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

Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod Press Conference

I believe the press conference is scheduled for 3pm CST, maybe EST...so soon. You can allegedly watch a live stream at CSN Chicago.

In the meantime, read up on the new scouting director with this very well done Q&A.

The rumor mill is rather quiet at the moment, last bit of "news" was that Theo and Jed (sounds like a sitcom title) met with Q-Ball for 7 hours last week and have a second meeting this week. I want to imagine the 7 hours was spent getting as much information about the ballclub out of him before they canned him.

On the manager front, Peter Abraham reports that the Cubs and Red Sox could both be interested in former Brewer player and their current hitting coach, Dale Sveum.

After the jump, I'm trying to embed the live stream...see if it works.

If anything interesting is said in the presser, throw it in the comments.

Comments

Theo said a final decision on Quade will come "hopefully within a week". Theo said he talked to Cue-Ball on the phone early last week and then met with him in person along with Hoyer for 5-6 hours a few days ago. Kaplan in the post-interview chit chat with Hollandsworth said he thinks Theo's body language hinted that Q is gone. Hollandsworth agrees.

Asked about ARam's future with the Cubs, Theo talked in past tense several times, "he had a great career as a Cub...we wish him well in the future...I wouldn't rule anything out...but as the top third baseman in free agency, I would think another team will make a nice offer...reading the tea leaves I think he will be moving on and we'll be looking at another solution at third."

Asked about Z, Theo said, "I have had conversations with Barry Praver, Carlos' representative and those were enlightening," Epstein said. "I've sat down with a number of the guys who have been here working alongside Carlos during his Cubs career and that was also enlightening. I think now it's just a matter of processing the information, putting it together, following up with Carlos and seeing what's best for the Cubs. That's ultimately what is most important."

Jason McLeod was asked who will run the draft next year and who will have final say on who is picked, he said that hasn't been determined yet and that like in Boston, everyone will get together and discuss who they feel is the choice, then decide. Also, both McLeod and Theo said that Tim Wilken was in town. Which I take it as, he doesn't work at Wrigley Field everyday?

Asked about the compensation to Boston, Theo said it hasn't been concluded and if they can't get it done by the end of the day MLB will take over and it will take a while while MLB does their research and decides compensation.

http://www.amazon.com/When-Theo-Met-Tom-ebook/dp/B00624EXIS/ref=sr_1_3?… When Theo Met Tom: A Cubs Story The firing of Jim Hendry, the meltdown in Beantown and every other detail you might have missed surrounding the hiring of the world-reknown curse-breaker Theo Epstein. Time will tell if the Cubs will find World Series success in the wake of the Epstein hiring, but this book will tell you how Cubs owner Tom Ricketts made a plan and lured Theo to the North Side.

hoyer says its hard for cubs to have good pitching when team ranks last in defense be interesting to see how they address that, not a lot of great defensive players out there in FA either.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

lol. Completely overhaul the team? I'm trying to think of a starter who is a plus defender at his position. Seems like Byrd, Colvin, and Soto round out the starters who are currently average defenders. Pena was somewhere between average and above average, so I guess if he's back there is one. Soriano is a mess (I don't care what the metrics say), Starlin has his obvious faults, Darwin actually isn't that great, LaHair would probably be merely passable in either LF or 1B, and I'm not thrilled with any of the defenders at 3B (except maybe LeMahieu, who would have to make great strides offensively to be in contention for a job this year).

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/7023/hoyer-excited-for-e… “It’s probably fair to say that I’m giving up some autonomy,” Hoyer said. “But the big part of the reason I could make that decision is that I’ve worked with Theo so long. I know the kind of responsibility I’ll have. I know how much he trusts me, so what I have entered in this arrangement with someone else? No. But with our relationship and our past together, I’m incredibly confident in the responsibility that I’ll have.” ~snip~ Hoyer put the media on warning that information about the team’s offseason plan will not be forthcoming. “We don’t like leaks of information,” Hoyer said emphatically. Boring. Anyway, most of the leaks come from the agents.

It depends on the money and length of deals they want, but I wouldn't mind seeing us go after Jason Kubel and Edwin Jackson in free agency. I haven't seen enough of Kubel's defense to know how good/bad he is though.

