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

Cubs Send Lendy Castillo Outright to Iowa

The Cubs have sent RHP Lendy Castillo outright to AAA Iowa. Castillo was Designated for Assignment on January 26th when RHP Carlos Villanueva (MLB Article XX-B free-agent signed by the Cubs last month) was added to the 40-man roster.

As most of you know, Castillo was selected by the Cubs off the reserve list of the Phillies AAA Lehigh Valley affiliate in the Major League Phase of the December 2011 Rule 5 Draft. He was signed out of the Dominican Republic by Philadelphia as a 17-year old shortstop in December 2006, but was converted to pitcher in 2010 after hitting a combined 239/287/313 (with 23 SB) in 132 games in the DSL and GCL 2007-09. So when the Cubs acquired him, Castillo had been a pitcher for only two years, and had never pitched higher than Lo-A (equivalent to Peoria or Kane County).

In order to fulfill Rule 5 obligations, Castillo needed to spend the entire 2012 season on the Cubs 40-man roster and/or 60-day DL, with at least 90 days spent on the Cubs MLB Active List (25-man roster). And he just barely made it, too, spending a total of 96 days on the Cubs MLB Active List after being placed on the 15-day DL with a "groin strain" in May. But placing Castillo on the DL allowed the Cubs to send the young RHP on a minor league rehab assignment for 30 days in July, which was spent first in Mesa with the AZL Cubs, and then later at Daytona (which is where he should have been all year) and AA Tennessee. He pitched a total of 20 minor league innings in 14 games at the three stops, allowing just three runs (two ER) on 13 hits (no HR) and 6/22 BB/K, with a sparkling 0.90 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. However, he was cuffed around in twelve games in the Dominican Winter League (DWL) post-2012, allowing 15 hits and 10 runs (7 ER) in 7.1 IP. (The DWL is approximately equivalent to AA).    

It is not unusual for clubs to use the Disabled List to try and manipulate the MLB rules to get a Rule 5 player through a season with minimum MLB exposure, placing the player on the DL with some vague soft-tissue injury that can't be medically proven (or disproven), especially if the Rule 5 player is young and not ready for the big leagues (as was the case with Lendy Castillo). And by placing the player on the DL and leaving him there for a while, the club can eventually get the player 20 or 30 days of minor league time during the course of the player's "Rule 5 season" by way of a minor league rehab assignment (up to 20 days for a position player and up to 30 days for a pitcher). But even with the 14 minor league games (20.0 IP) while on the 30-day minor league rehab assignment and another 13 games (16.0 IP) while performing occasional mop-up duty at the big league level when he was on the Cubs MLB Active List (25-man roster), 2012 would probably have to be considered essentially a "lost season" in terms of development for Lendy, and now he will have an opportunity to get regular work at either Tennessee or Daytona in 2013 (depending upon where he is assigned at the end of Minor League Camp).

Castillo is just 23 years old (he will be 24 in April), he's athletic, he throws hard, and and he has been pitching only three years, so it's not like he's some 4-A retread. (Baseball America recently ranked Castillo as the Cubs #28 prospect). If he is not added back to an MLB 40-man roster in the meantime, Castillo will be a Six-Year Minor League Free-Agent after the 2014 season. 

The Cubs made another Rule 5 selection in the Major League Phase of the December 2012 Rule 5 Draft, this time drafting RHP Hector Rondon off the reserve list of the Cleveland Indians AAA Columbus affiliate. The 24-year old Rondon was a former Indians Top 10 Prospect who missed much of the past three seasons while recovering from TJS. However, he pitched well as a set-up man for Caracas in the Venezulan Winter League (VWL) post-2012, at least proving he was (finally) healthy. (He pitched in more games in the VWL post-2012 than he did in the minor leagues over three previous seasons combined). 

