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

Thanks for the Memories...

statueThere are more than a couple hundred players enshrined at Cooperstown and they are paid homage by something like 350,000 annual visitors to baseball’s Hall of Fame. At Wrigley Field a mere three Cubs have been immortalized in statuary and only half a dozen’s numbers flutter atop the foul poles. This Mecca draws in excess of three million pilgrims per season. Maybe Ron Santo was on to something when he listed the corner of Clark & Addison in Chicago as the address of his personal HOF.

Wednesday night my two sons and I were at the fringe of the mob assembled in the street to witness the unveiling of Santo in bronze, caught in the act of making an off-balance throw to nip a runner in a close play at first. I am no critic of the sculpting arts but I think the rendering of #10 is exquisite. The blue casts to the socks, cap and numerals; the facial likeness, the stitching on the ball about to be thrown – all are vivid. Justice was done to the fans’ memories.

An hour before the ceremony the three of us took a few meandering, strolling laps around the square block of Wrigley. On Waveland we staged a brief reenactment of the ritual game of catch we used to play there while ballhawking during batting practice on trips to Chicago when they were little leaguers. Now Max is 20 and Ben is 17. On Clark we detoured into McDonalds where the clubhouse attendant used to fetch a pair of Big Macs for Sammy Sosa after BP on game days. On Addison we tossed a few coins in the pail of the wheel-chaired beggar who’s been as permanent a fixture on our past visits as the statuary will be on future ones. On Sheffield a ball arced over the bleachers, ricocheted off of some landscaping ironwork and bounced directly to me with a small band of ballhawks in pursuit; a fitting memento of the occasion that I received in the spirit of a child opening a gift.

From our vantage point the remarks of the assembled dignitaries were mostly muffled. I did make out Pat Hughes repeating a laugh line we’d heard more clearly on the car radio as we drove into town that afternoon. He and Santo’s HOF teammates from the fabled ’69 team had keynoted a sold-out luncheon downtown that was broadcast by WGN. More importantly we did manage sightlines to the statue. After it was revealed and roundly approved we went inside and took up seats in the right-center field bleachers. While the Cubs fashioned one of their occasional victories we enjoyed dollar hot dogs and reminisced. Even cheaper was the glowing sunset that rang down upon the day's stage.

We left after eight, me and a couple of the grandsons of the guy I used to listen on the radio with when Santo was routinely making plays like the one immortalized now on the street corner. As we passed by on our way to the redline depot I was able to touch the cleats of someone who autographed mitts and caps for us when he was still able. The cheers boiling over the rim of the stadium just then reported on Carlos Marmol’s progress towards a fanning of the side in the 9th but I imagined them for someone else, some other time.

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Despite his recent hot streak, I agree largely with Hollandsworth. I think Aram plays hard when he feels like it, and doesn't really care whether the Cubs win or lose. I think being in the clubhouse with someone like that, and there being no repurcussions on him for being that way, is likely to leave a young player somewhat jaded....

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

no way...they bought a 3rd baseman and his known social skills...money don't mean leadership...leadership can get you more money, though...vlad got paid, but never got his full due cuz he's not a leader. hell, vlad can barely speak conversational english. you don't see aram interviews...you don't see him rocking the camera or the quotes...he never has at any point. he's never tried to be a leader.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

I realize it's open season on the Cubs right now, but Hollandsworth is a fucking idiot... Hollandsworth also took a swipe at Cubs' management for their handling of Ramirez, who told the team before the trade deadline that he didn't want to waive his no-trade clause for family reasons. "It's going to be another 100 years before this team wins another (World Series) if they continue to let the inmates run it," Hollandsworth said. a basic understanding of 10/5 rights might inform his opinion a little better. "When you've got your best player -- he's your best hitter, we've watched it for years now -- and you can't seem to have a positive effect on the guys around you in your clubhouse, getting them to step up or play to a different level, it's just hard for me to swallow, especially when you're being paid to be that guy," Hollandsworth told "The McNeil and Spiegel isn't Soriano technically being paid to be that guy and the one who does almost nothing to contribute to winning games right now? "Then you bring into question effort and that's one thing in the game of baseball that really is inexcusable. One hundred percent effort all the time, there's really no reason for you not to have 100 percent effort. He's got impressionable kids around him right now: Darwin Barney, Starlin Castro, these kids are growing up, they're watching it and you know what, they're not getting any better." I'm trying to remember all those great young players that developed while Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson were playing the game the right way. ... ... ... I got nothing. if I was being cynical...it's like someone from the Cubs asked Comcast to start berating Ramirez so he'd be more willing to accept a trade.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I agree totally on this one about Hollandsworth... why couldn't he be more of a leader on one of the 8 teams he played for? Probably because he wasn't good enough for anyone to give a shit what he said or thought anyways, kind of like now... From what I've seen of the Cubs this season so far, the play of Castro and Barney (or their development) is not the reason the Cubs suck... It is funny how no one was clamoring for Ramirez to be more of a leader when the Cubs were winning 90+ games a few years back. What is Ramirez supposed to do, walk up to Dempster and Wells and the string of shitty 5th starters they have been running out there and say "Pitch better!" They have been pitching better lately, and wow, like magic, that results in more wins...

