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

This is Your 2011 Cubs

via Rotoworld...

Marmol entered a 3-1 game and allowed the six runs on five hits and a walk before being yanked having recorded just one out. The last time a Cubs pitcher allowed six runs in the ninth inning with Chicago leading entering the frame came in 1911.

Also it seems that Q-Ball doesn't have the respect of everyone in the clubhouse...a response to Z breaking a bat over his leg last night.

‘‘I don’t like that,’’ Quade said. ‘‘I’m glad he’s OK. I get his frustration, but he can do something else. I cringe because he can hurt himself.’’

‘‘I work hard. My legs are strong,’’ said Zambrano, who was upset at himself because he missed a hanging breaking ball he thought he should have hit. ‘‘It’s nothing to worry about. If you want to see how I can break bats over my legs, come back tomorrow and watch me lift weights.’’

But what about the manager’s concern?

‘‘What manager?’’ Zambrano said.

Don't forget that Dempster was picked over Z for Opening Day and Dempster couldn't have been more vocal about wanting Q-Ball to get the manager gig. It could be nothing, could be something....

I heard Darwin Barney on XM Radio this morning, nothing earth shattering as you'd expect, but I have to say he does come off quite professionally and says all the right things. Said that Carlos Pena could be a preacher if he wanted, seems to be a very vocal and encouraging presence in the clubhouse. Also had good things to say about Marlon Byrd, relating a story in spring training that after Byrd got on him a little bit in the batting cage that Barney encouraged him to keep doing it whenever he caught Barney messing up and that he was committed to improving himself.

Today's lineup vs. Brett Myers: Fuku RF, Barney 2B, Castro SS, Pena 1B, Ramirez 3B, DeWitt LF, Soto C, Colvin CF, Davis P

Comments

Yeah, I remember Barney talking in ST about Byrd and how he's in his face about his diet. I seem to remember that Byrd was bringing Barney breakfast every day, because he didn't like what he was eating...

Barney also said Byrd was trying to be back in 2-3 weeks, although either Sun-Times link or another story I read said something like 6 weeks and mid-July.

"Don't forget that Dempster was picked over Z for Opening Day and Dempster couldn't have been more vocal about wanting Q-Ball to get the manager gig. It could be nothing, could be something...." It is likely that neither Z or Dempster will be on the roster the next time the Cubs make the payoffs.

well I'm surprised Cubs are 1st in BA, 3rd in OBP, 5th in SLG and OPS and Runs Scored Per Game. AVG and OPS drop to 11th though with RISP

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

worst BABIP in the league at .314 thanks to the shitty defense, also looks like the second worst LOB% HR rates actually aren't too bad, .99 HR/9 and 9.5 HR/FB% K/9 is 4th best in majors, but BB/9 is worst in league. Fangraphs has their ERA at 4.80 fwiw (don't know why the discrepancy to ESPN), and FIP at 4.10.

shall we take bets that the Cubs decide to option Randy Wells if he doesn't pitch well this weekend and keep Davis and Lopez when Garza gets back?

I don't know how his receiving skills are, but it looks to me like this guy is ready to play somewhere in the majors. I seem to remember that AZ Phil thought he would be at least a capable backup. Too bad we have 'yeah, boy Koyieee' and Castillo in front of him... Trading chip?

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

well if Robinson Chirinos can be one, sure... probably not a big market for a guy projected to be utility bench guy. I'll take him over Koyie though and at the moment Soto. He is knocking a few more over the fence this season and his BB and K totals have always been good.

