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

Braves Appear to Win the Ryan Dempster Lotto

David O'Brien started it all with a tweet saying that the Braves were close to finalizing a deal for a starting pitcher and then Jon Heyman, Jerry Crasnick and Jason Stark said it was Ryan Dempster.

Here's a top 20 Braves prospect list to start speculating upon. I'm hoping Cubs can get one of Randall Delgado or Mike Minor and another decent arm.

Details emerging...


UPDATE #1: MLB.com beat writer for the Braves does say that Delgado could be one of the parts heading to the Cubs.

UPDATE #2: No doubt this is happening now and could be completed by the afternoon. Still awaiting the specifics though.

UPDATE #3: Keith Law speaks, "Filed to ESPN - if the Dempster trade is completed, Randall Delgado is in it, as well as something to balance the money". If that is indeed the complete deal, it's going to be Dempster and $$ for Delgado, or 2 months of Dempster for 5+ years of Delgado at pre-arbitration money until about 2015. 

UPDATE #4: Kapman throws a little water on the fire, saying talks still ongoing. Also rumors now from Jim Bowden that Cubs and Dodgers are waist-deep in a Matt Garza for Zach Lee swap. 

UPDATE #5: The twitter account for Dempster's charity(from which TCR has been banned from for some reason) has this sobering tweet: "THERE IS NO TRADE dont know where this info came from!" Well la-dee-da!

UPDATE #6: Kaplan says the deai is just awaiting Dempster's approval, and judging by Dempster's tweet, that's not a sure thing.

UPDATE #7: So Dempster is refusing to talk about it to reporters, other than to say there is no trade. Delgado's agent hasn't heard anything. As the trade world turns...

UPDATE #8: As I, and I'm sure many others suspected, Heyman is saying the Cubs and Braves have agreed to a deal, but Dempster hasn't waived his 10/5 rights...and it certainly sounds like he's holding on to that bargaining chip for as long as he can.

UPDATE #9: Nightengale with the same info, deal agreed upon between Cubs and Braves, just a matter if Dempster will approve. Len already tweeted a farewell to Dempster.

FINAL UPDATE FOR TODAY: The Cubs brass have told Sveum that no deal is done and earlier reports were false, but does say that Dempster still could be traded. Translation: The Cubs brass fucked up and didn't keep Dempster in the loop and they're in damage control now.

Comments

(I think Kaplan is referring to Atlanta/Dempster) Ryan Dempster traded to Atlanta. Sources tell me Cubs made great deal to land young pitching. I am working on names. Back at u all shortly. (1:16, cst) thekapman David Kaplan (2:12, cst) Just spoke with great source. No deal has been agreed upon. Talks ongoing. Nothing done yet. --- Ken Rosenthal also pee-d on his shoe.

Zach Lee is nowhere near enough for Garza. Lee's star has fallen almost as fast this year as Trey McNutt's did last year. Hell, the Cubs minor leaguers have pounded Lee twice this season already. Just say no.

Per Muskat, Kaplan and Padilla: Dempster just walked into the clubhouse and is putting on his Cubs uniform. Padilla/ESPN-Dempster declines to talk. Won't discuss Speculation.

Dempster walked into the clubhouse (not the beginning of a joke). I suppose we'll find out soon enough. His tweet sounded like a man perturbed that he had to hear it from twitter or somewhere other than the powers-that-be. Although, if he's annoyed by that, where the fuck has he been the last 2 months?

Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal My best guess on what's happening with #Cubs' Dempster. Agreement or near-agreement on players and cash, no agreement with Dempster. MORE. Dempster 10/5 rights, can veto any deal. #Braves his No. 2 choice after #Dodgers. May simply be matter of enticing him to waive no-trade. 7 minutes ago

I wouldn't be jumping up and down to move to ATL, personally. Maybe we match up with the Angels better? Seems like he may just like the West Coast. Plus, it is much closer to BC where he's from.

Padilla/ESPN: Sveum said he talked to Cubs decision makers and no deal with Braves was in place. Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat Cubs mgr Sveum says no deal re: Dempster to Braves. Called it "fabrication"

so to guess, somehow story leaked from Atlanta (David O'Brien and their MLB.com beat writer, Bowman had it first) and then national guys jumped on it as well. All before Cubs got a hold of Dempster. Dempster not happy (maybe with Atlanta, maybe he was told he'd be in the loop, who knows why?)...so they're in damage control now.

Feel free to correct me, and I am sure you will, but I do not recall ONE former Brave player whom we received in a trade that was any good for the Cubs. Seems like they always fleeced Hendry, Lynch, McFail, etc. Free Agents, sure. Except Jeff Blauser. DeRosa is probably the most productive ex-Brave the Cubs signed. And, was an amazing super-sub. We have only had misery from any association with the Braves. I think of guys like Marcus Giles (Prior), the aforementioned Blauser, Maddux, Jose Ascanio, Mike Remlinger...Who am I forgetting?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 3:25pm — The E-Man Feel free to correct me, and I am sure you will, but I do not recall ONE former Brave player whom we received in a trade that was any good for the Cubs. Seems like they always fleeced Hendry, Lynch, McFail, etc. Free Agents, sure. Except Jeff Blauser. DeRosa is probably the most productive ex-Brave the Cubs signed. And, was an amazing super-sub. We have only had misery from any association with the Braves. I think of guys like Marcus Giles (Prior), the aforementioned Blauser, Maddux, Jose Ascanio, Mike Remlinger...Who am I forgetting? =============================== E-MAN: Jack Curtis for Bob Buhl was a good trade for the Cubs. Also, Socks Seibold and four others plus $200K for Rogers Hornsby was a VERY good deal. Helped the Cubs win the pennant in '29.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

PHIL: In the Magical Cubs 1961 Season, Jack Curtis had the following line: W 10 L13 4.89ERA, with a whip of 1.50. But he did pitch 180 innings that year which would be an "innings eater" these days, and a "spot starter" in 1961. But, I am glad you mentioned him so it forced me to look him up! Anyway, if that's all we can come up with - even more pathetic. ha! And, I can only relate to the 1969 Atlanta Braves moving forward as the Mets beat them in the first ever "NLCS" and I was so bitter knowing that our boys would have swept them.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: I should have said the Cubs got Bob Buhl for Jack Curtis, and then Buhl went on to have four pretty good seasons for a bad Cubs team (he won 51 games 1962-65) before going to the Phillies with Larry Jackson in the deal in which the Cubs acquired Fergie Jenkins and Adolfo Phillips, while Jack Curtis worked mostly as a lefty reliever for the Braves in 1962 before getting traded to Cleveland and almost immediately going into the Witness Protection Program. Buhl was actually a very reliable starting pitcher for the Cubs the entire time he was in Chicago, but the two things I remember most about him are that he was a terrible hitter, and he sweated like a pig, even if it was 40 degrees.

You can throw the Omar Infante trade in with the others. We received the forgettable Jose Ascanio. They got a guy who made an all star team and who is still going strong. They parlayed Infante into Uggla.

Tigets get Infante and A. Sanchez from Marlins according to Morosi.

ninja has ruined his own no-hitter through 8...only hit so far is a grounder to 2nd on which mcCl beat out ninja on a footrace to 1st. that said, he's in line for his first complete game with 99 pitches through 8ip.

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).