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

Friday Funnies: What Theo Epstein and Ryan Dempster's secret trade chat might be.

Click to watch gif.

The other day in comments here, Jacos put up this link and asked for some captions.
Looks like the Uecker Seats doesn't it?
Thanks for the laugh and inspiration, Jacos ( and whoever took that photo).
If you're old enough, you'll know the "He missed the tag!" line comes from a really funny Miller Lite spot starring Bob Uecker which unfortunately I couldn't find in it's entirety on you tube.
Anyway, this trade talk.
Ryan Dempster.
Pretty sure this has occured to everyone, but I'm kinda slow: what if today is Dempster's last start as a Cub, or in Wrigley?
AHHHHH!
Do I want to see him go?
Yep.
For his own good, the Cubs good, and for your's and mine.
But still, pretty sad.
Really rare combo of talent and good guy, Dempster. 
And if I can figure out how to get to Wrigley today, I'll be there.

Comments

Happy 74th Birthday to sweet swinging Billy Williams, HOF lineup in (same as yesterday with Demp pitching): Campana, Castro, DeJesus, Soriano, LaHair, Clevenger, Barney, Valbuena, Dempster

eric byrnes is the most annoying person on television...especially since gilbert godfried isn't on TV anymore...or fran dresher... he's got the worst skills for working with others on the mic, he don't know how to set up his co-hosts in ANY format, he loses cues when he's being set up, and his rambling hyperactive stories are usually self-serving leaving his co-hosts to do little but pick on him...which he usually replies with getting internally frustrated and being even worse on the mic til he gets it out of his system. /1st world problems

Beckett will miss Sunday start, lefty Franklin Morales instead. Jeff Baker time!!! Max Fried signs with Padres for $3M. Should set the bar for Almora, although Boras will certainly wait until the last minute.

lulz... a reporter asked b.harper (underage and mormon) if he planned on taking advantage of Canada's lower drinking law age...he replied with "that's a clown question, bro." (which is not only a great answer, it's the right one given this climate of media everywhere and alcohol/baseball not having a good 2012 so far with the BOS reports). anyway, a denver brewing company is now making a beer called Clown Question, Bro.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

some of the comments picking apart the article are even better. "This is a clown article, bro." "So hears the funny thing. The Nationals picked Harper first overall because they had the worst record in baseball. They didn't earn that pick through hard work, in fact they worked the least and were rewarded for it. That sounds like income redistribution to me. Bryce Harper is a socialist hero." "Just because you CAN type words doesn't mean you should." "I remember when Kirby Puckett used to run out ground balls back in the 80s and 90s. And I remember when Derek Jeter used to run out ground balls back in the 90s and 00s. It's almost as if there have always been some players who ran hard, and some players who dogged it. Almost as if baseball players are individuals." blah, blah, blah, don't bring up politics on TCR, I know...yadda, yadda, yadda. It's the hackneyed analogy regardless of what side of the fence that I found particularly entertaining/appalling.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/caple-120615/a-plan-save-save-make-… (GM Jon Daniels)..."But the save definitely impacts how the game is managed."... Most managers vigorously deny this, but they're either lying or kidding themselves. They all use their closers depending strictly on whether it is or is not a save situation. Managers do so because they are trapped by the save rule. To manage otherwise puts their jobs at risk by upsetting the closer, the closer's agent, the closer's wife and those people most easily irritated -- the media. Still, none of this would be a big deal except for one thing: The whole one-inning save strategy doesn't work. For example, it doesn't prolong the careers of relievers. ~snip~ And most importantly, it doesn't help teams win more often. ~snip~ ....the success rate for a team protecting a ninth-inning lead hasn't changed a bit over time, regardless of relief strategy. "It has never changed. Ever," Smith says. "If you lead by three runs going into the ninth inning, you're probably going to win. It's a pretty safe bet."

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

unless the guy hasn't worked in a while...i -hate- it when a guy is brought in to get a save in situations where a guy(s) on base make the situation a save. when you're up by 4 runs and you bring in your best arm to protect that lead just because there's men on base giving a save op...maaaan...

