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 & D'backs Split Two at Talking Stick

Josh Conway, Erick Leal, and Carlos Martinez combined to throw a three-hitter, retiring the last ten men a row, and David Bote drilled an RBI single to tie the game and Jacob Rogers followed one out later with a sacrifice fly to give the Cubs the lead, as one squad of Cubs rallied for two runs in the 5th and held on to edge one squad of Diamondbacks 2-1 on Whirlwind Field, and Carter Bell blasted a three-run home run to cap a five-run 3rd and Josh Parr singled and tripled and scored two runs, leading the other squad of D'backs to a 7-1 victory over the other squad of Cubs on Jackrabbit Field, as the two squads split a Cactus League Extended Spring Training doubleheader played this morning at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.   

Former Cubs minor leaguer Michael Brenly (released during Minor League Camp) was the catcher for the Diamondbacks squad on Whirlwind Field, and he went 0-3 (K, F-7, K).

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):

JACKRABBIT FIELD

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 1-3 (4-3, 3-U, 3B)
2. Jeffrey Baez, CF: 0-3 (F-8, 6-3, K)
3. Jesse Hodges, DH #1: 0-3 (F-9, 5-3, P-3)
4. Jose Dore, 1B: 1-3 (K, 1B, L-8, SB)
5. Trevor Gretzky, DH #2: 1-3 (1B, 4-3, P-2)
6. Mark Malave, 3B: 0-3 (K, K, K)
7a. Wilfredo Petit, C: 0-2 (6-3, 6-3)
7b. Alberto Mineo, C: 0-1 (K)
8. Roberto Caro, LF: 1-2 (1-3, 1B, R, SB)
9. Frandy de la Rosa, SS: 1-2 (K, 1B, RBI)
10. Bryant Flete, 2B: 1-2 (1B, K)

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Jose Rosario: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 39 pitches (29 strikes), 3/3 GO/FO
2. James Pugliese: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 35 pitches (25 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO 
3. Tyler Bremer: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 24 pitches (15 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 5
1. P Jose Rosario - E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
2. P Jose Rosario - E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner on 3rd base to score)
3. 3B Mark Malave - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely - eventually scored unearned run)
4. SS Frandy de la Rosa - E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
5. C Wilfredo Petit - E-2 (Catcher's Interference allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilfredo Petit: 1 E (see above)

WHIRLWIND FIELD

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF-DH: 2-4 (3-U, 1B, 1B, K)
2. David Bote, 3B-SS: 2-4 (6-3, 1B, 1B, K, RBI)
3. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 1-4 (F-9, 6-4-3 DP, P-6, 1B)
4. Jacob Rogers, 1B-3B: 1-3 (1B, 6-3, F-7 SF, K, RBI)
5. Reggie Golden, LF-CF: 0-2 (P-6, BB, F-8)
6a. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-1 (HBP, F-8)
6b. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 0-1 (F-7)
7. Lance Rymel, DH-1B: 0-3 (5-3, 5-3, K)
8. Justin Marra, C: 0-2 (F-7, BB, K, R)
9a. Brad Zapenas, 2B: 1-2 (K, 1B, R)
9b. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 1-1 (1B) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS
1. Josh Conway: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 5 K, 53 pitches (32 strikes),  2/4 GO/FO 
2. Erick Leal: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 29 pitches (19 strikes), 1/4 GO/FO
3. Carlos Martinez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 11 pitches (7 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS
: NONE

CUBS SQUAD "A" OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
RF Yasiel Balaguert - doubled-runner off 1st base 9-3 after line-out

ATTENDANCE: 9

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's

NOTE: It wasn't a Cactus League game, but there was a 4-1/2 inning intrasquad game played at FITCH PARK FIELD #3 yesterday (Monday) morning.

RHP Dillon Maples threw 3.1 IP of one-hit ball, retiring the last ten men he faced in a row. 

Trevor Gretzky fisted a two-run double down the LF line to spark a four-run 3rd for Squad "A."

LHP Andrew McKirahan (2012 TJS) walked off the mound in obvious pain in the bottom of the 3rd inning after facing one batter (seven-pitch walk). He didn't wait for the trainer or manager to come to the mound, he just headed straight for the clubhouse.

