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

Rough Year for Chicago GM's

Technically it's a new year I guess, but Angelo's firing culminated in the failure of 2011. A lot of you already mentioned the Bears hiring Bill Polian whom I believe Lovie Smith is familiar with.

As for the Cubs, all quiet on the western front. Garza rumors swirl, but my guess is Theo is running into the same issues that Kenny Williams ran into trying to move John Danks. The return in prospects isn't going to be as bountiful with only a year or two left of club control and the player already earning high end arbitration dollars. Garza does have one more year before being free agent eligible though and in the end, it just takes one sucker. Allegedly the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers and Marlins are the most interested. I also read some rumor about Marlon Byrd possibly being the compensation to the Red Sox. I can't even recall where I heard that, so don't put much stock into it.

Comments

Coco Crisp has decided on where he'll sign--- looks like it's the A's not the Cubs but nothing official yet.

I also read some rumor about Marlon Byrd possibly being the compensation to the Red Sox. I can't even recall where I heard that, so don't put much stock into it. --- It was the Boston Globe's big bad Nick Cafardo in his weekend baseball notes which have become voluminous because of all the venom spewing toward Chicago of late...
27. Would the Red Sox and Cubs settle on outfielder Marlon Byrd as compensation for Theo Epstein? Byrd is a 34-year-old high-effort righthanded hitter with a good arm who could platoon in right, though his splits are not platoon-friendly. Last season, he hit righties at a .296 clip and lefties at .219. Something would probably have to be done about that $6.5 million salary, with the Cubs picking up some, if not all of it.
http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-01/sports/30579525_1_ben-cherington-…

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

If they want a platoon outfielder, then they can have Soriano. The Red Sox "nation" has gone from wanting Castro to Garza to top prospects to Byrd to whatever and ever. I think Epstein's a pretty good GM, but I don't get why they think they're gonna get something of much value when the guy was just a GM and he left for a promotion. Boston fans are ridiculous.

For Angelo to go two years in a row without sufficient depth (quality) at the most important position, and to sign players with injury history on the o-line making his golden-boy QB punished like a boxing speed-bag, is truly fucked-up. Todd Fucking Collins?! He should have been fired for signing that turd alone.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Geez, we could all write a book on the poor decisions he made. There are some paralells to Hendry to be sure. While Angelo should be applauded for Hester and some defensive moves, to predicate a Championship just on special teams and D alone is extremely flawed when compared to the perennial successful teams. And, the "evaluation of talent" thing - the Packers are like the Cardinals are to the Cubs now. Just overall better talent from top to bottom (save a few players).

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

some of the backup QB issues have to fall on Lovie and Martz though for wanting someone familiar with the system, instead of someone actually talented. McNown actually didn't look too bad to me. He could make the intermediate throws, stuck in the pocket and could scramble. Still be nice if they could find a decent young QB in the first 3 rounds.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Not Lovie, really. He's a damn good coach and they were right for saying we love Lovie and f- the rest of ya. He never really has much to work with, in my opinion. An occasional defensive guy (peppers), Brian U, and that's about it. He really does a lot with very little. EDIT: you can make the argument that he stuck with Martz too long, but I thought Martz was a reasonable gamble, and Lovie at least said to the world, you know what? I don't know offense, so I'm gonna hire an offense guy. It didn't work out cuz Martz is so 1990. His system was so complex that nobody really grokked it, and he did stupid ass stuff like ask his QB, who is a pocket QB, to drop back ten steps. A Good offensive coach will adapt to his QB. Cutler hated that guy, for good reason. Drop back ten, get creamed. I'd hate him too. EDIT NUMBER 2: I hope that the new GM knows football well enough to know that if you want to do the free agent thing with wide receivers you get guys who can catch bullets. I'm not convinced Roy Williams can't. He may have a nice year next year without Martz. But we need a guy as GM who really gets that. Cutler is not a QB for panzy receivers. You have to react quick, watch the ball in your gut, and close your eyes and learn how to take a tackle. Yes, I played wide out as a kid.

Brad Snyder still kicking, traded to Rangers from O's for cash considerations. -edit- whoops, that's Brandon Snyder, different guy. The ex-Cub Brad Snyder signed with the Astros this offseason.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I saw McCaskey for the first time yesterday. He doesn't look like a football man or a businessman. He looks and talks like a store clerk. To tie this back to the Cubs (since this is a Cubs blog), if you put McCaskey, Phillips, Ricketts and Epstein in a lineup, you could easily pick out the owner and president of the forlorn franchise with no hope. The McCaskeys have done nothing for the Bears in thirty-plus years. They won Super Bowl XX, but old man Halas, before he died, had already hand-picked the head coach and, more importantly, the defensive coordinator of that '85 team. (Not that Halas did the Bears any favors during my lifetime.) What a rotten organization. Ownership is everything.

randomness dude asking Rosenthal if he's heard anything about a deal of Felix Hernandez going to the Blue Jays. Allegedly Jaso and Felix for Gose, Arencibia, Alvarez, Snider and Drabek from a Blue Jays front office source. Says Garza talks were more a plan B. https://twitter.com/tmfb82

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).