The thing is, unlike Lendy Castillo, Rondon has been outrighted previously in his career, and so he can elect free-agency if he is outrighted to the minors. And he is also out of minor league options, so even if the Cubs can secure waivers and even if the Indians opt not to reclaim him, he can't be optioned to the minors, and if he's outrighted (either by virtue of being re-claimed by Cleveland or outrighted by the Cubs), he can refuse the assignment and elect free-agency. So it's probably pretty much "Wrigley Field or Bust" for Rondon in 2013. He either makes the Cubs Opening Day 25-man roster (or starts the season on the 15-day or 60-day DL), or he's probably gone. In that sense, the Rondon Rule 5 selection was basically a glorified waiver claim of a player who is out of minor league options, with immediate results required for it to pay off.

Whatever ends up happening, Rondon (as a Rule 5 Player) can be traded at any time, but he cannot be placed on Outright Waivers until 25 days prior to MLB Opening Day, and he cannot be re-claimed by the Indians, outrighted by the Cubs, or released any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day.   

The Cubs will have to drop another player from the MLB 40-man roster whenever Scott Hairston is added. Like Carlos Villanueva, Hairston was an MLB Article XX-B FA, and thus the Cubs do not have to add him to the 40 until the contract is filed with the MLB Office. And the Cubs have up to 20 days to file the contract after Hairston signs on the line which is dotted. So depending on when Hairston actually signed, it's very possible that the Cubs will be able to wait to add Hairston to the 40-man roster until after the start of Spring Training, and then place either Arodys Vizcaino orScott Baker (both TJS rehab) on the 60-day DL at the same time.

Another possibility would be to try and outright 3B Ian Stewart to the minors, like the Cubs did with Manny Corpas and Blake DeWitt this time last year. Stewart was non-tendered on November 30th and then re-signed with the Cubs in December, getting a non-guaranteed 2013 major league contract with a $2M salary and another $500K in potential performance bonuses. If he were to be placed on Outright Waivers and waivers are secured, Stewart could be outrighted to the minors (and removed from the 40-man roster), although he would still be at Spring Training (as an NRI) with the exact same salary and opportunity to make the Cubs MLB Opening Day 25-man roster as he had when he was on the 40-man roster. Although Stewart could elect free-agency if outrighted (he has more than three years of MLB Service Time), it is unlikely that he would opt out since he would have gone unclaimned off waivers, and thus he (and his agent) would know that no other club was interested in him enough to make a claim (at least for that salary and a spot on the claiming club's MLB 40-man roster).

Comments

Great to hear from you PHIL. Hope your the new year finds you well and in good health! Looking forward as always to your birds-eye view of our prospects in action out there. With your "scout's hat on", looking at the Cubs current big-club bullpen, does Castillo have a shot at making the club in 2013 even as a September call-up? McLeod has been quoted that Castillo certainly has a "lively arm" - but he didn't progress much this winter it would seem. Thanks.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: Lendy Castillo was outrighted to the AAA (Iowa) reserve list and will probably initially be assigned to the Iowa squad at Minor League Camp (which doesn't mean anything, because the vast majority of players cascade downward during the course of Minor League Camp as players are sent to Fitch Park from the MLB squad).

I suspect Lendy will start the 2013 season as the closer at Daytona and then move up the ladder as performance dictates. Because he is a Six-Year Minor League FA post-2013 if he isn't added back to the 40-man roster by the 5th day after the conclusion of the World Series, he essentially has one year to prove himself as a prospect. If he struggles, he probably will walk and the Cubs won't care. But if he shows promise, stays healthy, continues to improve during the course of the year, and establishes himself as an effective reliever at AA Tennessee by the end of the season, he will probably be added back to the 40 sometime in October to keep him from becoming a minor league FA.

Note that If the Cubs add him back to the 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season, Castillo will burn a minor league option, even though he was outrighted (not optioned) to the minors. So I doubt that he will get called up in September, no matter how well he pitches in the minors in 2013.

BTW, by rule Castillo will make $288K in 2013 (60% of what he was paid in salary in 2012), so we won't need to have a car wash or hold any Tag Days for Lendy.

"Mets signed OF Corey Patterson to a minor league contract." also... "Nationals signed 1B Micah Owings to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training." yes, that says 1B.

