ju Lee # David Macias Jonathan Mota * Logan Watkins OUTFIELDERS: * Kyler Burke Evan Crawford Jae-Hoon Ha * Nelson Perez PEORIA PITCHERS: Frank Batista Dallas Beeler * Brent Ebinger * Cam Greathouse Jin-Yeong Kim * Austin Kirk Matt Loosen * Marcos Perez Austin Reed Kevin Rhoderick Juan Yasser Serrano Larry Suarez Ben Wells CATCHERS: # Micah Gibbs Chad Noble INFIELDERS: # Arismendy Alcantara * Ryan Cuneo * Richard Jones Pierre LePage Brandon May Elliot Soto OUTIELDERS: Reggie Golden D. J. Fitzgerald Jesus Morelli Matt Szczur EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING (BOISE/MESA) PITCHERS: * Hunter Ackerman Justin Bristow (rehab) Dustin Fitzgerald Angel Guzman (rehab) * Cody Hams * Casey Harman Ryan Hartman Alvido Jumenez * Eric Jokisch Luis Liria Hector Mayora * John Mincone (rehab) Jon Nagel (rehab) Amaury Paulino Starling Peralta Eric Rice Colin Richardson Jhon Rodriguez Melvin Rosa (rehab) Jose Rosario Bryce Shafer Hayden Simpson * Brian Smith Alvaro Sosa (ex-C) Charles Thomas (ex-3B) Tzu-An Wang Yao-Lin Wang CATCHERS: * Sergio Burruel Max Kwan # Engel Santana Carlos Romero * Jeff Vigurs INFIELDERS: Gioskar Amaya # Vismeldy Bieneme Willson Contreras * Pin-Chieh Chen Dustin Geiger * Wes Darvill Albert Hernandez # Marco Hernandez Jake McAloose OUTFIELDERS: * Delbis Arcila Xavier Batista Anthony Giansanti Dong-Yub Kim (rehab) * Kyung-Min Na Cody Shields # Oliver Zapata NO ROOM AT THE INN AT THIS TIME PITCHERS: Austin-Bibens-Dirkx Rogelio Carmona Marco Carrillo Hung-Wen Chen Manolin DeLeon Eduardo Figueroa Steve Grife Gian Guzman Marcus Hatley Dylan Johnston Danny Keefe Alessandro Maestri Corey Martin * J. R. Mathes Tarlandus Mitchell Craig Muschko Jake Muyco Blake Parker Mike Parisi Mike Perconte * Scott Rice Carlos Rojas * Chris Siegfried * Polin Trinidad Joe Zeller CATCHERS: Jose Guevara INFIELDERS: Melvin Camarena * Jake Opitz Greg Rohan OUTFIELDERS: Smaily Borges Chris Huseby * Alvaro Ramirez Blair Springfield # Jose Valdez RELEASED POST-2010: PITCHERS: Jadel Mendez * Jeremy Papelbon David Patton Andres Quezada INFIELDERS: George Matheus LEFT VIA MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENCY PITCHERS: Mitch Atkins (signed with BAL) Jeff Gray (signed with CHW) CATCHERS: * Mark Johnson (retired - will be manager at EXST & Boise) Mario Mercedes (still FA) * Mark Reed (still FA) INFIELDERS: Russ Canzler (signed with TB) Scott McClain (retired - will be U. S. scout for Hiroshima Carp) OUTFIELDERS: Jason Dubois (retired - will be hitting coach with AZL Cubs) LOST IN RULE 5 DRAFT: PITCHERS: * Casey Lambert (selected by BAL in AAA Phase) Ronny Morla (selected by NYM in AAA Phase)

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Interesting AZ PHIL: Please give me your .02 on Justin Berg. What does he have that you believe would give him enough to make the big club (I know your list is subject to change, of course)? I just don't see it the times I have seen him at Wrigley. Perhaps he was more effective earlier in the year, but IIRC, he got sent back down after getting shelled a few outings in a row? I mean aren't any of the AA or AAA guys (not including the projected starters) better than Berg right now? Or do they suffer even worse control problems? Also, with respect to Diamond, what's his contract situation and what is it about his skill-set that the Cubs want to keep him around? Cheapness? It seems as if his good days, as few as there were, are behind him even though he was a #1 Rangers draft pick. Yes, I know he throws in the high 90's, but batters were not fooled at all. What say ye PHIL??

