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

Royals Flush Cubs into 13-Run Pool

Melky Cabrera drove-in three runs with a bases loaded triple to key a five-run 1st inning and the Royals never looked back, as the Cubs were thumped 13-4 by Kansas City in Cactus League action at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in sunny & warm Mesa, AZ, this afternoon.  

box score

The Royals did much of their damage against Cubs starter Matt Garza, who had an abysmal outing (especially his first inning), allowing a total of six runs on four hits and four walks in 2.2 IP (69 pitches - 40 strikes, 3/1 GO/FO).

The Royals scored five times in the top of the 1st, an inning in which Garza threw a whopping 39 pitches (23 strikes). Lorenzo Cain and Mike Aviles both drew walks to start the KC uprising, as Garza appeared to be over-throwing. Billy Butler ripped an RBI single for the 1st Royal run, and then Jeff Francouer drew a one-out walk (Garza's third free-pass of the inning). Melky Cabera then made Garza pay for his wild indiscretions, drilling a triple into deep left-centerfield to plate Aviles, Butler, and Francouer, and give the Royals a 4-0 lead. Alex Gordon followed with an RBI single to drive-in Cabrera.

The Cubs scored a single run in the bottom of the 1st against KC starter LHP Bruce Chen. Jeff Baker walked on a 3-2 pitch, and advanced to 3rd on a one-out single into the LF corner by hot-hittin' Marlon Byrd (with Byrd taking 2nd on the throw to 3rd). Aramis Ramirez then knocked-in Baker with an RBI ground out.

Although he issued another walk and had trouble locating the strike zone, Garza did retire 8 of 9 hitters after Gordon's 1st inning RBI single, before allowing another Gordon single with two outs in the 3rd, the last batter he would face. RHP Jay Jackson relieved Garza, and Gordon promptly stole a base to get into scoring position (a weak one-hop throw to 2nd by Geovany Soto). Manuel Pina then drove Gordon home with an RBI single, as Jackson allowed his inherited runner to score.

Marlon Byrd cut the KC lead to 6-2 with a solo HR over the LF fence with two outs in the 3rd. Over his last four Cactus League games, Byrd has nine hits (including four doubles and a HR) plus a walk in ten AB (11 PA).   

But J. Jackson gave the run right back in the top of the 4th, as Aviles and Butler hammered consecutive one-out singles to put runners on 1st & 3rd, giving Wilson Betemit the opportunity to plate Aviles with a SF (which he did). J. Jackson surrendered another run in the 5th on back-to-back doubles by Cabrera and Gordon. For the day J. Jackson allowed two runs (not including the inherited Garza runner who scored) on five hits (including two doubles), with no walks or strikeouts. Getting stretched-out for when he joins the Iowa Cubs starting rotation at Minor League Camp (probably next week), Jackson was permitted to go 2.1 IP, throwing 48 pitches (31 strikes), with a 1/5 GO/FO (almost all of his pitches were up in the strike zone).

Carlos Marmol threw a 1-2-3 6th with two strikeouts (Jeff Bianchi and Kila Ka'aihue) and a ground out. Marmol had really nasty stuff today.  

Down 8-2, the Cubs looked like they might mount another 6th inning rally like the one they pulled off against the Angels on Monday. Facing LHRP Everett Teaford, Josh Vitters (who has looked very good both at the plate and in the field this Spring) laced a one-out double, and Max Ramirez walked. Reed Johnson doubled to score Vitters and send M. Ramirez to 3rd (although in true Cubbery, all three runners were between 2nd and 3rd at one point), and Carlos Pena walked to load the bases, with the eventual potential tying run now moving to the On-Deck Circle. But Jim Adduci rolled into a room-service 4-6-3 DP to end the inning and kill the rally in its infancy.

RHP Justin Berg was next to take the hill for the Cubs, and he had another poor outing (a walk, a HBP, and an RBI single in 1.0 IP), throwing 18 pitches but only nine for strikes. 

Jeff Stevens had an impressive (for him) 12-pitch 1-2-3 8th, but Esmailin Caridad struggled with his command and was tagged for three runs in a 23-pitch (14 strikes) 9th, surrendering a single, a triple, and a Mitch Maier HR (plus an HBP) before getting the third out.  

The Cubs scored once in the bottom of the 9th, as pinch-hitter Chris Robinson rammed a double off the fence in left-centerfield, and scored a moment later on a Jeff Baker line-drive RBI single to right.