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

"Darwin Barney, Starlin Castro, these kids are growing up, they're watching it and you know what, they're not getting any better." Maybe it's just me but I see improvement-- Castro last year: 544 chances 27 errors Castro this year: 541 chances 19 errors Castro last year: 506 PA, 3HR, 53R, 41RBI Castro this year: 515 PA, 6HR, 67R, 53RBI leads the NL with 152 Hits Barney: Rookie who took the starting 2B job away from Blake DeWitt

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

Darwin Barney is pretty much irrelevant, as there is no way at this point to measure whether he is getting better--he has no MLB history. But the fact that Hollandsworth seems to be saying that Castro isn't getting better shows that he's not really basing his observations on evidence (or observations) so much as some sort of personal dogma he has developed about the kind of outward appearance veteran players ought project. [Edit: Plus, just how impressionable do we think Darwin Barney is? He's 25 going on 26 and he has almost 5 years of professional ball under his belt, along with three season of college ball. He's no toddler.]

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I didn't, but I should have... seemed like some of the good teams were good power teams, with the exception of the Padres, but they weren't actually doing a good job at baserunning allegedly. anyway, after looking at just regular old slugging, doesn't seem like it really correlates. I was just curious. no real surprises there really, some good teams are gonna be good at just about everything and some bad teams are bad at everything and then some teams that aren't good can run and vice-versa. Still on the bottom end for me on ways to build a good team.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Here it is broken down by % of non-HR extra base hits of their non-HR hit total. No "correlation" that I could see, in both cases three of five teams named were on the correct side of league average. Rank Tm Rate 1 TBR 27.6% 2 ARI 27.5% 3 CLE 26.9% 4 BOS 26.8% 5 TOR 26.2% 6 TEX 26.1% 7 SFG 25.8% 8 KCR 25.6% 9 HOU 25.5% 10 NYM 25.4% 11 COL 25.0% 12 LAA 24.9% 13 CHC 24.8% 14 OAK 24.7% 15 STL 24.5% 16 PHI 24.5% 17 LgAvg 24.5% 18 NYY 24.3% 19 WSN 24.3% 20 FLA 24.2% 21 MIL 23.8% 22 DET 23.7% 23 SEA 23.4% 24 PIT 23.3% 25 SDP 23.1% 26 ATL 23.1% 27 MIN 22.3% 28 CIN 22.0% 29 BAL 21.9% 30 CHW 20.9% 31 LAD 20.2%

Braves lineup Bourn CF, Prado LF, Freeman 1B, Uggla 2B, Jones 3B, Gonzalez SS, Ross C, Constanza RF, Minor P vs. Castro SS, Johnson RF, Ramirez 3B, Soto C, Byrd CF, Pena 1B, Soriano LF, Baker 2B, Zambrano P

Brett Jackson on BA's Prospect Hot Sheet again this week: Team: Triple-A Iowa (Pacific Coast) Age: 23 Why He's Here: .400/.444/.760 (10-for-25), 2 HR, 3 2B, 5 RBIs, 5 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 1-for-1 SB The Scoop: Jackson endured an adjustment period through his first 14 Triple-A games, batting 10-for-51 (.196) with strikeouts in 43 percent of his at-bats. But then he went 3-for-4 in the second game of a doubleheader against New Orleans on July 29 and hasn't stopped hitting since. Over the course of his most recent 14 games, Jackson has gone 22-for-49 (.449) with six homers, four doubles and a much more manageable strikeout rate of 22 percent. The 2009 first-round pick is angling for a September callup with a composite batting line of .275/.383/.494 with 17 homers and 19 steals this season. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2011/…

