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

Playing Out Strings

The team, the economy and the schedule all stunk. This looked to be the year when the Cubs’ winning streak at the turnstiles would snap. fireworksBut, in the tradition of neighborhood taverns everywhere, ownership resorted to cheap beer and even cheaper hot dogs to keep ‘em comin’ in and now, with 12 home dates remaining in the season, if the current average of just over 37,000 is maintained Team Ricketts will again have suckered/entertained in excess of three million guests. Maybe somebody slipped the fire marshal a free pass to a skybox suite to get him to look the other way so they could cram the joint when the schedule called for it, as when the Yankees visited over a weekend in June. Suddenly the place holds 42,000+.

I personally visited only once, my lowest total in years. I came for an unveiling and stayed for the dollar dogs and free sunset in the bleachers.

Business remains good down here on the farm, too. Despite the smallest market in the 16-team league to draw from, and that they’ll finish in the PCL North basement with their first losing record since 2005, the I-Cubs are still running 4th in the league attendance derby. Omaha is the crown jewel of the Royals’ top-ranked farm system and leads its division while playing this summer in a brand new ballpark. Still, the Storm Chasers are 9th in attendance. Guess maybe the name change didn’t take…

Fresh from dropping the finale of a nine-game series with Oklahoma City [four here; five there]Iowa comes home tonight for the final stand of 2011. The only unfinished business is Bryan LaHair’s assault on Joe Hicks’ club record for home runs. Stalled for a few days at 36, he remains one short. I’d like to be there when he ties and breaks it before collecting his reward of a September call-up. When that happens LaHair might be the happiest Cub at Wrigley Field all summer.

Meanwhile the I-Cub website has already posted the tentative schedule for 2012. Shuffle the cards.

Comments

they say you can't really grade a draft until 5 years later... http://ht.ly/6fJMN Callis ranks Cubs 2005 draft as dead last says Mariners changed their mind at last minute on Tulo to take Jeff Clement (whoops). As for LeMahieu, the Cubs believe he has 15-homer power in him but he hasn't shown it. Even when he sizzled at Double-A (.358/.386/.492) in the first two months of the season, he hit just two homers in 50 games. LeMahieu is a gifted pure hitter, but he lacks the quickness for second base (he's much bigger than Altuve at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds) and the pop for third base. He looks like a tweener unless he starts hitting enough homers to project as a regular at the hot corner.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

That seems like two fair decisions. I am just so glad we held onto Pena, so that LaHair sur le Feu didn't get a chance to show what he could do. I guess they want him to break the record though... Over under on his big league PA's this year: 27

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=14855 11 disastrous acquisitions, yet only one by Hendry Jim Hendry’s credit card approach to roster building reached its limit in 2008 when the Chicago Cubs were not only the best team in the National League but the winningest Cubs team since Operation Crossroads. However, a quick playoff exit left the team scrambling for answers, and Hendry landed on precisely the wrong one when he signed Milton Bradley to a three-year, $30 million contract. Even setting aside questions about Bradley’s health (both mental and physical) and his reputation as a clubhouse cancer, what the enigmatic outfielder was likely to provide between the lines was unlikely to fix the problems his signing was purported to address. The Cubs were looking for a left-handed bat to help balance their lineup—a problem that the media had lit upon as the explanation for two successive playoff sweeps. The switch-hitting Bradley, however, had always been weaker from the left side. The Cubs needed to replace the lightning-in-a-bottle production of superannuated center fielder Jim Edmonds; Bradley could only play a corner, thereby transforming Kosuke Fukudome from a defensive asset in right to a liability in center. Mostly, though, the Cubs needed a missing piece to finally push them over the top; marketed that way, Bradley was probably less equipped to shoulder the burden of a century of failed expectations than any player in baseball. It was no surprise that a slow start for both player and team led to boos, recriminations, charges of racism, clubhouse fights, banishment, and all the other trappings of a relationship gone disastrously wrong. The epitaph for Bradley’s brief tenure in Chicago was a straight-up trade for the desiccated remains of Carlos Silva; the biggest indictment of Bradley’s stay is that the Cubs were pleased with that return. —Ken Funck