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Submitted by Jace on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:54pm. I don't know how his receiving skills are, but it looks to me like this guy is ready to play somewhere in the majors. I seem to remember that AZ Phil thought he would be at least a capable backup. Too bad we have 'yeah, boy Koyieee' and Castillo in front of him... Trading chip? ===================================== JACE: As I have mentioned here before, I believe Steve Clevenger profiles as an ideal back-up C-1B-LHPH at the big league level. Although his receiving skills are just average (he is a converted infielder, having played SS in college and 2B his first year in the Cubs organization) and although he has a slightly below-average arm, pitchers who have worked with him (minor league guys) have told me they really like to throw to him because he is a student of the game (probably a future manager) and can really pick-apart the other team's hitters, probably because he is a good hitter himself. Back when AZ Phil was a young fart, there was a back-up catcher in the big leagues named Charlie Lau, and he would later become a reknowned hitting coach with the Kansas City Royals in the 1970's. Clevenger reminds me a lot of Charlie Lau as far as his ability to analyze the game. I strongly suspect that Steve Clevenger will eventually be an MLB back-up catcher (and sooner rather than later). And I know of at least one scout from an organization other than the Cubs that feels the same way. So if the Cubs don't add him to the 40-man roster post-2011, I would say he would be a good candidate to get selected in next December's Rule 5 Draft. BTW, the reason Clevenger keeps getting assigned to AA Tennessee is because the Cubs want to maximize his playing time, which would be a problem if both he and Welington Castillo were on the same team. And since W. Castillo projects as a #1 MLB catcher (although maybe not with the Cubs), Castillo gets to play at AAA Iowa, while Clevenger is (seemingly) stuck at AA. Also, Clevenger is better working with kid pitchers, while W. Castillo (who still has some rough edges behind the plate) functions better with older and more experienced AAA pitchers who can help get him through the tough times.

christ... this team takes more balls to the face than a crackhead hooker. now it's aram.

brings in Marshall to face Bourn in a tie game with bases loaded, Bourn singles of course.

re: aram took a ball to the face while diving/fielding...busted open his nose and/or mouth.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

by what...1 or 2 walks or something? there's nothing about colvin's game now or in the past that involves caring about whether he walks or not because he never walks enough to consider it. he's pure contact. he needs consistency and power or his bat game is crap.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

That's fine and all, but if he is walking more than he did last year, is it not reasonable to assume that he isn't swining at anything more than he did last year, or not appreciably more? According to the numbers at Fangraphs - Colvin has swung at 0.5% more pitches that he's seen outside of the strikezone this year, and 4.2% more pitches inside the strike zone, while swinging and missing 20% less often overall. Just call it reverse LeMahieuing it and let it go.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

if you count his 2bb in 60-ish pa in the minors he's walking less. the point is, he doesn't walk enough to even care. projecting to walk even 5-10 times more a year doesn't even matter. if he doesn't make quality contact his hitting game is crap. if he's not hitting for power while doing it he's not a starter. jacque jones jr. will hopefully start hitting for power.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Uhh, you are aware that I WROTE past #42, right? I'm not sure what you think I am saying... I am saying that he has failed to impress since the call-up... Have you read the cubs.com article about how he feels he has his timing back? What have you seen that would lead you to believe he has it back? Walks have little to do with timing... The sac bunt from last night?

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

You are judging that he doesn't have his timing back based on two to three at bats. I am saying that two or three at bats is too small a sample to judge anything. A nice sac bunt, two groundouts, a pop-out and a walk, assuming you watched all five plate appearances, and you have judged that his timing is off. What does that mean that your timing is off? I thought it means that you're swinging too soon (which would be a strike or a pulled foul) or too late (which would be a strike or a opposite field foul) - none of Colvins' grand total of five PA's ended like that, so what do you mean that his timing is off?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Look... (deep breath) I am NOT saying that the 2 partial games that he has played since he has returned are proof that he is washed up, or the worst player that the Cubs have ever had. I am saying that it looks like right now, HIS TIMING IS OFF! Let's look at his ABs from today - First AB - looked at strike one swung at strike two fouled off a pitch grounded out to the first baseman. Second AB - took first pitch for a ball fouled off strike one fouled off strike two took three consecutive pitches in the dirt, WALKED Third AB - took ball one fouled off strike one took ball two foul tip strike two popped out to the third baseman What do you see above that would make you think that I am incorrect in saying that it looks like his timing is off???

