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

Hamilton vs. Campana

So reader Virginia Phil had the idea to try and time the inside-the-park home run of speed phenom Billy Hamilton with that of Crazy Legs Campana from last year. By his not-quite scientific standards, Hamilton just edged out Campana by a tenth of a second.

Reader Black Earthling took it  a step farther and synced the two videos for the definitive video proof.

I don't think you'll find anyone in baseball that believes Campana is as fast as Hamilton and you can see in the video Hamilton stumbling just a bit approaching second and what looks like some wide turns at second and third base that you don't see Campana taking from the wide shot and less camera time he's granted. But maybe Campana is just a better at those type of things which ultimately contribute to overall baserunning speed, although I certainly wouldn't point to this one clip as the definitive proof. And as noted by both readers, Hamilton slows up at the end once he realizes he'll be safe. But it's certainly closer than I thought it would be and makes for some fun triviality before tonight's Marlins/Cubs game.

Comments

I need someone with database, website and preferably Drupal experience to get the new site up and running. If you are one of those people or know one of those people let me know. I don't think it's particularly hard or difficult work. It's essentially taking the new site that lives on a sub-domain and having it show up at this address. Also, ideally, have our user database and old content and comments brought into the new site, although that can be done at a later date. Also, if you happen to have any CSS experience, double bonus or know of a second person as I have one appearance issue I can't solve. I have up to a couple hundred I can probably spare to entice someone. As for why we won't need the user database immediately, is because we're moving to Disqus comments and you all will need to sign up for a new username if you wish to comment. Begin the outrage!!! ...but the Drupal system just doesn't do what I need it to do anymore and is too far behind the times. You can use your Google account, facebook account, twitter or just sign up for a new username on Disqus, so it should be painless I hope, although I'm guessing a few of you will need to come up with new usernames unfortunately.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

FWIW, I am seeing many more posts by people whom I do not see posting here, referencing the AZ Phil. And, turning full Fan Posts out of these. As Al does this full-time now (can't believe he left his cushy gig at WLS as a director), he is probably hunting for any worthwhile content.

Bijan Rademacher promoted from Boise to Peoria, Yasiel Balaguert demoted to AZL, Isaac Garsez promoted from AZL to Boise... Hunter Cervenka also promoted to Daytona.

if "faster" was all there was to it joey gathright would be working on a HOF career...easily, one of the fastest players to hit the basepaths, but his skills taking bases was as disappointing as his bat given his amazing speed. hamilton's stride is awesome...it's like he's 7ft. tall or something.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

goldschimdt. it's been a long time since ive seen someone not on a prospect list hit a ball like him. his "mistake hitter" tag was ill-placed, imo. with hamilton i just want that touch of my childhood back...a bit of r.henderson/raines/coleman speed... he's the best chance in a long time of being a guy who can pick up that torch. the dee gordons and m.bourns of the world are nice, but hamilton's speed even outclasses that...his base stealing skills independent of speed seem to be nice, too.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

i don't have much on his actual timed runs, but supposedly...while he's one of the fastest players out there, there's guys who are faster. hamilton has an organization that will let him run, enough speed to do it, skills picking up the pitcher's motions, and enough hard-headedness to ignore the fact he's going to get caught sometimes so he doesn't become timid. as far as his bat goes, it's hard to argue with what he's done the past 2.5 seasons. he's still got a bit to prove at higher levels, it's not like he's a very young kid tearing up A ball. AA should be a nice challenge to show what he's got at this point in his career.

Rosenthal tweet says Dempster and his NTC prefers Dodgers, then Braves. Link in the twitter box. but ultimately says he'd go to any contender and only a handful of teams he'd likely nix.

Feels like old times seeing Paul Sullivan and Carlos Zambrano exchanging unpleasantries: Z to PS: They pay you for nothing." PS to Z: You too, I see." Z to PS: "You never change. You stay ugly."

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

and of course paul sullivan is there to tell us all about it. i'm glad he hasn't found anyone else yet to replace his whipping boys. sitting through PS articles about personal grudges no one should give a fuuuuu about about except PS and Z/m.bradley/etc makes me wonder who has editorial control over him. ...and yes, it's funny. i'm just glad PS don't have a new whipping boy...those days got a little old...especially when PS was butthurt over multiple players in over-lapping eras.

If Jacob Turner is being showcased by the Tigers tonight, he is doing nothing to help his trade possibilities. 1st 4 batters single, walk, single, HR...Tigers down 4-0 at Comerica.

Here is what I see: 1. Dempster to the Braves. Delgado and 3rd base prospect Terdalickyoass. Makes too much sense. Reed Johnson could be included. 2. Garza, Soriano and Baker to the Tigers for Brandon Inge. OK, I'm kidding-Jacob Turner and some minor league shit will come to Chicago. These are simply my predications and in no way are based on any factual information. Last but not least I think Marmol will have a terrific August and will be moved in a post deadline deal and get us something good. As always, drinking the Cubby cool-aid.

Rob, I'm interested in talking about the future of this site. Email me. Thanks-

bad Travis Wood tonight, the really bad. Also, Carlos Lee HR in Wrigley. Rinse. Repeat.

Javier Baez was named MWL Player of the Week for July 9-15. Here are Baez's combined 2012 stats between Extended Spring Training and Peoria (thru 7/16): 331/378/657 67 GAMES - 259 PA 11 2B, 7 3B, 16 HR, 49 RBI, 47 R, 8 BB, 56 K, 11 HBP, 2 GIDP, 1 SF, 27 SB (4 CS) DEFENSE: 20 ERRORS

Brett Jackson 2/5 with a double and a run scored. 0 K's...we can all move on...