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I think the biggest mistake in that deal wasn't the player himself so much as that they didn't scout out what Bradley would be like when he struggled. It was also really weird that he couldn't make sliding catches. Anyway, we paid $10 million for his .264 TAV that year (0.7 WARP), and paid $16 million for 0.4 WARP from Soriano, so he may not have been the most disasterous acquisition on the team.

Rebel Ridling named SL hitter of the week rumor is Reds intend to play Yonder Alonso at third base tonight

Cubs in the 6th spot for the draft, Mariners and Twins just ahead of them at the moment Cubs 57-77 Mariners 56-76 Twins 56-77 Royals 55-79 Astros, O's seem to have 1-2 spots sewn up

SS Castro, 2B DeWitt, 3B Ramy, 1B Pena, CF Byrd, RF Colvin, LF Soriano, C Soto, P Wells vs. Torres CF, Keppinger 2B, Beltran RF, Sandoval 3B, Huff 1B, Cabrera SS, Belt LF, Stewart C, Lincecum P first run wins the game Cashner goes for AA again

Second year in a row that I haven't visited, and I don't mind at all. Last year was the first season I hadn't been I started attending in 1987. I did catch the Cubs in Mlwk this year (L), but let's just say the lure of new bathrooms didn't exactly get me scrambling for tickets. If I want to drink in the sun I'll go to a beer garden.

I can't believe that Wilken picked Simpson, when he KNEW he was going to get mono.

Cashner's one IP (first inning)...Tenn vs Jacksonville K. Mattison (.265, CF): called strike, foul, swinging strike P. Gran (.264, SS): called strike, Ball, Ball, Foul, Foul, Ball, Foul, Swinging Strike J. Negrych (.307, 2B): Ball, called strike, Ball, Swinging Strike, Called strike. 16 pitches, 5 balls. 3 strikeouts. No speed gun for AA game day. McNutt's night starts with 2nd inning. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_08_29_jax…

AZL Athletics OF Kelvin Rojas was pulled from today's AZL game after going 0-2. As a result, Rojas is the AZL Batting Champion, finishing with a .379 BA, ahead of AZL Cubs INF Gioskar Amaya (who finished at .377). The AZL Cubs played their last AZL game yesterday, so Amaya was stuck at .377. If Rojas had stayed in the game and made another out, his batting average would have dropped to .376 and Amaya would have been the AZL Batting Champion. No doubt Ted Williams is spinning in his cryonics container.

Feels like a McNutt goes 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 5 K, 3 BB Brett Jackson 1/3 with 2 BB, 1 2b and 3 Runs Scored and 0 K's

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Actual newspaper subscriptions have never costed $20 a month. I don't know where they get their idea for what to charge for digital-only access. It should be cheaper for consumers than what they pay for a printing press to print a paper and have it delivered to your house/newstand.

Bruce Miles on Wscr - Not bringing up bjax " due to adding him on 40 man" cubs want to wait until ST. Also don't want to bench Byrd might try to trade

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

guess it depends on what kind of month he has, doubt it will really matter ultimately with Byrd. if there's a team that wants a vet CF, with decent defense on a cheap 1-yr deal, and allegedly a good clubhouse guy, they'll come knocking either way. He's not gonna be netting any 4-star prospects anyway. I was speaking more of not wasting a 40-man spot on Brett Jackson quite yet.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Brett Jackson will certainly get an NRI to Spring Training, and unlike most NRIs, he'll very likely get a legitimate chance to make the Cubs 2012 Opening Day 25-man roster as the starting CF and lead-off hitter. I doubt that the Cubs would want him to be a bench guy, though, so if Jackson doesn't win the starting CF job coming out of ST, I would think he would go back to Iowa at the start of the 2012 season so he can play everyday. If B-Jax does win the Cubs starting CF (and lead-off hitter) job next year, Byrd could take-over the Reed Johnson 4th OF job in 2012 (if he isn't traded). One thing the Cubs really need to do post-2011 is acquire a middle-of-the-order power-hitting RF, and a Byrd/Colvin platoon does not meet that need.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

