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

Jacksonville, Arizona

Joe Mather clubbed a three-run home run, Brett Jackson slugged his second home run in two days, and Jay Jackson threw three perfect innings, as two squads of Cubs played to a 3-3 tie in a five-inning intrasquad game played under sunny skies this afternoon at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ.

After reaching base four times yesterday on a solo a HR, a double, and two walks, B. Jackson picked-up right where he left off, ripping a HR into the upper bullpen beyond the RF fence off LHP Chris Rusin to give the Sveum Squad an early 1-0 lead. (B. Jackson’s HR yesterday also came off a LHP).

Joe Mather took Trey McNutt deep with a three-run dinger off the LF scoreboard in the bottom of the 4th to give the Sutcliffe Squad a 3-1 lead, but B-Jax drew a lead-off walk to spark a two-run rally in the top of the 5th that tied the score. Dave Sappelt (acquired from CIN in the Sean Marshall deal) followed Jackson’s base on balls with a line-drive RBI triple off the CF batter’s eye 410+ feet to straight-away center to score Jackson, and then after Adrian Cardenas walked, Anthony Rizzo lofted a sacrifice fly to left-center to score Sappelt with the tying run.

RHP Jay Jackson got the start for the Sveum Boys, and threw three innings of perfect baseball (1 K and a 4/4 GO/FO), efficiently mowing down the opposition on just 32 pitches (22 strikes).

The Sutcliffe Band of Brothers reversed their fortunes in the bottom of the 4th, however, as Tony Campana ignited the inning with a drag bunt single down the 1st base line. Campana just plain outran the defense, sliding head-first into 1st as 1B Anthony Rizzo made a desperation toss to 2B Bobby Scales covering at 1st base.

Once on base, Campana seemed to rattle pitcher Trey McNutt, eventually stealing 2nd base before Jim Adduci worked a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Campana was then caught red-handed halfway between 2nd & 3rd, but he somehow managed to survive the “hot box,” getting into a run-down before eventually jitterbugging past a defender and sliding into 3rd base amidst a cloud of dust. (Adduci moved-up to 2nd on the play), After Jae-Hoon Ha was called out on strikes on a close 3-2 pitch, Joe Mather sent a hanging McNutt slider high & far over the LF fence.

Matt Szczur followed up yesterday’s 3-4 six-RBI day by reaching base in both of his two plate appearances today, drawing two walks and showing a lot of patience and a good eye in the process.

No doubt the People’s Choice at HoHoKam Park right now is Tony Campana. The fans absolutely LOVE this guy. Besides his bunt single and the daring base-running, Campana also made a couple of eye-opening plays in the field this afternoon, running a half-mile and making a head-first diving attempt at catching a pop-up in foul territory down the LF line early in the game (a ball that Alfonso Soriano would not even have thought about chasing), and then rescuing CF Jae-Hoon Ha by running full-tilt to catch a fly ball in dead-center that Ha lost in the sun. I suppose it’s just his combination of hustle, spirit, and exuberance, but the fans cheer wildly every time Campana comes to the plate or gets on base.

I wouldn't be surprised if Campana ends up playing CF and hitting lead-off for the Cubs on Opening Day. What will happen to Marlon Byrd I cannot say, but Campana seems to be in the right place at the right time right now.

The Cubs play their first “official” Cactus League Spring Training game against the Oakland A’s in Mesa tomorrow afternoon. Rodrigo Lopez will is reportedly get the start.

There is no official scorer at Spring Training intrasquad games, so here is today’s unofficial box score:

SVEUM SQUAD LINEUP:
1. Dave Sappelt, CF: 1-3 (K, F-9, 3B, R, RBI)
2. Adrian Cardenas, 3B: 0-2 (F-8, L-7, BB)
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B: 0-2 (F-9, K, F-7 SF, RBI)
4. Steve Clevenger, DH: 1-2 (1B, F-8)
5. Micah Gibbs, C: 1-2 (5-4-3 DP, 2B)
6. Jonathon Mota: SS: 0-1 (BB, L-8)
7. Matt Szczur, LF: 0-0 (BB, BB)
8. Bobby Scales, 2B: 0-2 (K, L-9)
9. Brett Jackson, RF: 1-1 (HR, BB, 2 R, RBI)