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Once babe Ruth struck out four times in a game. The next game he hit two home runs. Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever look at a handful of at bats and think you've learned anything important. Ever. I don't know if he's timing is "off". I am smart enough, however, not to worry about three fucking at bats.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

"Never ever ever," etc. You can learn a lot about a hitter watching individual at bats. In the week before Colvin was sent down, I saw him take a 2-0 fastball down the middle. I thought, Hey, Genius, what are you looking for on two-and-oh? I even had a few nasty thoughts about his hitting coach. Then a couple days later, he gets a good rip at a breaking ball on 0-1, and fouls it back, so now it's 0-2. The next pitch he swings weakly at a breaking ball low and outside. Does Colvin know that pitchers try not to throw the ball in the strike zone on 0-2? That they hear about it from their coach and manager--"Why didn't you bury it?"--if they give up a hit when they're way ahead in the count? Colvin is messed up. The dumb ones take longer to learn how to hit. He's going to have his hands full keeping up with the other young outfielders, especially if (like Jackson) they're smarter than he is.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

This is one of the dumbest arguments I have ever read. It looks like you are arguing just to be arguing. It is perfectly fine to watch one game and say "he didn't really look comfortable in the field," or "his timing looked off at the plate." Hell, you can watch one at-bat and say "he didn't seem to be seeing the ball out of the pitcher's hand real well." Hell, Babe Ruth himself would have probably told you that his timing was off yesterday but he felt better at the plate today. Do any of these comments mean that whatever condition will hold for weeks, or a career, etc.? No. Jesus. This is stupid. I can't believe you wasted that much time arguing about this. And I can't believe I wasted this much time typing this.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

It's perfectly fine to do anything. It may be stupid, but it's perfectly fine. Colvin says his timing is fixed. Jace watched three at bats and decided he was wrong... Jace was right, because obviously, baseball expert that he is, he would know more than the actual player. The most important thing is knowing what you don't know. That's what I was trying to get across, not that I think Colvin's timing is fine, just that I am willing to admit that watching 3 at bats isn't going to tell me anything. It's amazing you guys aren't trying to get Jim Hendry promoted to president, or God, you think just like he does.

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

First AB - looked at strike one swung at strike two fouled off a pitch grounded out to the first baseman. Outcome - Left Handed hitter power pitcher pulls ball. Verdict, Jace is wrong. Second AB - took first pitch for a ball fouled off strike one fouled off strike two took three consecutive pitches in the dirt, WALKED Outcome - Walk. Verdict - incluclisive, lack of details on direction of foul balls, but he hit everything he swung at. Third AB - took ball one fouled off strike one took ball two foul tip strike two popped out to the third baseman Outcome - Power hitter hit opposite field pop-up. Verdict Jace is correct, though again, batter hit everything he swung at. Overall conclusion: Too little information provided to make any authoritative conclusion. He missed one pitch on the day...

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I'd feel better about his prospects if he EVER hit other than the first 6 weeks of last season. 6 years of being a mid 700's ops Minor League guy should carry more weight than 6 weeks of being a good offensive force 12-14 months ago. 4th outfielder IF he can regain some semblance of April/May 2010. AAAA slugger if not.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

2nd half of last year he had an OPS of .787 In September it was .808 And for Jace on June 25th of last year his timing was off, 0-4 with 2 K's... his next start he went 3-5 with a home run. Of course, that's impossible that he could go 3-5 in a game after May 17th of 2011.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

(says the guy who just made a joke about LeMahieu after two at-bats, that was way over my head because the joke was the whole reason LeMahieu is in the majors was based on a decision made because of too small a sample, exactly the same thing we are discussing here, and the #1 problem with the Cubs organization that happens time and time again for years and years but I cannot or refuse to recognize). Come on guys, it's really not rocket science. It's math and logic.

day off tomorrow...then the hell part of the schedule starts. cards/reds/phils/brews/yanks/wsox til the 22nd of june.

Of course, that's impossible that he could go 3-5 in a game after May 17th of 2011. --- At Iowa?

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?