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Some Cubs stuff from the prospect chat at BA: Tony (Frederick, MD): Most 21 year olds in AAA get some attention. Nick Struck, not so much. Sure, his ceiling isn't huge (mid-rotation at best), but he's still developing and is touching mid-90's more consistently this year. What can you tell me about his secondary pitches, and how do you feel about his future? J.J. Cooper: Struck's secondary pitches are below average now, but his future success probably depends on whether they can become average pitches down the road. His delivery isn't the greatest which sometimes affects his command, but the pieces are there to be a back-end of the rotation starter. Tung-Jim (Frederick, MD): DJ LeMahieu was driving the ball a bit better in AA before that pointless call-up to the bigs. What's happened since he went down, as he's certainly not driving the ball? And can the Cubs please make a decision on LeMahieu and Flaherty's positions? I think it would do both of them well to have 1 main position. J.J. Cooper: It would do both of them well if they end up being big league regulars, but if, like me, you think they end up as utilitymen (especially in LeMahieu's case), then the versatility isn't a big problem. Tony (Frederick, MD): Dae-Eun Rhee has shown flashes this year. Any reports on how his stuff is showing? J.J. Cooper: Plus stuff, up to 94-95 mph with his fastball with a good changeup. http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1313166857 Also Brett Jackson is remarkably average and it's a good thing. A Lee question too.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Does anyone know if that is an accurate report on Rhee? I was under the impression that his status as a prospect had dropped of dramatically post Tommy John Surgery, to the point where he looked like a long-shot to be a bottom of the rotation starter or a contributor in middle relief. Maybe that impression is out of date or just incorrect?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Pssh.....I'd rather they called him up than "save" the roster spot. So of the 40 man roster right now, the Cubs can pretty safely get rid of: Grabow Lopez Ortiz Berg A. Cabrera Caridad Perez-thought they released him already Smit Montanez Would it really take much roster juggling if they wanted to give Jackson an audition?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"second issue, if you believe in the guy, what's the rush to start his service time and arbitration clocks?" for real. unless they want to stick him in RF in 2012...or move byrd there (not enough arm)...it's near useless to burn his time, imo. it's unlikely he's ready anyway. his first few weeks in AAA people were asking why he was there...then he gets hot and people are wondering when he can put on a cubs MLB uniform. i like the guy, btw...i like the guy playing CF in 2013...or late 2012 pending team collapse.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

If the Cubs go ahead and dump as many veterans as possible in the off-season, then I'd like to see Jackson manning CF in 2012. But they probably won't do that, and if they plan on getting a 1B and another starting pitcher, then I'm sure they also plan to keep Byrd around to start the season. So a September call up would seem pointless in that case. They already need to find more playing time for Colvin and maybe Campana (to see what kind of bench role he might merit in 2012).

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

where is all this jackson love coming from? a few weeks ago people on the net were asking if he was over his head in AAA...a few weeks later people are asking why he's not in the majors yet. he's a kid. his ceiling is very marlon-byrd-ish...he's not our RF'r next year. what's the rush? i like this kid, btw...3-6+ years of him in CF is something i look forward too.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I'm sure it's partly due to the rash of homeruns, but even moreso due to the MLB season being over for the Cubs. He's the closest thing to next year that we've got right now. (However, I'm super interested in Castro's current power surge. Hoping for the first of many .300+ average and double digit homerun seasons starting now.)

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

OK... deep breath. This is how it works. You have about 29 guys you have to pay serious cash to on a major league team. If you have to pay one guy, $4 million to give you one win above average, instead of $1 million, that's three million less that you have to spend on other problem areas on the team. Which part of that do you disagree with?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

While I tend to agree with you, and absolutely agree that any conversation of this nature is apparently FAR beyond the Cubs the past several years, and even more pretty much agree in this situation (though doubtful BJax will be good enough to make it matter), I also think shit like this tends to get overdone, especially in the last few years. Longoria and I think Strasburg, maybe? If they're that fucking good, call them up and let them try to help your team, and I would think that would matter even more if you were small market, capitalize on the name early. If your team is still shitty in X years, I don't think screwing a guy into playing another cheap year for you is really the answer. I wouldn't be surprised to see something like this get at least discussed in the next CBA, but I don't know how they'd measure it, maybe you'd have to put in a complaint and have it decided by an arbiter, or something...

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

41st rounder Austin Urban says he's signed. http://m.tribune-democrat.com/TTD/db_265842/contentdetail.htm?contentgu… AZ Phil's draft day write up: ROUND 41 (1239): Austin Urban, RHP (Des Moines Area CC) R/R, 6'2, 195, 18 years old COMMENT: JC freshman... Was selected by Orioles in 27th round of 2010 draft out of Richland HS (Johnstown, PA) but did not sign... Was set to attend Penn State but opted to enroll in a JC instead so that he would be eligible for selection again in 2011 Rule 4 Draft... Rated by Baseball America as the #1 prospect in Iowa coming into this year's draft... Led his team to the 2011 Division 2 JUCO World Series... Throws 90-92 MPH fastball that tops out at 94, a mid-80's slider, and a change-up... Has command issues...

trying to delete old user accounts, if I accidentally blitz yours, sorry. Email me and I'll get it back up.

is retiring (supposedly). No, I don't make this up. WGN 720 postgame just said that Judd Sirrott (sp?) said Zambrano packed up his belongings and left the clubhouse, saying that he is retiring. Most likely more Z antics, but thought I'd share... Az Phil (or anyone), if he retires, we don't have to pay him for the rest of the season, right?