SUTCLIFFE SQUAD LINEUP:
1. Tony Campana, LF: 1-2 (4-3, 1B, R, SB)
2. Jim Adduci, RF: 0-1 (4-3, BB, R)
3. Jae-Hoon Ha, CF: 0-2 (F-7, K)
4. Joe Mather, 1B: 1-2 (5-3, HR, R, 3 RBI)
5. Welington Castillo, C: 0-2 (F-7, 5-3)
6. Edgar Gonzalez: SS: 1-2 (6-3, 1B)
7. Alfredo Amezaga, 2B: 0-2 (L-8, 4-6-3 DP)
8. Blake Lalli, DH: 0-1 (K)
9. Matt Tolbert, 3B: 0-1 (F-7)

SVEUM SQUAD PITCHERS:
1. Jay Jackson: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 32 pitches (22 strikes), 4/4 GO/FO
2. Trey McNutt: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 29 pitches (19 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO
NOTE: McNutt’s first inning was stopped with bases empty and one out when he reached his max pitch limit for that inning.

SUTCLIFFE SQUAD PITCHERS:
1. Chris Rusin: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 54 pitches (29 strikes), 2/4 GO/FO
2. Alberto Cabrera: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 43 pitches (22 strikes), 0/4 GO/FO
NOTE: Cabrera’s final inning was stopped with runner on 2nd base and one out when he reached his max pitch limit for the game.

SVEUM SQUAD ERRORS: NONE

SUTCLIFFE SQUAD ERRORS: (1)
P Chris Rusin E-1 - errant pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runners at 1st & 2nd to advance a base.

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Micah Gibbs: 0-1 CS

 

Comments

ike davis (NYM) doing it all wrong again... he's contracted "valley fever"...even though his ST camp is in FL. sigh. wrong coast, buddy. he probably lives in AZ in the offseason...went to college there. unlucky break. hopefully it doesn't lay him up. it's like "mono" for some people...some can shake it off...some carry the effects for months/year+.

"Unfortunately, the "Moneyball" film came up empty with the Academy Award voters, and the same fate beckons for Beane and Oakland A’s owners Lew Wolff and John Fisher in their determined effort to move to a new stadium in Hi-Tech haven. The latter prospect, in which, for a variety of reasons, MLB is going to uphold the San Francisco Giants’ territorial rights in San Jose, will be especially disheartening for Beane." http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/3/3/2842925/report-as-wont-be-moving-to-sa… ow. it's like a separated couple (fans/ownership) forced to share a house together at this point...and no one's moving out any time soon.

Well Phil, based on the early returns, I think most Cub fans (self included) would be perfectly fine if the Cubs dumped both Soriano and Byrd RIGHT NOW and had Campana and BJax on the opening day roster. Won't happen of course...but it should. What did you think of Jay Jax, how did he look? Last year was awful for him, can he get back to being a prospect pitcher for us? Who is Joe Mather?

[ ]

In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

Sat, 03/03/2012 - 9:21pm — Jim Hickmans Bat Well Phil, based on the early returns, I think most Cub fans (self included) would be perfectly fine if the Cubs dumped both Soriano and Byrd RIGHT NOW and had Campana and BJax on the opening day roster. Won't happen of course...but it should. What did you think of Jay Jax, how did he look? Last year was awful for him, can he get back to being a prospect pitcher for us? Who is Joe Mather? ============================== JIM H: Jay Jackson looked very good today. He worked fast and threw strikes, and nobody hit the ball hard off him. Too bad they were using a DH because J-Jax is one of the best-hitting pitchers and best athletes among pitchers in the minors (he played CF at Furman on days he wasn't pitching). And I certainly think he is still a prospect. Something to remember about Jay Jackson is that he rocketed through the Cubs system and got to AAA Iowa in just his first full season in pro ball, but he was unable to move forward from there and has even regressed some since then. But he just turned 24 last October (he's two years younger than Chris Carpenter), and he does profile as a starting pitcher. He has been pitching in an extreme hitters league (PCL) for the last couple of years so his number probably look worse than they should, but he threw the ball pretty well the second-half of the 2011 PCL season. Joe Mather is a 29-year old RH hitting 1B-OF. He kind of resembles Richie Sexson, except he never developed into a full-time MLB player. He is tall, lanky, and slow, but he does have HR power. (Jason Dubois might be another comp). Mather spent most of his lengthy minor league career in the Cardinals organization, and over the years he has managed to accrue about a year-and-a-half of MLB Service Time. By this point in his career, though, he is mostly an intinerant "4-A" player, bouncing from organization to organization (St Louis in 2009, Atlanta in 2010, Colorado in 2011, and now the Cubs in 2012). Right now I would say he is really just competing for a job at Iowa, but because he got an NRI for signing with the Cubs, he will be at big league camp for a while. The Cubs have so many OF prospects at AA/AAA that I think it's fairly likely that (barring injuries) Mather will probably get released prior to Opening Day. There probably won't be room for him at Iowa.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

