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

Game 1 Recap - So Yeah, That Happened

I can't really afford the time to pour into these game recaps as I'd really like, so I'll just comment briefly on the bigger WTF moments.

Today, the honor goes to Kerry Wood and Dale Sveum in the 8th. Granted, I got called to a meeting just as Wood was imploding, but let's take at the play-by-play.

- K. Wood relieved R. Dempster
- I. Desmond stole second
- R. Zimmerman walked
- I. Desmond to third, R. Zimmerman to second on wild pitch
- A. LaRoche walked
- J. Werth walked, I. Desmond scored, R. Zimmerman to third, A. LaRoche to second


So after not paying attention to the tying run, then a walk, a wild pitch and another walk of a guy that had already struck out 3 times versus a righty, who in the ballpark was thinking Wood was suddenly going to find his groove to shut this thing down?

Raise your hand, Dale Sveum!

Comments

actually, kerry wood should have struck out at least one of the walks if the umpire had not screwed up the call. Funny the game ends on a called strike that was exactly as close as at least 2 of wood's pitches. He got royally screwed IMO.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2012 Chicago Cubs. Ringing in the new era with a loving retrospective on Cubbery. At least we know the new leadership is a quick study.

Signing Wood was stupid. For a big market team, the Cubs are way too sentimental, assuming they want to win. Being sentimental with a millionaire because you remember when he was terrific and could have taken the team to the promised land only helps him, not the team. (And he doesn't need the help. He's got plenty of money). Assuming, again, that they really want to win. Reminds me of them bringing Sandberg back after his "retirement." Yuck.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

That is also true. But watching Woody for his whole career it seems to me he is trying to be too fine ALWAYS. Trying to sit on the outside bottom corner - or drop it off the table. RARELY will you see him challenge the hitter. He has been that way his whole damn career. What about heater at the eyes down the middle once in awhile. Mano y Mano. But no Kerry has to try and hit a minuscule spec on the edge of the planet. that said he will be one of our better pen arms. But I cannot watch him. His posture and his wildness are forever etched in my brain. For me it is not fond memories, it's PTSD!

over/under on Rob G's game recaps before he goes insane? ~all is well baseball network showing dodgers vs pads with vin on the mic~ Reminder you get free baseball on extra innings this opening week.

In trying to be objective, and it is hard sometimes, this is only Game 1, Woody did not get much ST action, they played a better team with a real bullpen, and probably 1/2 of this squad will not be here next year. The "little things" preached all spring meant nothing this game. Every "aggressive" play backfired, and Baker is as bad as always playing defense. - sigh - Hopefully there will be some bright spots we can be excited about in the months to come.

Iowa 5-3. RWells gave up another HR (solo) Iowa loaded the bases (Sappelt double, Vitters and Tolbert walks) then runs on a Campana SF scoring Sappelt and a BJax rbi single (your turn Rob, gotta go meet someone at the airport)

Corpas in the 8th, trying to protect a 2-run lead N. Struck with 5 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 8 K in AA heading to the 6th K. Burke threw a scoreless frame for Peoria

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

It's a one-game sample size obviously, but I was very disappointed with Stewart's approach yesterday. I didn't see any patience from him or the other guy that was supposed to bring more discipline to the lineup, DeJesus. Everybody was hacking early and mostly putting the ball in play very weekly (Stewart twice hit grounders that couldn't make it to the pitcher). With a hurricane coming directly in from CF, why not make the pitcher throw more pitches? Bob praised DeJesus or doing it late in the game on a 7-pitch AB, but maybe they ought do have to done it during the first 2 times through the lineup.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Probably right. I was just frustrated to see him go through the first few innings throwing so few pitches. Seemed like the Cubs were swinging at the first pitch that was close and usually hitting it weakly. I expect it from Soriano, Barney, and to some degree Castro. I didn't like to see DeJesus and Stewart contributing to the problem. It was only one game against possibly the most overpowering pitcher in the league. I just hope "swing early in the count" wasn't a gameplan. Probably wasn't.

The Cubs blew a game! The sky is falling!!!! Did anyone actually expect them to beat with Nationals with Dempster going up against Strasburg?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I totally agree Rob. Hopefully we all know it is one game, early and for a team with low expectations. But why not examine the details, they are still there for the picking'. All in all they did what they said they'd do and weren't terribly good at some of it (aggressive baserunning, fielding, patience at plate). But according to Dale a lot of this was adapting to a pitcher who is not likely to be wild. All in all it is a new team and they werent very good at any of the new finesse yet, but had some talent (Dempster etc). Takes time to get good! Our AAA lineup IS where the excitement is tho. No doubt!

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).