Here is the box score from that game:

SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Rashad Crawford, CF: 1-3 (2B, K, 4-3)
2. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 0-3 (K, 4-3, K)
3. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 0-2 (6-3, BB, 1-3, R, SB)
4. Jose Dore, 1B: 0-1 (F-8, BB, BB, R)
5. Garrett Schlecht, DH: 0-2 (F-8, BB, K, R)
6. Trevor Gretzky, LF: 1-3 (6-3, 2B, K, R, 2 RBI)
7. Erick Castillo, C: 1-2 (4-3, 1B)
8. Francisco Sanchez, SS: 0-2 (K, K)
9. Bryant Flete, 2B: 1-2 (1-3, 2B) 

SQUAD "A" LINEUP
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 0-1 (5-3, 1-3 SH)
2. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-2 (F-9, K)
3. Yasiel Balaguert, DH: 0-1 (6-3, BB)
4. Jacob Rogers, 1B: 1-2 (1B, 6-3, SB)
5. David Bote, 3B: 0-1 (P-2, BB)
6. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-2 (P-2, F-8)
7. Xavier Batista, RF: 0-2 (K, E-5)
8. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 0-1 (BB, F-8) 
9. Lance Rymel, C: 0-1 (BB, 1-3)

SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Kyler Burke: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/3 GO/FO, 34 pitches (20 strikes)
2. Andrew McKirahan: 0.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 7 pitches (3 strikes)
3. Dayan Diaz: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 19 pitches (8 strikes)
4. Hunter Ackerman: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 14 pitches (8 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO

SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Dillon Maples: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 48 pitches (30 strikes), 5/2 GO/FO 
2. Jasvir Rakkar: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 41 pitches (24 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
3. Anthony Prieto: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 22 pitches (13 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO 
NOTE: Top of the 5th inning was continued for one extra out to allow Prieto to throw more pitches, then game was stopped

SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1
3B Jesse Hodges - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1
C Lance Rymel - E-2 (errant throw on attempted pick-off at 3rd base allowed runner to score)

SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Erick Castillo: 0-1 CS

SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Lance Rymel: 0-1 CS, 1 E (see above)

 

Comments

From the Muskat: “We’re all in this together,” Hoyer said Tuesday. Epstein, meanwhile, was quoted as saying, "F*** those guys. They're on their own." Sveum's comments may have raised some alarms in the front office regarding his level of frustration with the task in front of him. Certainly, if he feels he's supposed to win games with the roster handed to him, that task must appear impossible.

heh, Cingrani gets Miami and then Cubs to start off his career...way to ease into the league...faced tougher lineups in the minors.

cody ransom HR! hahahah...welcome to the cubs.

travis wood and vanillawafers...staff aces. once garza + baker show up it should be awesome...with a full pen replacement and 2-3 impact bats =p

since the soriano single to lead off the 7th there's been 6 tosses to 1st to "check/hold" him. soriano, the SB threat...awesome.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

pretty much... ...though if the job market continues to pass on me out here i'll have new issues with missing a ton of games all-together if i take up hawaii as an option (6 hours time difference from the east coast, 3 from the west...aka, missing a lot of games no matter if they're east or west coast games).

fuck

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

word

D.BARNEY HR! (first away game HR in his career)

borbon reaches on error + takes 2nd on the error...then steals 3rd. ...then scores on a single to RF. cubs up by 2...marmol in line for the win...if the pen can hold it (lulz sigh etc).

Arizona Phil, How has Frandy de la Rosa looked? It's pretty rare for the Cubs to send an under-18 Latin American prospect who signed the previous summer straight to the U.S. so he's definitely caught my eye.

RAISIN:

Frandy de la Rosa is indeed unusually young to be at Extended Spring Training (he just turned 17 in January), but he did not attend AZ Instructs last year, and I think the Cubs (at the very least) probably want him to get acclimated a bit to the U. S.

No question de la Rosa is a talented kid. A "natural" SS with a plus-arm and plus-range, and a switch-hitter with a line-drive stroke, he reminds me a bit of Marco Hernandez. 

I think what is also interesting about de la Rosa being at EXST is that Francisco Sanchez is here, too. Sanchez is more of a Junior Lake clone (HR & XBH power, struggles to hit breaking balls, somewhat erratic defensively), but he is a SS (for now) and appears to be competing with de la Rosa for the AZL Cubs starting SS job (although they could share the position if necessary, with one player being the DH and the other playing SS on any given day). They both have gotten some reps at 2B, too, so it might be like 2008 when Castro and Lake were both at EXST together. (Bryant Flete will probably the #1 2B for AZL Cubs).