Phil, do you think Justin Bour is a legitimate 1B prospect at this time, or is his ceiling as a LHPH?

JOHN B: Justin Bour will have to establish himself in AAA and have a couple of really good years at that level before I would consider him to be any kind of prospect. He has struggled to hit LHP for most of his career, he is a below-average defensive 1st baseman, and he has below-average speed.    

The best comp I could make would probably be Bryan LaHair at a similar age, who did develop a big-time HR stroke later in his career after spending several seasons in AAA hitting lots of doubles, but who never was able to hit LHP. Bottom line is, unless and until Bour starts hitting 30+ HR a year and can at least hold his own against LHP, his ceiling is probably AAA.

And even if he does eventually develop into an MLB player, Anthony Rizzo is blocking him at Wrigley Field and Dan Vogelbach is coming up from behind, so I doubt that Bour will be in the Cubs organization beyond 2015 (he qualifies as a 6Y minor league FA post-2015).

Bour probably will be at Iowa in 2013, although it's possible that he will repeat AA (even though he has nothing left to prove there) if Brad Nelson is the 1B at Iowa. (The Cubs released Rebel Ridling after last season, so C-1B-3B Taylor Davis is the de facto Tennessee 1B right now).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Speaking of LaHair, I saw an article on Bleacher Report dated yesterday that stated LaHair was one of 10 reasons the Cubs would win the WS sometime in the next 5 years. And people claim Japan has lost its influence. Bah on that! It is going to be interesting if Vogelbomb keeps developing. I don't see any way he or Rizzo moves to the outfield.

Great to hear from AZ Phil! I was wondering what you thought about one of my sleepers for the Cubs Michael Jensen? I watched him pitch for Peoria last season and to my very untrained eye he flashed the best curveball I saw in the Midwest league last season.

[ ]

In reply to by The Stick

STICK: I saw all of Michael Jensen's outings when he first reported to Mesa in 2011 and also his Instructs outings that year, and then I saw him at Minor League Camp last March (when he pitched "lights out" and earned a spot in the Peoria Opening Day rotation), but I didn't see any of his MWL games. He should be in the starting rotation at Daytona in 2013.

From what I saw of him, he is a definite prospect. His breaking ball is a plus-pitch, and he has life on his fastball, too. I would say he would be in the second group of ten among the Cubs Top 20 pitching prospects (Paniagua, A. Vizcaino, P. Johnson, B. Wells, A. Cabrera, J. Arias, Blackburn, Underwood, Maples, Whitenack, McNutt, Loux, Struck, Zych, YL Wang, Jensen, Loosen, Rhoderick, L. Castillo, and Burke).   

another day, another slew of names linked to the PED-clinic. judging by the cubs performance couple of years it's probably safe to assume the cubs will make it out 100% clean on this latest scandal.

I think I know the answer, but am not 100% sure. If Hairston is not added to the 40 man or signed prior to spring training, I assume he cannot particpate. Is that correct? If so, they should be adding him in the next week.

[ ]

In reply to by TJ

TJ: An unsigned player can take BP and participate in drills and an unsigned pitcher can throw bullpen sessions and throw "live" BP (just like when an unsigned player is brought in by a club for a workout), but he can't play in Cactus League or Grapefruit League Spring Training games until he is officialy signed and the contract is filed with MLB.

That's why the Yankees had to sign Billy Crystal to a Uniform Minor League Player Contract before he could bat in a Grapefruit League game. The Padres did that with Garth Brooks a few years ago, too 