Rashad Crawford's uncle signed up for an account on TCR, says he's signed.

@thekapman I spoke w/ 2 scouts who were at today's Cubs/Red Sox game + both told me that Yankees are much more interested in Matt Garza than Dempster. They question Dempster's effectiveness in the AL East and point to Garza's track record pitching in Tampa. They also feel price to acquire Garza will be extremely high as opposed to cost of landing Dempster which could make Demp easier to move.

Cubs collect 4 hits and commit 3 errors, but win this game somehow. Amazing. Nice work, Dempster. Need to see Dempster, Garza, Marmol, Soto, and LaHair all getting hot from now through the trade deadline.

Hooray for spray charts- Phil Rogers tweet What made Ryan Dempster so effective against the Red Sox? "A lot of balls were hit at people,'' Bobby Valentine said. "Some guys weren't picking up the spin very well.'' Said Dustin Pedroia: "He was throwing everything -- his changeup, his cutter, his fastball. He did a good job.'' Pedroia couldn't say the same thing for his teammates. "We hit some balls good, we just hit 'em right at 'em. It's frustrating. We're not trying to be (bad). Everybody's trying. We're just not playing good. We scored zero runs. You can't win a game when you score zero runs.''

I believe the only Cub draftee in the CWS is 26th round pick, RHP Jasvir Rakkar of Stony Brook. Stony Brook losing badly to UCLA in the first game at the moment 8-1 in the 6th. Rakkar came in to relieve and has gone 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

J. Rakkar finished with 4 1/3 IP, 4 hits, 1ER, 2BB and 4K. I watched an inning in the middle of his appearance. He's got a high 80's (touched 90) with a bit of two seam movement. I saw an 81mph pitch that looked like a change-up, but really acted more like a slow 2-seam sinker. I didn't see a breaking ball. Decent size, fairly easy delivery. He'll make it to at least AA.

dumpster may play a few more games for the cubs, but as of now... 87 saves in 4 mixed bag seasons for the cubs, but he really shined once they returned him to his starter role (a year too late, imo, but whatever)... 143 gs 55-44 w/l 898.1 ip 3.69 era 1.30 whip he put in 31-34 starts a season all 4 years and he could make it a 5th 30+ season, though he missed a couple of weeks earlier this season.

Give Hendry credit, rescuing Dempster from the dumpster (hehe) was one of his best moves as Cubs' GM. I'm really starting to regret a bit how much I dissed Hendry's work with the Cubs. He deserves blame for more than a couple moves no doubt, but Dempster? Lilly? Lee? Ramirez? DeRosa? Those aren't clown moves, bro.

[ ]

In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

Ya but its all erased by signing Dusty Baker, Neifi Perez and Glendon Rusch to multi-year deals (seriously you dimwit tard?), giving Jason Marquis a raise after coming off his shitty 6.02 ERA from the Cardinals, John Grabow who was a mediocre pitcher at best with the Pirates . But let me get to the 2 moves that made him a clown GM. He got swindled by Milton Bradley, and he signed Greg Maddux when all his team ever wanted was some offense. It was nothing more than a giant "screw you Chicago". It was looking at the shiny new toy Maddux and welcoming him back while he shits in his other hand and hobbles a team with no offense. It was a shell game to make you forget he failed at his job so he distracts you with Greg Maddux. And to throw some more trash on the burning legacy of Hendry, if he wanted you gone he would do everything in his power to trash you in the media and burn any lasting trade value you could get out of a player. The dude was a serious clown as a GM, ooooohhhhh and his draft strategy was god awful. From 1995 through 2011 he was the main guy selecting talent for this team. Even when he had top picks they bombed. And he constantly drafted players who looked good as baseball players but actually couldn't play baseball. I guess we called these Hendry's Toolsy players jack of all trades master of none. Actually Hendry's draft ability was akin to throwing darts at a dart board blind folded. When he left the farm system was a barren train wreck. That was probably his greatest crime to this organization, being billed as a guy who could find talent. You had a better chance of stabbing yourself in the heart than for Hendry to find useable talent for his roster.