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

i love Z, but you don't leave the park in the middle of the game...hell, after you see the trainer and do your clubhouse crap you sit in the dugout, watch the rest of the game, and root on the batters if you've got a loyal pair. i dunno what Z's intentions are, but i know some people have 18m freed up dancing in their eyes...dunno if Z wants to walk away from that.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Was at the game tonight (last time I'd seen that many fannies at Turner field in person was game 5 of the NLDS in 2003). Quite a contrast between Quade and the man they were honoring tonight at Turner Field. Z's first two times at bat, runner on 2nd base with no outs and didn't attempt a bunt either time ... hard to imagine Cox putting up with that.

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

Z's first two times at bat, runner on 2nd base with no outs and didn't attempt a bunt either time ... hard to imagine Cox putting up with that 1 - not bunting there was the right decision 2 - I doubt Z refused to bunt. He wasn't given the bunt sign. So not sure how Cox wouldn't put up with his own decision to not bunt.

[ ]

In reply to by Tony S.

Submitted by Tony S. on Fri, 08/12/2011 - 8:34pm. is retiring (supposedly). No, I don't make this up. WGN 720 postgame just said that Judd Sirrott (sp?) said Zambrano packed up his belongings and left the clubhouse, saying that he is retiring. Most likely more Z antics, but thought I'd share... Az Phil (or anyone), if he retires, we don't have to pay him for the rest of the season, right? ==================================== TONY S: Zambrano would forfeit the balance of his contract if he retires, but I would be surprised if he actually files retirement papers to make it official. If Z just leaves the team but doesn't actually file papers, he can be placed on the Restricted List until his contract expires (after next season), and the Cubs don't have to pay him while he is on the Restricted List, and he does not count against the Cubs 40-man roster. BTW, when the Cubs placed Zambrano on the Restricted List last year (when he was dealing with his Anger Management issues after the blow-up at the Cell), the Cubs chose to pay him anyway. It's a bit more complicated if he changes his mind and decides to return to the team, because there could be some MLBPA involvement if the Cubs try to suspend him without pay for some period of time.

For someone who wasn't born until '77 and only became a fan of 'Ronnie' in the booth, thank you for this. What a great narrative.

Calling Mr. Ricketts here is your chance to show what kind of owner you are tell Hendry what to do dont let Hendry just sugercoat this i personally think Quade sucks but if they dont back Quade after his going public Quade should follow Z out the door. Pure Cubbery. Post #69 post of the night.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

Seems like a mountain out of a molehill to me. This whole "walked out on the team" is a bunch of bullshit. Aram and Soriano coast through the whole fucking year, and Zambrano, admittedly a head case but at least one who cares if they win or lose, loses his shit one time and all the dumb fucks (no offense intended, unless you're Quade, then swallow some glass) pile on. It's one fucking game that he couldn't play any more in. Get over it. If he had punched Geovany in the face instead, the moron circus would be nominating him for Cy Young.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I'm waiting for the Sosa comparisons. It doesn't actually make me angry with Zambrano...he's the only guy on the team who actually seems to fucking care. But, enough is a enough. This is 'against the rules' but no big deal. Hell, he punched the fuck out of Barrett and gets Barrett shipped out of town for it. Now he's a not a team player because he left work early. Who gives a fuck?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Zambrano, admittedly a head case but at least one who cares if they win or lose, loses his shit one time and all the dumb fucks (no offense intended, unless you're Quade, then swallow some glass) pile on. ---- It's not the first time, nor the second time, nor the third time, nor the fourth time he's lost it. Sammy left during a game (twice in one season, actually) and the Cubs released surveillance footage and ran him out of town. From what I gather from the Tribune article, Z cleaned out his locker and left before the game was over. Q said his locker was empty and Z was gone when Q went into the locker room after the game. That's a pretty big deal. At the very least that's a suspension.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

he walked out mid-game...you can't do that. i'm with quade on that. it's bad enough when a starter leaves without a lead and without an injury just to chill in the clubhouse rather than in the dugout...leaving all-together is drastic and bad form. i'm a Z fan...Z did what wood and prior were supposed to do quietly while wood and prior were trying to keep their arms in 1 piece. not a fan of everything he's done with his anger, but he's always seemed to give a damn about baseball and community.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

This is the first this year perhaps Neal. Every year, there is some Zambrano drama. Fights with teammates, fights with umpires, blowing up like this. It's old. I hope he really retires. Tired, tired, tired act. If you want to act like a prima donna, at least pitch like one, and not like a 4th/5th starter type? Bye Carlos. don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Wow, not only do we have guys who have already mentally quit still playing, now we have quitters walking off the field too. This is as much of a 3-ring circus as it was last year and the year before under Lou, with all of the Shenanigans involving Silva and Z and Bradley... It is actually quite embarrassing to be a Cubs fan these days! How can you expect to win when guys are pretty much uncoachable?

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?