McLeod Interview... (typed as fast as I could but it's not a transcript, just tried to get key points into text): Duke: Not easy to jump your system. Go to Theo and ask for a big raise. JM: Looking at our draft last year where we took pitching and Almora at the top plus the international signings MF: Fans in Boston and Chicago get excited. Is there a way to temper this excitement. JM: We've been through this before. Take a volume approach and try to get as much upside as you can Duke: Does Baez profile out as a SS? JM: Yes, I see him as a SS. Instinctive, soft hands, plenty of arm strength. Slows things down in the field. I don't see why he can't play a major league SS. MF: Soler and Almora get people excited. Soler, is he more advanced? JM: Considering how long it was from when he hadn't seen live pitching, we were happy with what he did. Now that he's more aclimated, we're looking forward to see what he can do. Duke: Junior Lake, scouts saw him as a SS and some liked him in the OF. When do you decide to make a positional move? Often it happens at AA/AAA level. Junior is big, a Hanley Ramirez sized SS. He's athletic and we have some options with him. Plan in 2013 is 3B but we'll move him around. MF: Overall, you and Jed/Theo in SD and Boston had the equivalent of "the Cubs Way". How do you outline it for the players. JM: Staff gets together as to how we want to teach and develop players. That goes into a manual and we discuss this with each individual player. Discuss strengths and weaknesses and tell them what they need to do to progress. Being open with communications with players is important. Duke: Brett Jackson. Made some swing adjustments this winter to address high K rate. JM: Brett is a talented kid based on what he can do on the field. Multiple tools. Brett knew there were some mechanical adjustments he need to made. He's going to have to take that into live BP and games this spring. Give himself a chance to make contact. MF: Theo said we need waves and waves of pitching. Are there potential starters in the system? JM: Trying to build that up. Upper level pitching has some depth (mentions Raley and Rusin). There are some guys that could come up and help. Power pitching is at lower levels. Duke: This years draft? JM: Always feel like the draft isn't strong enough. At #2 there are always some good options. College season starts next friday so we're excited. MF: Goals for minor league players? JM: We sat down with them all at the end of last season. Had several winter programs. Will sit down with individual plans in spring training. What they need to do to move up. MF: Enjoy the trip to AZ. Balmy day in Chicago. ---- MF: I remember stories of him and Theo just going to high school games. JM is the equivalent of a gym rat. Nonetheless, the Cubs future is still a long ways away. Duke: They better have a good pitching program MF: Derek Johnson came from Vanderbilt was hired as minors pitching coordinator. Highly respected. If they want to go college arm in the draft, there are 3 higher impact arms (mentions Stanek, Appel and Manea) if that is the path they want to go on.

Thanks Arizona Phil. If I was Hairston I wouldn't even leave my room until a contract was signed. Even just taking batting practise could result in an injury. Why take a chance.

[ ]

In reply to by TJ

TJ: Scott Hairston has probably already signed his contract, it's just that the Cubs haven't filed it with the MLB office yet. (Clubs have 20 days to file a contract after the player signs).

So while he won't have to be added to the 40-man roster until the contract is filed, the contract should be legal and therefore he won't have to worry about getting hit be a runaway garbage truck and having the contract voided should he decide to report early to Fitch Park. (And I'm not kidding about runaway garbage trucks, either, because the Mesa City Yard is just down the street, and there are garbage trucks running up & down 6th Place on the south side of Fitch Park all day long... I almost was hit by one last year).

"Indians signed LHP Rich Hill to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training." ...was wondering when he was gonna sign...and what team...

"Mariners designated RHP Shawn Kelley for assignment." unless he's injured, this seems like a perfect theocorp-type pickup. he's owed 935K this year, but he's got a good fastball/slider combo with control...setup role upside. i can't imagine him escaping waivers...even with the nearly-$1m pricetag on him. he's got a few years of club control left on him, too.

Law's Top 10

Baez, Almora, Soler, Vizcaino, Candelario, Underwood, Paniagua, P. Johnson, Blackburn, Alcantara

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Yeah..it's a popular opinion that Vogelbach has no real position, that even if he loses a bunch of weight and gets in shape....which will improve he flexibility and agility...and if he works with the Cubs coaches..he'll neeeeever be able to be any better and become even a passable 1B, I mean he is 20 after all....almost over the hill. Please note sarcasm