"Volstad is not Carlos Zambrano and that's enough for the Cubs. He's going to top out at around 160 innings and that seems to be a problem for baseball execs." ...and then i quit reading. ...and i probably should have quit reading after the d.barney blurb...even though his "green" rating i don't have an issue with. ...and wtf was up with that byrd blurb? "His playing time was down last year because the franchise was looking at options." I knew it was a conspiracy that he got drilled in the skull. I got one for Will Carroll.... RED (Clairvoyant) Will Carroll Just because you can get 10 patties on a In-and-Out Burger doesn't mean you have to. I saw a video of Carroll eating a couple of 10-patty burgers and noticed his left shoulder isn't raising as high as his right shoulder. This points to a shoulder injury which may prevent him from hitting 300...pounds.

AZ PHIL: Is Campana-Fuld comparison accurate in terms of their role and projection? excepting that Sam is a LH. Don't know much about Campana's arm, but if he can learn how to walk and hit some singles, he would have ro make the team as a 4th OF? From many scouting reports I have read, he is one of the fastest guys in the game. But that in itself is not enough except as a pinch runner.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I was wondering the same thing. Does he really have the batting skills needed to start in CF on Opening Day, and remain there, ahead of Marlon Byrd? Or is the Cubs' new braintrust putting so much emphasis on defense that he would start on Opening Day on the basis of his D alone?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Sun, 03/04/2012 - 8:28am — The E-Man New Re: Jacksonville, Arizona AZ PHIL: Is Campana-Fuld comparison accurate in terms of their role and projection? excepting that Sam is a LH. Don't know much about Campana's arm, but if he can learn how to walk and hit some singles, he would have ro make the team as a 4th OF? From many scouting reports I have read, he is one of the fastest guys in the game. But that in itself is not enough except as a pinch runner. ====================================== E-MAN: Both Sam Fiuld and Tony Campana are above-average OF defenders, but Campana is faster and more of a disruptive influence on the bases than is Fuld. Fuld is a better hitter, takes walks, and has occasional power, though, while Campana is mostly a singles hitter. I would say Campana's eventual role will be that of a "5th OF" (late-inning defensive replacement and PR), but if the Cubs are going to scramble for runs in 2012 (and it appears that might be the case), a lead-off hitter like Campana would seem to be the type of short-term solution who could both single-handedly generate a run in a close game AND give the fans some pleasure in what could be a down year.

I would be very surprised if Campana starts in CF on Opening Day over Byrd. Seems like a huge over-reading of fan reaction to a player on the 2nd day intra-squad games

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I would love it if he turns out to be an impact player, but right now he reminds me of Ced Landrum. In nearly 3,000 PAs in the minors, Ced had a career line of .280/.343/.365, and stole 267 bases while getting caught 77 times. In 1991, he played in 50 games in the majors with the Cubs and stole 27 bases while only being caught 5 times. But he also had an OPS of just .592. (Campana was 24/26 in SB with an OPS of .603 last year). Many thought Ced would be the lead-off man of the future for the Cubs and would steal 50-60 bases a year. But Ced only had 20 more big league PAs in his entire career. There are certainly differences between the two (age for one) but right now Campana has shown he has speed, but beyond that little else offensively. I am hopeful, but not holding my breath.

Sorry, was trying to clean up this thread that had my early (and long) posts that lead to the Theo interview on Bruce Levine's show and it seemed to delete 2 related posts from Rob and E-Man. I don't think it took away any of the posts that were related to Arizona Phil's article or other miscellaneous posts (it went from 19 comments to 13 and I think I used 4 on the Theo interview).

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).