Cubs MLB Roster

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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 Pitching & Defense Frustrates A's at Fitch Park

Micah Gibbs ripped a solo home run and an RBI single, Danny Lockhart had three hits including an RBI double, and six pitchers combined to throw a five-hit shutout, as the Cubs whitewashed the Athletics 6-0 in AZ Instructional League action this afternoon at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa.  

20-year old RHP Ian Dickson (Cubs 2011 35th round draft pick out of Lafayette College) made his pro debut today, getting the start and throwing one inning. Dickson pitched-around a first-pitch lead-off double, retiring the next three A’s hitters on a strikeout (swinging) and two 6-3 GO. Dickson missed the 2011 college baseball season after suffering a torn ACL in 2010, but Cubs scouts apparently had seen enough of him in previous years to offer him a contract at the 8/15 deadline once he proved he was 100%.

Besides the Gibbs HR and Lockhart’s three hits, today’s game featured two excellent defensive plays by Cubs players.

Reggie Golden showed-off his plus arm, making an outstanding pinpoint throw from CF to nail an A’s runner trying to score from 2nd base on a line-drive single to CF with two outs in the top of the 2nd inning, and 2B Rubi Silva made a terrific turn on a 6-4-3 DP in the 5th.

Although he played mostly OF this past season at Peoria and Daytona, Silva looks very comfortable at 2B, making four other nice plays on grounders to retire A’s hitters today (each play harder than the previous one), and showing off his plus-arm on two of them. Scouts in attendance were impressed (and apparently surprised) with Silva’s play-making skills at 2B.

While Cubs 2011 3rd round draft pick 2B-LF Zeke DeVoss (U. of Miami) is probably better-suited to play LF, it would appear that Silva does have the skills required to play 2B. So don’t be surprised if the Daytona Cubs 2012 Opening Day lineup features Rubi Silva at 2B.

Silva played for the Cuban Junior National Team and then later for Havana in Serie Nacional (the Cuban major league) prior to defecting, and received a reported $1M bonus when he signed with the Cubs last December.

Here is the abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1. Rubi Silva, 2B-DH: 0-4 (1-3, K, 3-U, 4-3)
2. Danny Lockhart, SS-2B: 3-4 (1B, K, 2B, 1B, R, RBI)
3a. Rafael Lopez, C: 1-2 (1B, 5-3)
3b. Alberto Mineo, PH: 1-1 (1B, RBI)
3c. Mark Malave, C: 0-1 (K)
4. Reggie Golden, CF: 0-3 (K, 1-3, 6-3, BB, R)
5. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 2-4 (K, 1B, 3-1, 1B, 2 R)
6. Dustin Geiger, 1B: 1-4 (1B, K, F-7, 4-3)
7. Micah Gibbs, DH #1: 2-3 (HBP, HR, 4-3, 1B, R, 2 RBI)
8a. Yaniel Cabezas, DH #2: 0-3 (6-3, 6-3, 5-3)
8b. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-1 (4-3)
9. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 0-3 (1-3, 1-3, K)
10. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 0-2 (K, BB, L-5, R)

PITCHERS:
1. Ian Dickson: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 24 pitches (16 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
2. Frank Del Valle: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 BALK, 30 pitches (18 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
3. Dustin Fitzgerald: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 25 pitches (12 strikes), 5/0 GO/FO
4. Austin Reed: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 21 pitches (11 strikes), 3/3 GO/FO
5. Luis Liria: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 9 pitches (5 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
6. Andrew McKirahan: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 16 pitches (11 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Rafael Lopez: 0-2 CS

OUTFIELD ASSIST
CF Reggie Golden threw out base-runner 8-2 trying to score from 2nd base on a line drive single to CF

ATTENDANCE: 18 (mostly scouts)

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 90’s

Comments

My favorite time of the year (since the Cubs usually suck) -- AZ Phil Post Time. Seems like every time I read one of these posts so far this year there's some guy I've never heard of who has signed a huge bonus. I guess Ricketts is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to player development. I've always kinda wondered what would happen if a team focused on pouring massive amounts of money into player development as opposed to free agency. Instead of signing the Carl Crawfords of the world for $100 mil or whatever it was, pour that money into signing these Latin kids. Things could get interesting in a few years if I'm still alive to see it. Cough cough.

Maddon names Matt Moore Game 1 starter, Shields for Game 2

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Speaking of Moore, anybody know how an 8th rounder in 2007 becomes the most promising young lefty in the league in 2011? Not only the Cubs, but every other team including the Rays found other players to draft in the first seven rounds. If you look at Moore's numbers, he's been great at every level since he was 19. It's not like they had to teach him something.

is it march yet? :( at least there's playoffs left...wish it was a WBC year...wish MLB network would telecast fall/winter local and international games...i don't even care if they don't have a pbp announcer...wood bat baseball woo.

f'n hell...we're going to have to hear about this crap being the next chicago suit for the next few weeks, too, i'd imagine... "According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosnethal, the Red Sox are expected to part ways Friday with manager Terry Francona."

