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

A's Rally Dooms Cubs at Fitch Park

Neftali Rosario lined an RBI double into the LF corner and Trey Martin clubbed a two-run triple off the CF fence to highlight a four-run Cubs 2nd, but the Athletics rallied to score two in the 6th, two in the 7th, and three in the 8th en route to an 8-6 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa, AZ.

The defensive play of the game was a diving catch by Xavier Batista at the RF foul line.

Here is the box score from today’s game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Trey Martin, CF: 2-4 (K, 3B, SH-E1, 1B, K, 2 RBI, CS)
2. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 2-4 (1B, P-5, 1B, 6-4 FC, RBI, PO)
3a. Marco Hernandez, DH #1: 0-3 (K, 3-1, F-7)
3b. Dustin Geiger, PH: 0-1 (6-3)
4. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 2-4 (K, 2B, K, 3B)
5. Xavier Batista, RF: 1-4 (2B, K, F-9, K, R)
6. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 0-3 (3-U, K, BB, K, R)
7. Carlos Penalver, SS: 1-3 (BB, F-8, 2B, F-8, R, RBI)
8a. Neftali Rosario, C: 1-2 (2B, K, R, RBI)
8b. Sergio Burruel, C: 0-2 (K, K)
9. Brian Inoa, 2B: 1-4 (K, K, F-7, 1B)
10a. Trevor Gretzky, DH #2: 2-2 (1B, 1B, 2 R)
10b. Dong-Yub Kim, PH-DH: 1-2 (P-6, 1B)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. David Henrie: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 31 pitches (24 strikes), 2/6 GO/FO
2. Brian Smith: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 38 pitches (20 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
3. Carlos Martinez: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 49 pitches (29 strikes), 4/0 GO/FO
4. Roderik Pichardo: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 36 pitches (23 strikes)
5. Matt Spencer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 9 pitches (6 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 2
1. P Carlos Martinez - E-1 (missed catch on what should have been a 3-1 putout at 1st base allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run)
2. CF Trey Martin - E-8 (fielding error on single to CF allowed batter to advance to 3rd base)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Sergio Burruel: 1 PB

ATTENDANCE: 6

WEATHER: Sunny and a bit breezy with temperatures in the 90’s

Comments

R. Flaherty with a single in his first AB....raises his BA to .160. How can a first place team keep a Rule 5 guy?!?!?!??!?!?! /slashes tires

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Well ... I don't think Baltimore expected to be in first place. Now that they are, there seems to be some rumblings that they may cut the cord on him (unless they find a convenient injury to stash him away). A lot may come to a head when Brian Roberts is ready to come back in whatever role they put him in. With some injuries in the early-going, it's been fine keeping two super-util guys on the roster (Betemit being the other). I know in preseason, the chatter in Baltimore was supposedly that the Cubs were waiting for the Orioles to offer Flaherty back. With the Cubs lucking into Cardenas/Valbuena, I wonder if that is still the case, or if the Orioles flip something to keep Flaherty in the system (if there isn't a convenient injury).

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

Let's see. He has to be on the roster 90 days to be theirs Free and clear next season. They've had 30 days this month. They have tomorrow off. That's 31. They had 25 days in April. That's 56. September has 31 days. 87 total. October has 3 days. So, if they put him on the DL on the first of June, activating him in September, he can be theirs next season free and clear. No point them letting him go now. Who do they have better at utility?

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

Um, Wilson Betemit is the main super-utility guy, but he basically gets regular time these days with the injuries they've had (Reynolds was on the DL for a bit, so Betemit got time there, Reimold is still on the DL, so he's seen time there, and he gets some time at 1st and DH). Andino was the a former utility infielder (not really a super-util guy), but he's taken over at 2nd base, and I question if Roberts can reclaim that spot this year. My guess is that Flaherty will stay on the roster until Roberts is ready to come back, at which point, he'll come down with some sort of injury if they haven't passed the days requirement yet, and then they'd bring him back in September. The only other potential squeeze on the 40 would be if they made some moves. They could use a bat (although Chris Davis has hit much better than I ... or many Orioles fans probably ... expected.) The K rate and the high BABIP makes one wonder how sustainable it is, though, and if not, the lineup weakens quite a bit if he isn't providing depth to the lineup. That said, I'm not sure where you place a bat. 3rd base perhaps, but you've got Mark Reynolds hanging around to strike out a ton, hit some homers, and not make a ton of contact (along with Betemit/Flaherty), and it's not like the 3rd base market is exactly teeming with talent that's ready to be moved. Maybe LF, depending on what happens with Reimold, as Avery needed some more time. That said, their bigger need, if they are hanging around, is probably adding an arm. Hammel/Arrieta/Chen have been a decent trio, but they sure could use an impact starter. Matusz has been decent, and Britton will be back eventually, but hard to see them keep 3 lefties in the rotation. Their bullpen has been superb.

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

considering he's starting tonight, probably not going to cut the cord anytime soon. Plus he's nearly 2/3 of the way towards the necessary commitment. mostly I'm making fun of the chicken littles that believe it's not worth keeping a Rule 5 guy unless your in some complete rebuild mode and even then folks were bitching about Lendy. I always find it odd that the rest of baseball doesn't have to abide to the standards that Cubs management must at times.

speaking of the O's, hope Adam Jones signed that contract. Nailed in the hand by a Brandon Morrow fastball, stayed in though, but sure looked painful. Hopefully it hit more of the side/palm area then a finger.