Wtf?! So the Cardinals, who have won more WS than anyone save the Yankees, and last year's champ, with FOUR top-50 prospects currently, are "disadvantaged" as a "small market" or "small revenue" team? How could the fucking MLB have approved something such as this?!

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

indeed... so picks after Round 1 Royals, Pirates, DBacks, Orioles, Reds, Marlins picks after Round 2 Padres, Indians, Rockies, A's, Brewers, Tigers these picks are tradeable, I imagine Indians, Tigers, Pirates and Orioles would be happy to move their picks.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

10 teams lowest in revenue + 10 teams in the smallest markets were eligible for the picks post-1st round. Since there's overlap, only 13 teams were eligible (D-backs, Orioles, Indians, Royals, A’s, Pirates, Padres, Rays, Reds, Rockies, Marlins, Brewers and Cardinals.). Miami qualified under the lowest revenue qualification I'm sure, Cards probably under 10 smallest markets. Chances of winning a pick are weighed against last year's record (Rays and Cards with the least chance to win). after the 6 picks were awarded for round 1, those 7 teams get a chance at picks after Round 2, but any team that received some revenue sharing and is below the top 15 markets is added. That was just the Tigers. so out of the 14 teams ultimately eligible under these convoluted rules, only Rays and Cardinals were shut out.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Thanks. That is nicely detailed. However, the MIA owners during the last 20 years were chiefly interested in appreciation of the team, and not terrifically concerned if the team won. Should that be rewarded? What I mean is, they were responsible for being losers at the gate. Fucking Selig...

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

My internet dickhead detector has been on the fritz lately, so I can't tell at all how that comment was intended. In the meantime, I'm going to continue my current posting pattern, which is typically 3-4 per week, primarily on old threads no one checks anymore.

not much something about Tigers wanting to pursue a separate deal for Barney for a mid-level prospect and MLBTR dude says Castellanos and probably Turner are off-limits for a SP, but Crosby, Bruce Rondon and C Rob Brantly could be available. Dodgers, Braves, Tigers, Red Sox seem to be the teams of interest.

Nightengale tweets that Red Sox/Marlins talking Carl Crawford for H. Ramirez/H. Bell trade. fun stuff.

MLB Network showing the competitive balance lottery ping pong ball thingy with a big photo of Soriano right behind it. Subliminal message to the teams watching to trade for him.

Dave (Pittsburgh): Jim, I'm interested in whether you think the views of Josh Vitters have been affected at all by his performance this season. Though it is true that the PCL has a rep as a hitters' league, it is also true that (with Rizzo now in the majors), Vitters is the youngest guy in the PCL with an OPS of over .800, and a goodly number of the two dozen guys with better OPS' are considerably older. Also, he seems to now have a track record of adjusting to new leagues after a slow start. Still, no one -- not BA, not ESPN, not anyone else -- is even acknowledging that this former top 5 pick who has not yet turned 23 even exists (from a prospect perspective. Is there more to this story that is not obvious to those of us who do not actually see him play? Jim Callis: Not sure how we don't acknowledge his existence when he ranked No. 9 on our Cubs prospect list coming into the season. Vitters has made some strides this year, but his numbers aren't exceptional for the PCL and he still doesn't walk much. Scouts aren't sold that he can handle third base defensively at the big league level. He's a prospect, but he's not a top prospect and his ceiling is solid regular at best. http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1342621862

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In reply to by QuietMan

Thanks for sharing. Seeing what Stewart brings, and Valbuena is most likely a nice bench player, I am ok with a "solid regular". But AZ PHIL was never sold on his defensive prowess either, which is sorely needed at 3B.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Dave (Pittsburgh) wrote: Vitters is the youngest guy in the PCL with an OPS of over .800. Should say that Vitters is the youngest qualifying (minimum 2.7 PAs/game) PCL player with an .800+ OPS. Will Myers (Omaha/Royals), for one example--and it would take some legwork to figure out how many there are like him--is 21 and has an OPS of 1.023 in 234 PAs. Vitters' OPS is .858. The leader board at MILB.com is skewed toward older players, since they weren't just promoted and aren't going anywhere. I'll just toss in that Vitters' 16-game hitting streak is nice but may not be helping him get to where he needs to be, since he can keep the streak going with singles. Historically, he tends to be satisfied with singles. (Vitters hasn't hit a home run since the first game of the streak.) edit: Okay, I found the right table in BR. Myers is the only exception to what Pittsburgh Dave said.

A pair of Chicago Cubs minor league pitchers have tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, according to a press release from the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. Juancito De La Cruz and Antonio Encarnacion, both right-handed starters, have been suspended for 50 games without pay after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance. Both De La Cruz and Encarnacion are currently on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Cubs. http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/11898/cubs-minor-leaguer…

SF/ATL game is good, fwiw... 3-3, top 11 (2 run top and bottom 10th drama was fun). free preview on MLB EI (cable/dish) -edit- well, a 6 run top 11th has scaled down the drama in this game...nevermind

Garza, Dempster and the usual blah blah blah. Plus... Interest in Cubs’ starters goes past Dempster and Garza. Left-hander Paul Maholm is a solid starter who a scouting source indicated is getting looks from the Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates -- his previous club. As far as Chicago’s position players go, numerous teams are interested in Geovany Soto, according to a major league source. Soto is playing his best baseball of the season and would likely be available for the right package. Soto was almost traded to Pittsburgh last July before the Cubs backed out at the last minute. The Angels may be looking to upgrade the offense behind the plate and make a pitch for Soto. http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/11905/numerous-teams-sco…

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).