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 Teach Giants a Thing or Two at Fitch

Junior Lake drove in three runs, Matt Cerda had three hits, and Brandon Guyer belted a solo home run, as the Cubs defeated the Giants 5-2 this afternoon in AZ Instructional League action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd when Matt Cerda smashed a two-out triple off the right-centerfield fence, and scored on a "swinging bunt" infield hit by Junior Lake. 

The Cubs scored four more in the 4th, as Brandon Guyer led-off with a HR over the LF fence onto 8th Street, his second HR in two days. With one out, Carlos Perez and Matt Cerda singled, and Junior Lake drove-in both Perez and Cerda with a triple pulled into the LF corner. After Carlos Morales was hit by a pitch, 18-year old Korean SS Hak-Ju Lee (making his U. S. debut) beat-out a relay from the second baseman on a potential 6-4-3 DP ball, allowing Lake to score.

The Cubs signed Lee earlier this year for a high six figure bonus (believed to have been somewhere around $800K U. S.), and the youngster attended the MLB Australian Baseball Academy along with Cubs Australian prospects Ryan Searle, Cody Hams, Adam Spencer, and Sean Williams this past Summer. 

Lee is tall and thin, and looks every bit the teenager that he is. 25-year old Korean player-coach Min Kyu Sung (who played college ball in the U. S. at the U. of Nebraska - Omaha and who was signed by Cubs farm director Oneri Fleita last December to mentor Korean RHP Dae-Eun Rhee at Peoria) is now back at Fitch Park, helping Lee get adjusted to professional baseball and life in America. Sung coached 1st base today, and communicated in Korean with Lee prior to each of the youngster's at bats and after Lee got to 1st base on the RBI FC.   

While the lefty-swinging Lee appeared to be a bit overmatched at the plate (he took a couple of off-balance swings that looked like he was trying to imitate Kosuke Fukudome), he did get his bat on the ball in two of his three ABs, while working a walk on a 3-2 pitch in his other PA. And he showed off his plus-speed when he beat the relay throw on the 6-4 FC RBI grounder.   

RHP Alberto Alburquerque (April 2008 shoulder surgery) came over from the Fitch Park Rehab Group and got the start on the mound for the Cubs, pitching in his first game action in over a year. The Dominican righthander was surprisingly sharp with his control (16 pitches, only four balls), and while he did allow two (harmless) singles in his one inning of work, he was throwing all of his pitches for strikes, including a fastball with decent velocity.

2008 18th round draft pick LHP Jeffrey Beliveau (Florida Atlantic) followed Alburquerque to the hill and was very impressive. Beliveau has a reputation for having quality stuff with the typical spotty command of a young lefty, but he threw strikes today, displaying a fastball with movement, a change, and a plus-curve that really fooled the Giants hitters.

2008 22nd round pick RHP Tarlandus Mitchell (Alto HS - Alto, TX), one of only three high schoolers drafted and signed by the Cubs out of this past June's draft, worked just one inning, and had trouble throwing strikes. The normally hard-throwing Mitchell (typically showcasing a 94 MPH fastball) was throwing only 88-90 today, but he appeared to be working on his secondary pitches and command at the expense of velocity, albeit not too successfully .

Peoria RHRP Steve Vento had an eventful two innings, allowing four hits but only one run, as two of the runners were thrown out, one doubled-off 1st base on a line-drive to SS, and the other thrown out while trying to score after an overthrow at 1st base by Cubs third-baseman Carlos Morales (who could be Junior Lake's twin brother, BTW). 

Daytona LHRP Jayson Ruhlman pitched the 7th and 8th innings, allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out four. He also picked a runner off 1st base, showing a nifty pick-off move. Then he tried to pick a runner off 1st again the next inning and got called for a balk. I guess you win some & you lose some.

RHP David Cales (2008 24th round draft pick out of St. Xavier by way of UIC and the University of Missouri) worked the 9th inning and was generally ineffective, throwing only 11 strikes among his 21 pitches, and allowing a HR, a single, and a walk, before the stocky right-hander struck out the final hitter (who represented the tying run) on a dynamite slider to preserve the victory. 
 
 Here is today's abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1. Tony Campana, CF: 0-3 (BB, K)
2. Josh Harrison, 2B: 0-4
3. Brandon Guyer, RF: 2-4 (SOLO HR, 2B, K)
4. Rebel Ridling, LF: 0-4 (K)
5. Carlos Perez, 1B: 2-4 (R, 2B, K)
6. Matt Cerda, C-DH: 3-4 (2 R, 3B)
7. Junior Lake, SS: 2-4 (R, 3 RBI, 3B, K)
8. Carlos Morales, 3B: 0-3 (K, HBP)
9. Hak-ju Lee, DH #1: 0-2 (RBI, BB)
10. Juan Medina, DH-C: 0-3

PITCHERS:
1. Alberto Alburquerque - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (2/0 GO/FO) - 16 pitches (12 strikes)
2. Jeffrey Beliveau - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K (3/0 GO/FO) - 32 pitches  (18 strikes)
3. Tarlandus Mitchell - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K (1/1 GO/FO) - 19 pitches  (9 strikes)
4. Steve Vento - 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K (0/5 GO/FO) - 25 pitches (16 strikes) 
5. Jayson Ruhlman - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 PO, 1 BALK (0/1 GO/FO) - 34 pitches (21 strikes)
6. David Cales - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR (1/1 GO/FO) - 21 pitches (11 strikes) 

ERRORS (1)
Carlos Morales, E-5, overthrow at 1st base 

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Matt Cerda: 0-1 CS

WEATHER: 100+, hot, cloudless skies
ATTENDANCE: 10 (mostly scouts)   

Comments

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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).