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Submitted by Charlie on Fri, 09/30/2011 - 10:40am. Hey AZ Phil, How would you describe Gibbs as a hitter? Does he have a slow bat? Thanks, as always! ===================================== CHARLIE: Micah Gibbs has the proverbial "slider speed bat," but he also has an upper-cut swing & has improved his strength to where he can probably at least hit a few home runs. He already is a very good defensive catcher, so anything he can do to make himself more-valuable as a hitter would help improve his chances of making it to the big leagues. While you would want a fast runner (like Tony Campana) to try and hit the ball on the ground as much as possible to take advantage of his speed, it is preferable for slow-footed catchers like Micah Gibbs to hit the ball in the air, and (if possible) have the power to hit home runs (if not line-drives). BTW, with Luis Flores on the Restricted List (serving a PED suspension) for at least the first month of the 2012 regular season, it is very possible that Micah Gibbs could start the 2012 season at AA Tennessee (sharing the catching duties with Michael Brenly), at least until Flores is reinstated. Best comp for Micah Gibbs is Koyie Hill.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/7950802-419/cubs-will-make… A day later in Chicago, the question became the same one uttered by a player amid the din that night: ‘‘You think [Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein] would leave to come here?’’ If the answer is yes — and one report Thursday suggested he has told friends he would ‘‘embrace the challenge’’ — the next sound could be the cheering coming from the Cubs’ boardroom. Epstein has a 2012 option that has to be exercised by Oct. 8th

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-pulse/2011/2612… I think they fucked this up though, they said players originally drafted or signed, but not those that are past 6 years service time, but their Phillies blurb indicates Utley and Rollins did count. I asked the dude on twitter if I'm missing something, but here were his rankings regardless 1. Rays (duh) - 28.1 WAR 2. Phillies 3. Brewers 4. Tigers 5. Rangers 6. DBacks 7. Yankees 8. Cardinals - 10.8 WAR Cubs for 2011 (if I did this right): 5.1 from their hitters, 4.2 from pitching 9.3 WAR

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Suspect that will be higher in 2012 and probably 2013. Soto, Castro, Barney, Jackson, Colvin, Campana, LeMahieu, Flaherty, Marwin Gonzalez, Vitters, Marquez Smith, Clevenger, Castillo. 13 position players. Marmol, Marshall, Cashner, Wells, Carpenter, Russell, Mateo, Samardzija, Dolis, Cabrera, McNutt, Struck, Whitenack. 13 Pitchers. Would it be a shock to see 12-15 of these 26 names on the MLB roster and contributing positively (if not extraordinarily) by 2013? And, I believe, these are all guys originally drafted or signed out of Latin America by the Cubs. I suppose we could toss Ha, Rhee, and maybe one of the other Pacific Rim pitchers in their, too.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I see the Cubs filling several starting spots with homegrown talent--Soto, Castro, Cashner, Wells, Jackson, Whoever Plays Second--and then having a steady supply of OK-to-Good minor leaguers to fill in for injured players or occupy the majority of the bench roles--Flaherty, Gonzalez, LeMahieu, Campana, Colvin, Clevenger, Castillo, Smith, etc., etc. And then there is the neverending parade of homegrown relief pitchers, who at some points may make positive contributions. Campana managed a 1.4 contribution as a bench player this season and Samardzija a 1.1 as a middle reliever. Get a handful of solid performances from minor role players, and then you can stack that on top of whatever you get from Castro, Soto, and ?. I don't see the Cubs reaching 14 without a few homegrown stars, but they could get up to 11 or so. I'm also guessing that Castro, Soto, Cashner, and maybe Wells will improve on their 2011 contributions. On the other hand, Samardzija and a couple others will probably regress a bit.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

and then Reed Johnson and Jeff Baker play instead. Too true. And there is the turd in my HopefulO's. I've never understood the need for mid-30's free agent bench warmers when you've got a bunch of guys in the minors who could do the same thing. And I guess I am expecting a new manager to agree and replace Hill, Johnson, Baker, etc., with Clevenger, Colvin/Campana, LeMahieu/Flaherty, etc. Also, I'm not so far into fantasyland that I'm saying the Cubs will be good simply because they may get another WAR or two from homegrown players in the next couple years. I think you'd better have cheap homegrown players giving you more WARs when you've got Soriano giving you 1.3 WAR in return for $17 million, Zambrano giving you .9 in return for whatever he makes, and then you pay Carlos Silva to go home. Yes, Tony Campana and Darwin Barney provided more WARs this year than Soriano and Zambrano. That is sad. It also seems like a good reason to go all-in on player development at the cost of long contracts to free agents.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

indeed. Jackson showing more power at an earlier age though with a few more walks. Believe Stubbs was considered a really good defender coming up, Jackson merely adequate at center and Stubbs is supposed to be faster. Jackson does have the advantage of being a lefty though. I can't say for sure of course, but that should give him a bit of an advantage with the K's and batting average. Jackson has certainly shown more at a younger age than Stubbs in the minors.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

The Rangers don't strike out when they're not facing strikeout pitchers. Pineda 17K's in 19 innings Gonzales 12K's in 10 innings Hernandez 19K's in 25 innings That's the three top 10 K/inning guys in their division. Price got 13K's in 14 innings off of them. I like Moore's chances.

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).