I-Cubs release Nate Robertson.
LINDSAY JOINS I-CUBS: The Chicago Cubs have signed RHP Shane Lindsay and assigned him to Iowa's active roster. Lindsay was a non-roster invitee to spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in eight games with Albuquerque from April 27-May 19 before getting released. In nine innings with the Isotopes, he allowed eight hits, walked 12, and struck out eight. Lindsay was an International League All-Star with Charlotte last season and saw his first major league action with the Chicago White Sox last September. Lindsay hails from Australia and was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Colorado Rockies on August 11, 2003.
http://iowa.cubs.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120530&content_id=3250…

Phil, in you opinion after 2 months of seeing these guys in Extended Spring Training, who of the 2011 high school draftees, other than pitchers goes on to Boise. Include Rock Shoulders in the group even though he is JC. It seems as if some of the group are doing pretty well, like Dunston, Trey Martin, and one of the first basemen. Also, Gretsky seems be hitting pretty well.

[ ]

In reply to by Rogers

Wed, 05/30/2012 - 7:42pm — Rogers Phil, in you opinion after 2 months of seeing these guys in Extended Spring Training, who of the 2011 high school draftees, other than pitchers goes on to Boise. Include Rock Shoulders in the group even though he is JC. It seems as if some of the group are doing pretty well, like Dunston, Trey Martin, and one of the first basemen. Also, Gretsky seems be hitting pretty well. =============================== ROGERS: The only changes I would make from the Boise roster I posted a couple of weeks ago would be exchanging Marco Hernandez for Javier Baez at SS and in the #3 slot in the batting order, and I would add RHPs Jose Arias and Tayler Scott to the starting rotation, replacing Starling Peralta (who was moved-up to Peoria) and Willengton Cruz (who has yet to pitch in an EXST game). Arias threw five innings of one-hit shutout ball in an intrasquad game today with no walks and five strikeouts. I would also add RHPs Rafael Diplan and Amaury Paulino to the Boise bullpen, replacing RHP Felix Pena (who was moved up to Peoria) and LHP Hunter Ackerman (who was injured in a game on Tuesday). I'm still not sure what the Cubs will do with Dan Vogelbach and Rock Shoulders. If they send only one of them to Boise, it will probably be Shoulders (Vogelbach has really struggled at EXST, both at bat and in the field), but they could send both and alternate them at 1B/DH.

I may have missed it but do the Cubs still owe compensation to the Padres for hiring away the GM? If so, how likely is it the comp. comes from Ext. Spring Training? I assume those attendance figures at the bottom of your "box scores" are made up of trolling scouts.

[ ]

In reply to by Justin Tyme

Thu, 05/31/2012 - 11:12am — Justin Tyme I may have missed it but do the Cubs still owe compensation to the Padres for hiring away the GM? If so, how likely is it the comp. comes from Ext. Spring Training? I assume those attendance figures at the bottom of your "box scores" are made up of trolling scouts. ================================ JUSTIN T: There was a Padres scout at Cubs Minor League Camp for about a week at the end of March taking video of various Cubs players (mostly from the Peoria squad), but I haven't seen him since. Maybe they didn't like what they saw on the video and decided to take cash instead. There are scouts from various other organizations at the games, usually for a week at a time. A scout from Team X might be assigned to "follow" the Cubs minor leaguers and write up reports in case a trade is made somewhere down the line.

Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster are veterans starters who can fill out the top of a rotation for a contender. Shortstop Starlin Castro already is a star at 22 but can be obtained for two impact prospects. First baseman Bryan LaHair, a surprise bright spot with 10 home runs, can be cleared to make room for top prospect Anthony Rizzo. Link in the twitter box. Probably a bit low on the Castro asking price. Says Samardzija is the only real untouchable according to Nightengale. ~shrug~

That quote only indicates that he knows he'll be talked about in trades, not that he'll necessarily agree to waive his 10/5 no trade rights. He certainly might, but it certainly wasn't a clearcut "I won't stand in their way" type of statement.

Cubs beat guy chimes in: John (Lincolnshire) DP - Just heard everyone on the Cubs is available to trade except for Shark. How different will this team look come August, and how much would it take for them to move Castro? Doug Padilla (2:31 PM) It'll take a ton to move Castro. Theo basically said so this week, without naming Castro specifically. He said if a proven guy goes in a deal it would take multiple slam-dunk prospects in return. A team would have to blow the front office's doors off for a Castro deal to happen. http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chicago/chat/_/id/44051

heh...george "wtf is sunscreen" brett lost his dog and is using twitter to help look for it. FIND YOUR OWN LINK. *scoff* lulz...heard it on TV. it's a labradoodle. more lulz.

MLB Network did a story on former pre-draft pitching phenom David Clyde (early 70s, Rangers) including interviews with him. It'll probably end up their website (MLB Tonight show). Wikipedia for more info on Clyde if you're not familiar. -edit- wow, pretty emotional ending. brian kenney (the dude who does the sabr/stats-based show in the offseason) did the interview and he's becoming one hell of an on-air personality producing good segments, imo (on both shows).

Shit week for baseball. Kemp, Weaver, Tulo, Markakis all go on the DL (i think I'm missing a few other big names). in other news, Blue Jays call up Robert Coello, briefly a Cub.

"Starlin Castro is the type of player we're looking to build around," Epstein said Thursday. "There has been no trade consideration with him, whatsoever." ~snip~ "I never understood why there would ever be an untouchable," Epstein said Monday. "All you're doing is limiting your opportunity. That said, there are core pieces that it's almost impossible to foresee moving. You would have to be completely blown away to even contemplate it. http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7994641/theo-epstein-chicago-…

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s a fantastic deal for SF

  • 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?