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

paul goldschmidt never made anyone's top 100 prospect list...or many (if any) team top 10 list...just saying. there's guys with "he'll grow into it" power because of their contact...and there's guys that just plain mash. vogel and goldschmidt are/were pure mashers. they can turn off-contact into something that goes over a fence. vogel's not just a pull power hitter, either...he's power everywhere. he may never lose enough weight or gain enough mobility to be anything but a 1st/DH, but it'd be nice to have him hitting so well that "who are the cubs gonna trade rizzo for?" can come up legitimately 3-4 years from now...or sooner. fwiw, prince fielder is 5'11"...vogel being crapped on for his weight/height won't hold him back off prospect lists with another season like last year's.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

He can continue to raise his value to the team with another good season. He doesn't have to be a Cub someday to bring a return to the team. Keep hitting big boy. Beyond that, it's impressive what he's done physically. I think the ability to get his weight under control indicates a strong work ethic, which can't hurt his value.

Keith Law just on Espn radio in Chicago- Likes Baez, only concern is plate dicipline. Doesn't expect him to turn out like Pie and KPAt because "this organization will work with him on it" ....Hi Hendry! No immediate pitching help, lot of good pitchers who were in short season leagues last year, they may get full seasons this year. I forgot the names.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Duane Underwood, Pierce Johnson, and Paul Blackburn....none of whom are anywhere near major league ready. None of these 3 are above age 20...none have played even a short season at Boise. All higher draft picks, but who the hell knows if any of the 3 will ever sniff the majors. I'd have rather heard about Michael Jensen, Nick Struck, or Eric Jokisch.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

nick stuck's story is a great reason to balance your numbers scouting with eyes on the ground scouting. mechanically he's an entirely different pitcher than he was less than a year ago...you might as well throw out most of his early career at this point. he's a whole lot quicker to the plate, hides the ball better, and gets a lot more out of his 90-92mph arm than some get out of their 94+mph arms. he's got a decent cutter and curve, too...gives him L/R balance on the hitters...ever-developing changeup. it wouldn't surprise me to see him throw 3.00-ish ERA ball with a low whip in AAA next year. i doubt he'll ever be an ace, but his end-rotation upside is starting to look a more like middle-rotation upside. his final 3 months in AA last year was awesome...he probably should have spent that last month at AAA.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Breaks my heart about him. and by the way FU Dusty- "They talked, as they had a few times a year since 2006. They made their points. Prior had never blamed Baker for his injuries the way so many Cubs fans had, but he did ask his former manager about the strategy in Game 2 of the 2003 NLCS, leaving him in for so long despite such a big lead. Baker had come to accept that he'd be forever pilloried by Cubs fans and the stat gurus he called "propeller-heads," with all that data to back up their claims, but who knew at the time? Throwing a baseball is an unnatural motion. Even the healthiest pitcher can get hurt. He told Prior he had learned from it. Prior said he understood."

Paul Sullivan tweets that ESPN tonight tour of Cactus League teams will skip Cubs camp this year. WSux featured on Feb 22.

figgins finally signs... "Marlins signed INF/OF Chone Figgins to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training."

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

at least dusty isn't around...he might bat him 2nd and give him nearly 600+ PA a year. only him! lulz. sigh. maybe his muscles will get him enough power to break the .675 OPS mark this year...at least he's playing for minimum wage at a time the cubs aren't competitive, i guess. all joking aside, if he's gonna swing at everything (which he does...doesn't K much, doesn't seem to ever want to take a walk) he might as well have more pop in his bat. if he can keep his D solid and up this homers to 15-ish a year he's got a slew of $5+m paydays ahead of him if history is any indication.

MLB Network is showing game 2 of the Australian Baseball Championship...neat...a game, though not live. hell, i'll watch any baseball that doesn't use an aluminum bat.