Comments

Good to hear that Vitters is looking good by AZ Phil's eye. Especially the defense. I guess he'll be down in the minor league camp by the time I get out there for spring training the week of the 22nd. I really don't know how that shit works. As for Grabow, he's just another poster child, like Scott Eyre and Mike Remlinger and I'm sure a few hundred others, for not spending a bunch of money on relievers. He's making $4.8 million this year. You could build a nice prospect development facility in some nether region for that kind of cash.

AZ Phil - Do you think Matt Camp or Scott Moore are even being considered to make the team. They are both having a good spring training and offer good utility left bats. Camp can play almost anywhere (including 2B) and has speed and could lead off. Moore has has power potential and has played 2B in both the major and minor leagues in addition to 1B and 3B (I believe he was drafted as a SS) Thanks

[ ]

In reply to by skavoovee

Submitted by skavoovee on Thu, 03/10/2011 - 10:26am. AZ Phil - Do you think Matt Camp or Scott Moore are even being considered to make the team. They are both having a good spring training and offer good utility left bats. Camp can play almost anywhere (including 2B) and has speed and could lead off. Moore has has power potential and has played 2B in both the major and minor leagues in addition to 1B and 3B (I believe he was drafted as a SS) Thanks ======================================= SKAVOOVEE: I can't see Scott Moore or Matt Camp making the Cubs Opening Day roster unless a couple of infielders start the season on the DL. Both should be on the Iowa Cubs Opening Day roster, though, and one or both could get called up to Chicago sometime later in the season. Moore isn't much of a hitter when facing MLB pitchers, but he has plus-power and has been worked-out all over the infield this spring, and (as you said) Camp can play anywhere, and would be a good PR in September if the Cubs are still in contention.

C'mon Cubs, the notion that Randy Wells is still competing for a rotation spot just reached "ridiculous" on the baseball banalities scale. 4.0 IP 1 hit 1 BB 2K's ST ERA 0.00

I decided to look up what the actual Cubs home spring training attendance has been so far this season, just for kicks. The az central website said just as spring training was beginning, "The HoHoKams have already sold about 118,000 tickets for this season, after the Cubs drew 152,000 last season for 14 home games. This season there will be 18 games. The Cubs averaged 10,900 fans per game last year." http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2011/02/28/20110228chi… So I looked up actual attendance numbers this year using Yahoo's box scores: Cubs spring training home game attendance this year: 2/27 vs OAK - 6,892 (Sunday) 2/28 vs Mil - 5,405 3/3 vs Tex - 6,229 3/5 vs SD - 10,445 (a Saturday game) 3/6 (SS) vs LAD - 8,669 (Sunday) 3/7 vs LAA - 6,804 3/9 vs KC - 5,529 --------------------- 7 home games before today, total/avg attendance: 49,973, 7,139 What is most interesting is that the first article says they had sold 118,000 tickets before spring training began, to 18 games, which is an avg of 6,555. Actual attendance so far is 7,139 avg, meaning only about 600 extra tickets per game are being sold (beyond what they had already sold pre-ST). They averaged 10,900 fans per game last year, and they are averaging 3,761 fewer butts in the seats this year, that's a 35% drop. WOW.

looking like dumpster/z/garza/wells are locked in...barring injury or mega-wells-fails. silva's gotta be sweating his next start or 2...wellemeyer is nipping and cashner is bobbing above/below water enough to stay in some kind of consideration (though i wouldn't mind seeing cashner starting in AAA and stretching out more). it's one thing to pitch like crap in spring, it's another to do it on the level silva has while not even showing good stuff behind the bad numbers. meh, it's still too early...kinda...

whomever C Chin-Hsiu Chen is, he really wants the Cubs to win this game after a Marquez Smith double, wild pitch followed by a throwing error by him, then a BB to Matt Camp followed by a passed ball

so does the $14.99 MLB At Bat 2011 let me watch games on my Iphone if I've already bought the MLB.tv subscription?

I was looking at the rest of the televised spring training games. Here's the schedule. Central Time: Friday, Mar 11 @ White Sox 2:05 Saturday, Mar 12 vs Reds 3:05 Sunday, Mar 13 vs Dodgers 3:05 Saturday, Mar 19 @ Padres 3:05 Sunday, Mar 20 vs Giants 3:05 Monday, Mar 21 @ Angels 3:05 Tuesday, Mar 22 @ Dodgers 3:05 Thursday, Mar 24 vs White Sox 3:05 Friday, Mar 25 vs Mariners 3:05 Sunday, Mar 27 vs Rockies 3:05

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).