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

Rangers Edge Cubs 8-7

Carlos Zambrano threw three shutout innings, Blake DeWitt doubled, singled, drove-in a run, and scored another, and Augie Ojeda smacked a bases-loaded two-run double, but a split squad of Texas Rangers rallied from a 5-1 deficit to edge the Cubs 8-7 in Cactus League action at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in Mesa this afternoon.

box score

Although he did not allow a run, Zambrano did allow five baserunners (two singles, two walks, and a HBP) and struggled with his control (41 pitches - only 20 strikes), consistently missing up. But he made pitches and threw strikes when he needed them most, and was able to survive unscathed.

Braden Looper followed "Z" to the mound and worked two innings (24 pitches - 14 strikes). He was hit hard in his first inning, but threw more effectively in his second inning when he retired the Rangers 1-2-3. 

Meanwhile, the Cubs were assuming a 5-1 lead.

Blake DeWitt doubled into the LF corner to lead off the bottom of the 1st, and then with two outs, Aramis Ramirez single to left to score DeWitt from 3rd base with the first run of the day.

The Cubs then scored four more runs in the bottom of the 4th.

Carlos Pena walked and Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto singled to load the bases, before Augie Ojeda smacked a double past the 1st baseman and down the RF line and into the corner, scoring Pena and Soriano. Braden Looper then lined a sacrifice fly to score Soto from 3rd (as the ball almost sailed over the head of RF Doug Deeds), and DeWitt followed the Looper SF with an RBI single to score Ojeda, as the Cubs took a 5-1 lead. 

But RHP Rafael Dolis had a bad day, as the 23-year old fireballer was only able to retire one batter in the top of the 6th before being relieved. It wasn't so much that he was hit hard, it's just that he threw a boatload of pitches to get just one out (32 pitches - 20 strikes). Dolis allowed two hits (including a Mitch Moreland monster three-run jack that landed just in front of the Party Pavillion located well beyond the RF fence) and two walks, but he was also hurt by an error (dropped catch) by 1st baseman Scott Moore on what should have been an easy 6-3 put-out to open the inning, and then the next batter (Omar Quintanilla) had a 13-pitch AB that featured two sprawling unsuccessful attempts at spectacular catches by LF Matt Camp in foul territory down the LF line. Esmailin Caridad eventually relieved Dolis and got the final two out of the inning easily, but not before the Rangers had tied it up at 5-5.

Texas took the lead off Thomas Diamond in the top of the 8th, as PH David Paisano tripled off the right-centerfield fence, driving in two runs before being thrown out at the plate trying to stretch the triple into an inside-the-park HR. Like Zambrano earlier in the game, Diamond struggled with his control, throwing 20 pitches (but only ten for strikes) in his one inning of work. 

The Cubs did score two runs with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, as Marquez Smith doubled down the LF line, and Scott Moore and Matt Camp followed with RBI line-drive singles. So the Cubs had the potential tying run on base and the potential winning run at the plate, but the batter was Koyie Hill, and he popped-out weakly against LHRP Ben Snyder (Brad's younger brother) to CF to end the game.

The Cubs defense was marginally better today. Besides the Scott Moore dropped throw that led to two unearned runs, the Cubs also were unable to turn double plays twice in the first three innings that might have helped Zambrano to get through his three innings with a bit less stress. 

Michael Young got the start at 2B for the Rangers today (perhaps as a showcase for a possible trade with the Cubs?), and he had a line-drive single and a walk in his two Plate Appearances. Interestingly, Rafael Dolis was rumored to be on the Rangers radar during the off-season in a deal that would have sent Dolis and C Robinson Chirinos to Texas for RHRP Darren O'Day and 1B Chris Davis, as a precursor to the Rangers acquiring Matt Garza from Tampa Bay (with Chirinos one of the players who would have gone to TB). 

Comments

Unless the Rangers intend to take some salary back (fukudome + Silva), I don't see the Cubs mucking up their books with Young for the next 3 years.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

wish they would have been committed to Kelly Johnson in 2011, but no, must not trade James Russell!!! --- If Bruce Levine had posted the above he would have worded it eggs-ackley the same except for him inserting The OC. (where OC goes, so go the playoffs...so this year will really be the test given he's with the Tribe)

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I could see Marlon Byrd and Carlos Silva ($11.5M in combined salaries in 2011 and $8.5M in combined salaries in 2012 if you include Silva's $2M 2012 buy-out) going to TEX for Young, with the Rangers paying the $9M in post-2013 deferred salaries ($3M deferred each year 2011-13). The end result would be that the Cubs would add $20M in payroll over the next three years above what they have to pay now ($2.5M more in 2011 and $4.5M more in 2012, and then $13M more in 2013 when Dempster and Zambrano come off the books).