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 12/30/2010 - 4:25pm. Interesting AZ PHIL: Please give me your .02 on Justin Berg. What does he have that you believe would give him enough to make the big club (I know your list is subject to change, of course)? I just don't see it the times I have seen him at Wrigley. Perhaps he was more effective earlier in the year, but IIRC, he got sent back down after getting shelled a few outings in a row? I mean aren't any of the AA or AAA guys (not including the projected starters) better than Berg right now? Or do they suffer even worse control problems? Also, with respect to Diamond, what's his contract situation and what is it about his skill-set that the Cubs want to keep him around? Cheapness? It seems as if his good days, as few as there were, are behind him even though he was a #1 Rangers draft pick. Yes, I know he throws in the high 90's, but batters were not fooled at all. What say ye PHIL?? ======================================= E-MAN: There is one spot open on the Cubs pitching staff going into Spring Training, and I think Justin Berg is the front-runner (at this time) because the Cubs like his durability and make-up. He wants the ball and can throw every day. When the Cubs made call-ups last September, they did not recall Caridad, Stevens, Gaub, or Schlitter, but they did bring up Berg. That said, there are a number of candidates for that one spot, and while Berg probably has the inside track going into Spring Training, I would say Caridad, Russell, Mateo, and Maine would probably have just about as good a chance of making the Cubs Opening Day roster as Berg, Marcos Mateo threw the ball pretty well in the DWL, and he also pitched OK in September, so he could very take the job. Or somebody else not on the radar might surprise the Cubs in Spring Training and pitch his way onto the 25-man roster and into the bullpen. I'm sure the Cubs will be interested to see if Angel Guzman can comeback from his shoulder surgery, although it's probably a long-shot. As for Thomas Diamond, he has one minor league option left, and will likely be in the starting rotation at AAA Iowa again in 2011, although he is also is a candidate to get traded in a deal for a minor league player or pitcher who is not on a 40-man roster. Diamond pitched for Cubs Assistant GM Randy Bush when Bush was head baseball coach at the University of New Orleans, and I think that is the main reason the Cubs claimed him off waivers when they did. Diamond does not throw as hard as he did prior to his arm problems, but he does rack up the strikeouts and looks like he could be a #5 starter on a few MLB clubs. (He was the starting pitcher for the PCL in the AAA All-Star Game last July). While I think he probably is best-suited to be a starter, he likely won't get that opportunity again with the Cubs, so he will have to compete for the one open bullpen spot in ST.

DLee realizes his options are disappearing and takes a 1 year deal with Orioles. O's have improved quite a bit this offseason. I don't know if they can realistically make the playoffs in that division but the are much better. DLee, Brian Roberts, JJ Hardy, and Mark Reynolds replaces last year's INF of Wigginton, Roberts, Izturis, and Tejada. They have a decent young OF, Wieters at catcher, Racist DH Luke Scott, and a bunch of good looking young pitchers.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

unfortunately the O's still have to go out there and have people throw baseballs to other hitters when they're not at bat. btw...speaking of low-end teams...the A's have once again forgotten you need bats to back up killer pitching. i think they have 1, maybe 2 guys, capable of 20+ homers on their team and they're matsui + willingham. you'd think they'd "get" by now that having a slew of guys who can take walks, but can't run well, need a little help getting through the basepaths. A's are also out there supposedly looking more bullpen help, too. they're building a true pitching and defense team out there.

I just love all of you guys. Yes even Real Neal. I for one enjoys RN's steadfastness. To me, that's what life is about. Guys like Real Neal, in a bar, a guy you almost want to bloody the teeth of, but, you know you can't, because he talks stuff in your face that makes sense and you go, ok, at least it makes me think. I want to blast him open, but dammit, he's just too fun to talk to. So, Happy New Years to you all. Even the Real Neals of the world. Oh, and for all you young Cub fans out there, relax, and enjoy Project .500 as it winds its way around the next century. You will find a Cubs hero to latch onto. And then, you will enjoy bliss.

Yes but many years from today Corey Wooten will be the answer to a trivia question, lets just hope he has a few more moments in his career.

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).