One thing the Cubs really need to do post-2011 is acquire a middle-of-the-order power-hitting RF Had to laugh at that one. The Curse of the Sambino continues. Anyway, I count 7 guys the Cubs could drop from the 40 man without affecting the ML team. It would be nice if Jackson had some experience against MLB pitching before being handed a job. It's also possible a new savy GM tries to stow him in AAA for two months to postpone his arb clock.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Agreed it would be nice if Jackson got some experience against MLB pitching. Wouldn't bringing him up Sept 1 would do just that...giving him 15-20 games to get his feet wet a little. Then coming into spring, if he played well he could be the CF. Should the Cubs really be worried about the arb clock with Jackson? It's not like he's 19 and in Hi-A ball....

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

he just turned 23, odds are the best years of his career are going to be from 2015-2019...best thing for an organization is to make sure he's a Cub then and as cheap as possible. I'm in no rush especially on a guy I think will need a big adjustment period. Also, Q-Ball won't play him much. If I really thought he'd play everyday, i personally would be fine with a call-up. Better to ship him back to AA to play in the playoffs and see how he plays in spring training (in which he struggled badly last year).

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

.269/.345/.462 is struggling badly Rob? 26 at bats, 3 Walks/4 K's, 2 doubles, 1 HR. Well whatever...I'd rather see him get a shot next year than another year of 100 OPS+ from a 30 yr old+ stopgap OF. It's not like the Cubs are going anywhere in 2012-2013...may as well see what you've got on the farm. I agree...sadly, that Q-ball would rather get Johnson and Byrd their time.and DeWitt in OF before playing Jackson regularly.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

my bad then, must have been thinking of someone else... I'd rather see him get a shot next year than another year of 100 OPS+ from a 30 yr old+ stopgap OF. It's not like the Cubs are going anywhere in 2012-2013...may as well see what you've got on the farm. a line of thinking I don't quite understand, if you're certain they're not going to compete next year, isn't it best to maximize the arbitration and service time of one of the very few prospects that could be there when they are ready to compete? as we all learned under Hendry, this shit adds up and 2-3 months of Jackson in 2012 won't matter one damn bit if you've predetermined they're not going anywhere next season

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In reply to by The Real Neal

I wonder if the Blue Jays would be interested in a Colvin for Travis Snider swap? Both guys have had terrible years offensively. Colvin is older but has 2 more option years. Colvin is the better defender. Snider has much greater offensive upside. Maybe Colvin and John Gaub for Snider?

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 12:20pm. Looks like he's about average for his career in Right field. He's been yo-yo'd back in forth for 4 years now in Toronto. So He should be out of options at the beginning of next year. Good buy low guy. ==================================== DR AARON B: Travis Snider will still have one minor league option year left next year.

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In reply to by jacos

I think it's likely that Brett Jackson will play in the AFL this year. He was initially assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox (AFL) last year, but (along with RHP Chris Archer) he got diverted to Team USA and played in the Pan-Am Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico, and then he developed a leg infection once he finally did arrive in Mesa, so he was sent home.

on how Aramis is not everything that is wrong with the Cubs http://www.csnchicago.com/08/30/11/Cubs-see-another-side-of-Aramis-Rami… Lou Piniella made a point to run things by his third baseman when he wanted a veteran perspective. Ramirez has done enough behind the scenes – particularly among the Latin players – that Carlos Marmol once asked Ramirez to be the godfather to his daughter. Castro credits Ramirez for helping him develop into an All-Star shortstop. “That Hollandsworth thing,” Ramirez said. “I can’t control what guys like him think about me. What I can control is what the guys in here think about me, especially the young guys that I try to help. Some of the stuff – you guys (in the media) or the fans don’t know about it. It’s just inside the clubhouse.