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

Submitted by MikeC on Fri, 03/04/2011 - 5:54am. One problem wellllll actually 2.....1) Texas doesn't need another OFer. 2) Their rotation already has way better options than Silva. ===================================== MIKE: It isn't that the Rangers would want or need Carlos Silva, it's that they would have to take his contract ($6M in 2011 and $2M buy-out in 2012) back as part of the deal. Then they can release him if they don't want or need him. As for Marlon Byrd, the Rangers don't "need" another outfielder, but they don't need Michael Young either and would like to get out from under at least part of their future salary obligations to him. Young wants out if he isn't an everyday player. Byrd would have some use to the Rangers as a 4th OF who can play CF and occasional RH DH. He might even become the starting CF. Byrd had prior success in Texas and apparently liked playing there, he just didn't get the contract offer he wanted when he was a FA post-2009. Byrd gets $12M over the next two years, and that would help make it possible for the Cubs to afford to add Young's salary. And if the Cubs were to make the deal, it would open up a starting OF spot for Tyler Colvin immediately and then for Brett Jackson whenever he's ready. Blake DeWitt would be a back-up 2B-3B-LHPH, and Jeff Baker would not be needed at all, allowing the Cubs to keep Max Ramirez as a 3rd catcher, RH back-up 1B, and RHPH. And Andrew Cashner could be the 5th starter.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=6181557 "That was a very hard inning," Silva said Friday, addressing the incident for the first time after refusing previous requests. "I gave up those two homers, I came to the dugout and tried to take it easy. I tried to relax and let it go. The only thing I said was, 'We need to start making plays here.' "He took it personally. I knew it was my mistake. It was my fault. You shouldn't say anything. But he took it personally. We argued in the dugout." He seems to have backed off believing that he's already earned a rotation spot as well.

So, today we have Castro throwing to Colvin at first. Things could get real ugly. Soto bats cleanup...where he belongs in the regular season. RF Fukudome SS Castro 1B Colvin C Soto 3B Moore 2B Baker LF Johnson CF Jackson P Garza

Colvin solo HR in 1st, not bad for his first 1B start. Also got two putouts (on the first two batters) in the bottom of the inning.

gameday has garza throwing 94mph. this early? i doubt it... gameday has been too flaky to trust so far, dunno if i buy that.

twitter sez Garza knocked by Francouer line drive Gordo says rib/kidney Sully says back of shoulder Muskrat says somewhere in the back He stayed in to finish the inning

KC has made about 1000 pickoff attempts at 1st pretty much any time anyone's on 1st...fun stuff.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I think it's too soon to call it a closed case on Weiters, but it's sort of funny how people here were saying the Cubs blew it by not taking him in the draft a month ago.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_ge… nice hacky column by Wojo
Zambrano didn't have "little" anger issues, as Soto said, but very public ones. And does anybody really think Zambrano's outbursts, usually directed at showing up his teammates, were limited to what Cubs fans saw on the field?
Does he bother to be a journalist and get some answers to the question he posed? Nope. Just dangeles it like he went to the school of Jay Mariotti writing. also video preview from ESPN that couldn't get the lineup right. Eduardo Perez, or whatever producers told him to say, doesn't seem to like the Cubs.

olney on twitter sez Angels looking for a left-handed bat. I'm sure they could use another outfielder.

So, can we safely say that John Gaub will be only a memory in the trade for DeRo after March 19?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Submitted by The E-Man on Fri, 03/04/2011 - 4:55pm. So, can we safely say that John Gaub will be only a memory in the trade for DeRo after March 19? =================================== E-MAN: I suspect it's headed that way. I was kind of surprised Gaub wasn't outrighted during the off season, but I guess the Cubs were hoping he could get straightened out in Spring Training. Gaub spent the last half of last season at Fitch Park trying to hit the broad side of the clubhouse, and it wasn't pretty. He got into one AZL Cubs game in July or August and then that was it. He did not return to Iowa, and he didn't play winter ball, either. We really need to find a cure for Steve Blass Disease. Perhaps a telethon?

... trying to hit the broad side of the clubhouse, and it wasn't pretty. HAHA! You have a helluva sense of humor, PHIL! I had asked you on several occasions over the last year what was up with Gaub, as on the occasions I had seen him pitch as he was pretty dreadful. I guess at one time he showed promise? If its a telethon, we gotta get Jerry Lewis in on it. Since Stevens, in my estimation, will not amount to much either, the three-for-one deal of Gaub/Stevens/Archer for De Rosa, was really just DeRo for Archer. And now as we know Garza takes his place in what is currently a one-year deal, right? I wonder, if you were to calculate the amount of wasted time spent by staff trying to train these two untalented pitchers since December 2008, that the deal came out worse than a wash for the Cubs?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

so much depends on what both garza and archer do at this point...and to a lesser extent hj.lee (imo, since his hitting is theriot-esque...still young, though). so far all garza has done is save the cubs 4-6m on a pitcher of similar caliber...which given the 2011 payroll constraints is something. it could be big win or big bleh... -edit- before this starts a pro-archer shitstorm...or a negative-garza shitstorm...or a useless pro-chinirrioiroiroros shitstorm... long story short, this is something probably best assessed in Oct/Nov as of now.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Funny thing that you didn't even pick out the mentioning of Gaub as a "untalented" pitcher. I guess Dale Murphy was an untalented catcher. One scout called Gaub the best left handed reliever in the minors prior to 2010. Catching Steve Blass disease doesn't have anything to do with talent - in fact it's probably evidence of talent.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

You have to keep in mind though that DeRo was simply a FA signing in the first place, he cost the Cubs nothing to acquire him other than some money. So regardless of what happens with Archer, you can almost think of the trade as HJ Lee, Chirinos and Guyer for getting 3 years of Garza's services at a below-market rate relative to similar quality pitchers. Are those three prospects worth approximately $3-$5MM in major league payroll savings? It all depends on whether Lee pans out or not.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"The glass shattered on my head and I started to bleed..." Monique is requesting that she be given legal and physical custody of the boys, and that Milton be given visitation. She is seeking child support and cites irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.
So he's not feeling like $30 million bucks anymore? Hopefully, she and the kids are.

matt garza on taking a comebacker and the bruising... “I’ve got a lot of tattoos over there,” Garza said. “It’s nothing really. It hit the lower lat under my rib. After I took a deep breath, it didn’t hurt.”

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).