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

He was pretty good at finding pitching talent early on. In fact, he got off to a pretty decent start, with Ramirez, Dempster, Lee. Things went downhill fast. Faster, really, than I knew at the time. When he gambled and lost on Soriano, that finished him off. And he never was good at finding position talent. The system is really showing that now at the upper levels. And the journeymen he kept signing drove me nuts. I just hope that as the goes on and Theocorp continues to blow up the team, they get rid of dead wood like Mather, Baker and Reed Johnson. I have nothing against any of those guys. They'd all be a good bench addition on a contender with an open spot. But they are useless here. I'd rather see some kid play, even if he isn't a prospect. I'd rather see the team cycle through some minor leaguers and see if there is a guy who has paid his dues unspectacularly and who somehow, getting a chance at "the show" kicks some ass. I'm not at all interested in watching Jeff Baker hit. Or Mather. Or any other journeyman. Blow this team up. Fill it with minor leaguers. The record won't be that much different.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I can't put Soriano on Hendry......that was a decision made above Hendry's pay grade. The Cubs needed to increased the sale price of the franchise and to do that you add the best talent available and we did that in Soriano. The sad part of signing Soriano is that it had nothing to do with winning baseball games it was a business decision, plain and simple. It is also sad that he is the biggest free agent signing we did in the last 20+ years and it still wasn't made on the basis of winning games. And for the last 20+ years the Cubs have been run as a business first and a baseball team 2nd. Knowing that i welcomed the Soriano signing......you got to take your shots and you cant be scared to do it again in the future.

If the Cubs are gonna trade i am looking towards Boston. That OF is gonna get crazy crowded soon. Daniel Nava is hitting like a god, they got Ryan Kalish returning from shoulder surgery, Cody Ross could return soon and then there is Ellsbury and Crawford looming. Ohh please oh please if we could snag Kalish for Dempster or something that would be awesome.

Automatic "no trade" rights held by post-2011 Article XX-B MLB free-agents David DeJesus, Reed Johnson, and Paul Maholm have expired, and so all three can now be traded without restriction. Any Article XX-B MLB FA who signed a major league contract after the five-day "quiet period" that followed the conclusion of the 2011 World Series (including players who re-signed with their 2011 team) received automatic "no trade" rights through June 15th. The player could waive the right, but if he did, he could only be traded for cash and/or player contracts with a maximum aggregate value of $50,000.

Just got back from my Chicago trip (went to wrigley for the wednesday and thursday games) and I have a few not-so-surprising impressions- impressions that perhaps don't necessarily require a trip to Chicago to observe: 1. The Tiger fans-to-Cub fans ratio was ridiculous. They were even chanting Let's Go Tigers on the train ride up to Wrigley on the L. 2. Despite watching the Cubs lose two days in a row, the games were surprisingly entertaining. The Cubs played decent defense (Castro played nice defense those two days) and stayed in the game until the final innings. 3. The team is over-matched against real big league teams in nearly every aspect. It has the feel of a team that is passing off AA & AAA guys as big leaguers- especially in the pitching department.

from Roto...
The Red Sox will recall Clayton Mortensen from Triple-A Pawtucket. He'll replace Josh Beckett (shoulder) on the active roster. Mortensen earned the promotion by posting a 2.39 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 15 appearances with Pawtucket. He'll return to a middle relief role with the Red Sox.
Dang, I was hoping to see a #22 sighting in the Bosox bullpen tonight.

not like it'd hurt much, but i.stewart might be gone a while...via cm's twitter: "Ian Stewart will see a hand specialist at the Cleveland Clinic on Monday for an examination of his left wrist." also, wtf does c.lee have to do to get a win this year? 77.2ip and counting. also also, wtf Fox Saturday baseball showing the BAL/ATL game. the one night they're not cramming BOS/NYY/NYM at me and they pick tonight. neat. ...at least it's a decent game so far.

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).