Gold Glove winners Molina, Votto, Phillips, Tulo, Polanco, Parra, Kemp, Ethier, Kershaw Wieters, Gonzalez, Pedroia, Aybar, Beltre, Gordon, Ellsbury, Markakis, Buehrle

MLB gets McCourt to agree to sell Dodgers Randy Bush stays on as assistant GM deadline for compensation for Theo moved to end of next week Epstein "reached out" to Maddux hoping to keep him on

Hoyer told "Chicago Tribune Live" he doesn't envision Carlos Marmol losing his closer's role, despite a league-leading 10 blown saves. Hoyer pointed to Marmol's dominance in 2010 and said the Cubs have to find a way to "fix" his slider. ~snip~ "It does take time," he said. "We do have to turn around our farm system to where we're churning out players every year. There is some patience with regard for that. (But) even with a smaller payroll (such as in San Diego), every single year you want to do everything you can in the offseason to put a good product on the field at the major league level. In no year are we going to ask for patience. "(But) where we want to be eventually — a homegrown team that people will recognize year after year — that will take patience." ~snip~ "I've worked with him a long time," [Hoyer] said of Epstein. "He's as down-to-earth a guy as you'll find. But I will say when he turns it on, it's pretty clear he has a gear the rest of us don't have."

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

there seems to be some disagreement that depth and just producing major league talent - regardless whether it's good or bad major league talent - is a sign that the system is doing what it needs to be doing. while there are some, and I happen to be one, that believes if they're not producing impact talent, the roster filler can be found on the cheap like Reed Johnson. It did produce Castro recently, that's neat...be nice if Soto was more consistent. One or two more above average position players would be great, and some starting pitching. just some bad timing where they need to replace expiring contracts and aging veterans but no one worth replacing them with in the system at the moment except maybe Brett Jackson.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

I obviously think the Wilken drafts have been better than middle of the road, but it's too soon to judge, and it will be for several more years. It will be two years or more before we know for sure about Josh Vitters, and he was in Wilken's second draft in 2007. McLeod's first draft as scouting director was 2005, and he grabbed Ellsbury in the first round and Buchholz in the supplementary. That was a good draft, obviously. In 2005, Wilken was scouting director for Tampa. He picked pitcher Wade Townsend, who flopped after having Tommy John surgery the same year he was drafted. Wilken did take high-schooler Jeremy Hellickson in that draft, whose major-league numbers compare favorably to Buchholz's, I would say, and who is two years younger. In 2006, McLeod drafted Josh Bard in the first round. I don't really recognize the names of the other players in that Red Sox draft or, for that matter, in any of McLeod's draft since, but then I don't watch AL games, and as I said, it takes time for most prospects to find their way. It's also harder, I would imagine, for a Sox prospect to get an opportunity in the majors. I am familiar with Anthony Rizzo, because for a time this season he was LaHair's leading rival for PCL MVP. Before this year, Wilken would have been reluctant to use a 5th-round pick on a first baseman, because there are only 30 1B roster spots available to players with such limited defensive scope. Prospects like Rizzo are mainly good trading chips, which is how the Sox ultimately used him. Wilken heard the complaints this year about too few corner-infield prospects and drafted Vogelbach. I guess a Wilken fan would put up Samardzija and Cashner to answer Bard, and Brett Jackson for Ellsbury. Ellsbury is the tough one until Colvin or Jackson prove something. McLeod was not scouting director in 2004 when they drafted Pedroia, or in 2003 when they took Papelbon. If you go back that far, you're talking about Stockstill, not Wilken.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I don't mean to be dismissive about Rizzo, he had fantastic numbers for a 21-year-old in AAA. It's just that having watched the Cubs in those years before 2006, I know that a scouting director can't make a living drafting slugging first basemen--you can name a half dozen Stockstill 1B prospects as easily as I can--and I don't blame Wilken for not trying. Overall I'm very happy--not to say charmed--with the new brain trust even though I doubt that Wilken will still be there the day after his current contract expires. Because of the long lead time for prospects, I'll be able to enjoy the fruits of his labors for several more years after he departs. I really liked Hoyer yesterday, because he pushed most of my buttons: more athletic, speed and power, etc. He sounded like a proud papa talking about all the home-growns on that second Series-winning team. My kind of team--and very unCub-like.

Any update on whether the Cubs are still looking into Bohringer? I guess I don't understand how they keep him, Wilken, and Fleita in the fold without some serious butting of heads.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

not sure if it's old, but it's Al Yellon so it's just kind of dumb news... from a quote I posted above... “It’s probably fair to say that I’m giving up some autonomy,” Hoyer said. “But the big part of the reason I could make that decision is that I’ve worked with Theo so long. I know the kind of responsibility I’ll have. I know how much he trusts me, so what I have entered in this arrangement with someone else? No. But with our relationship and our past together, I’m incredibly confident in the responsibility that I’ll have.” fancy titles and all, but I'm sure Theo gets the ultimate vote on matters, but they seem to be very collaborative. To me it's just Theo being the GM and Hoyer the assistant GM, but had to give them a bump in the pay scale to get them out of their current jobs and they got better titles. Hoyer will probably take more of the press conferences, dealing with the manager, and day-to-day bullshit. Epstein won't have to take as many phone calls.

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).