I don't know if this is a Chrome browser thing or not, but when I type in a comment as a reply to someone else's comment, the first part shows up as the title to the comment but the entire text I write in the box disappears after I press the "save" button. It just shows an empty box on the comment page. If I hit "edit", re-type the comment into the box and hit save, then it finally shows up. In essence, I have to type in my response comment 2X to get it to show up on the comment page.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Maybe part of the problem is that they're charging high-demand prices. I just looked up a Thurs night game in April against the Cubs, and it's over 100 behind the plate, 50 down the lines, and 12 at the very least to get into the park. Detroit didn't even charge that until last season. If they'd get their prices in line with KC, Pittsburgh, and other bottom-feeder markets, then attendance would have to go up. Also, don't suck at running your team.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

I guess in that sense we're pretty lucky. Theocorp is building, or trying to build, at least, a core of young kids that we have all already started to follow. Naturally, some of them will be traded, but it's conceivable that there will be a solid core that we will all follow for a long time, since I suspect they will try to lock the better ones into long term contracts rather than Loria them off the team once they get good. The Oakland A's sort of did what Florida does, but somehow it wasn't as gross. I think they tended to send guys away piecemeal rather than one firesale after another.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

i hope this is the last season of running the cubs like they're a small/mid market team. if BOS/LAD + MIA/TOR has showed us anything lately, it's that you can turn smart investments + bad baggage into prospects if you're willing to dump them. it's not anything new or revolutionary, but i don't want to hear any more from the cubs about how they shouldn't be spending money because it might hinder what one of the richest teams in MLB is trying to do in the future. plus, they got a chunk of new TV money coming around the corner. 2014 FA class doesn't exactly look great, but whether it's trade or FA i don't want to see another offseason like the last couple of seasons.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

The difference next offseason will be that they'll be willing to give 2-year deals to guys who aren't long-term building blocks, but I still expect it'll be 2 years before they start spending on big contracts, potentially with Ninja and Rizzo being the first two. As for the TV money, the Cubs absolutely cannot count on that unless a contract is signed, because it is definitely a bubble, and once general cable/satellite customers start to buck, it could burst, and no one knows for sure when that'll happen.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

live sports is a cable/sat cash cow in this era...especially with a team like the cubs that has national appeal. you get a 3+ hour programming block with loyal fans and an advertising base ready to throw money at it. i expect the cubs to bank rather nicely on the two contract blocks they have coming to a renewal period over the next few years.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

they expect baker to break with the team and being able to throw 75+ pitches by the time ST ends via their most recent chatter. also, given that campy has ++++ speed and plays CF, i can't imagine him surviving waivers. he's a nice 4th/5th OF for a team that can afford to stash him away to "dave roberts" his use as a pinch runner in a leverage situation and give guys rest in blowouts.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

re: latest on/from baker... http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130209/SPORTS/130209008 “I do (feel healthy),” Baker said. “I would love to, if they allow me, to just jump in there and have a normal spring training, whatever that entails with the way the Cubs run their camp. I don’t know if they’ll let me do that, but that’s the ideal thing. I do plan on being ready for the opening part of the season. I know I’m not 21 years old anymore. There’s going to be some aches and pains. There’s going to be some speed bumps, but this rehab has gone about as well as it possibly could.” ... “Baker, if he stays on schedule that's laid out for him now -- he's up to about 75 pitches by the end of March,“ Cubs president Theo Epstein said last month. “So we'll just make a call from there.”

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

JOHN B: Agreed.

Maybe not so much with Scott Baker (because it would be difficult for the Cubs to place Baker on the 60-day DL after he made comments about how good he feels and after the Cubs management say they expect him to be up to 75 pitches by Opening Day), but Arodys Vizcaino could have been a definite possibility. That is, unless Vizcaino also claims he is healthy enough to pitch in Cactus League games and compete for a spot on the Cubs MLB 25-man Opening Day roster.

You can't put a player (even a TJS rehab guy) on the 60-day DL this time of year if he reports to camp in shape to pitch and wants to compete for a spot on the 25-man roster.

It appears as though the Cubs waited as long as they did to add Hairston to the 40-man roster in order to detemine if Baker and/or Vizcaino could be deemed medically remedial enough to be placed on the 60-day DL, before finally having to DFA somebody (Campana).

MLB will supposedly be investigating all DL assignments involving Rule 5 players this season (they could call it the "Lendy Castillo Rule"), and they may be cracking down on February 60-day DL assignments, too.

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).