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In reply to by Rob G.

The media, not to mention the fans, also seem to forget that because of injuries the Cubs brass actually asked both Ramirez and Soriano to take it easy running the bases in order to keep them in the lineup. The two of them have licenses to "loaf." You can look it up--but you may need to pay for the archived articles.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Ricketts has had his good and bad moments. The baseball guy watching my baseball guy watching my baseball guy thing was a low point, for example, or when he said 'if we had a strategy we wouldn't tell the media...", or his delay in firing Hendry could be seen as a low point (on the other hand you don't want management to act fickle and fire guys on a whim) But in my opinion he's handled the Wrigley Field public fund pursuit brilliantly. He refused the "pony up the money or we're leaving" strategy by committing to stay in Wrigleyville. The sports radio world had a fit about this (at least WSCR), but it's not wise to make enemies and false threats. No one would believe the Cubs would move. Instead, Ricketts pulled strings in the form of Bud Selig and the possible 2013 All-Star game which would bring money into Chicago, but not before improvements are made. I assume J.K. Walters is being brought in to manage the politics & PR of the Wrigley Field improvements & public funds. All things considered, I grade Ricketts a B- so far and I would say I'm happy with him. His GM hire will be very telling. Unfortunately it sounds like he wants a computer nerd rather than a baseball person. I hope they get a legit baseball guy.

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In reply to by Ryno

Ricketts pulled strings in the form of Bud Selig and the possible 2013 All-Star game which would bring money into Chicago Wasn't this story already debunked? Actually... just read the story that you linked to, which basically debunks it (i.e. "the National League hosts the midsummer event in odd-numbered years").

added a draft pick standings sidebar on the right below the twitter feed box

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In reply to by Rob G.

fwiw, i dunno anyone who likes him long term...esp. in the bigs. he knocked a lot of linedrives off the short wall in durham, though...doubles power and nothing more. hell, you can probably just look at his numbers alone and tell there's not a lot going on there except a utility bench guy...shame his K numbers are so high, you want a guy off the bench who can put the ball in play a bit more.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

fwiw, i talk to guys who see pretty much every game he plays...the home games more-so. the TB minor league organization is silently being what "moneyball" is supposed to be. they use scouting and technology as a tool to battle BOS/NYY. not like everything is pure open/shut science, though...no one knows for sure what anyone's got. he's just not got the power to do it everyday at 3rd/LF...not like he'd be doing anything at 3rd with TB, though. if he could cut those swings-and-misses he'd be ka-ching bench. he'll probably be up with TB on the bench next year, fwiw.

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In reply to by crunch

btw...canzler is a VERY likable guy. i've not met him...i've been a medical shut-in all summer. he's going to make it to the bigs and get a chance to show something for someone...it just might not be in a starter role. he's a great guy to have around the clubhouse and he makes time for the community. he also makes it look/seem very easy and has a wonderful proud family.

technology being used by baseball teams and how the Ipad is being used http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/6908844/information-age-changing-way-… It makes you wonder why more teams don't devise defenses the way the Rays do. They employ so many unique shifts on so many hitters that 120 more balls in play have been hit into one of their shifts over the last two seasons than any other team in baseball, according to Baseball Info Solutions. Think it's some kind of fluke that they've also "saved" many more runs this year than any other team in baseball? They're currently up to 62 runs saved, Baseball Info Solutions reports. The next-closest team, the Angels, is at 34.

I haven't completly given up on Vitters, but I think he went from a top prospect to just a prospect. My definition of prospect is someone that could potentionally play in the majors, even as a regular, but not much produciton is expected. Average player as his potential, if he reaches it.

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).