I know you have followed Extended Spring Training for a number of years, and so you probably have noticed that there is a very clear division (among position players) this year between the two squads when the Cubs play a doubleheader. One squad is clearly "Boise," and the other is obviously "AZL Cubs". The Cubs never used to do that. The players were always mixed together in an EXST DH. So now you can get a pretty clear indication who is probably (at least tentatively) ticketed for Boise, and who will likely remain in Mesa for the summer. I don't know if this a "Cubs Way" thing, or something Director of Player Development Brandon Hyde devised on his own, but it's just like Minor League Camp, where the four squads are clearly delineated, but with the pitchers mixed up.

One thing it does seem to do is provide additional incentive for the players assigned to Squad "A" to remain there, and for the players assigned to Squad "B" to challenge for a spot on Squad "A." And it lets the players know where they stand.

One other thing of note this year is the quality of the starting pitching. There are clearly five starters being groomed for Boise (Conway, Maples, McNeil, Blackburn, and Underwood), and I can't remember a Cubs EXST team that was dominated by starting pitchers. For example, last year's team was an offensive juggernaut (Javier Baez, Jeimer Candelario, Dan Vogelbach, Rock Shoulders, Willson Contreras, Trey Martin, et al) with spotty starting pitching, and this year's squad is exactly the opposite.

The only position player who looks like he could get moved up before the end of EXST (not including players who could get moved up to cover an injury) is Shawon Dunston Jr, who is probably the most improved position player from 2012 to 2013 (he is presently hitting 391/481/462 in 27 PA). In fact, I would not be surprised if Dunston and Trey Martin switch places before too long.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Reggie Golden, who is presently hitting 050/259/100 in 27 PA, going hitlless in his last 25 PA (although he did draw seven walks during the hitless skid). He has also struck out seven times. His one hit was a double in the Cubs first EXST game a week ago last Monday.

And Albert Almora is really a trip. He is limited to some baserunning drills and shagging fly balls in BP, but he takes what he can do very seriously and almost pushes the pitchers away in the outfield to make a spectacular catch. Once he even ran up the side of the fence (a la Bo Jackson) to snare a long fly. You can see he is absolutely going crazy while waiting to get back into the lineup.

PHIL: That is a riot about Almora. I remember when we were kids we did this funny thing while playing pick-up games and someone in practice would deliberately hit (or throw) a ball so the player could make a "spectacular' catch. Of course,our version of Brickhouse would be involved with play-by-play as well, making it more spectacular.

rosscup (AA) 1ip 1h 0bb 3k last night... 9ip 6h 1bb 16k (1er) on the season. it's about time to move him up...the age/skills/results are getting a bit "post-AA" 90-92mph fastball, sharp curve...deception (a lot of late swings on his stuff)...AAA him already...

Pinch-hitting a cold Soriano against a hard-throwin RHP, when all that is needed is contact to tie the game? Bad decision, predictable result.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

i liked the SP travis wood pinch runner as the lead runner move...a play at the plate would have been interesting. i understand using a pinch runner for slow-as-hell navarro, but using a SP in the lead runner position where his running/scoring may need to be aggressive (a tie, or in this case the tieing run) makes me cringe a little bit.

On a more positive note, Pete Schrager is projecting the Bears to pick FSU's Menelik Watson in the draft. I was watching him against NIU (my alma mater) and I was saying to myself, Go Bears. Take a chance if he goes pro. He's a damn beast. Go Cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I know nothing of the draft other than I hope they don't take Manti Te'o as a few have predicted.

some other names I've seen in mock drafts

LB Alec Ogletree (Georgia), CB Xavier Rhodes (Florida St.), CB Jamar Taylor (Boise St.), WR Cordarrrell Patterson (Tennessee), DT Sylvester Williams (North Carolina St), TE Tyler Eifart (Notre Dame), OT DJ Fluker (Alabama)

Trib guy suggested trading down with the 49ers who apparently have a bunch of picks. Bears have no 3rd or 7th round pick.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I don't see why the Bears would draft OL early. They spent on Bushrod, added competition with Slauson and uh, Britton?. Well, if they wanted to replace Garza or add a guard, I could perhaps see it, but feels like Carimi will be given a shot at guard. I like Menelik a lot, but I just don't see a Bears team whose window is basically the next 2-4 years (while the defense still has enough juice, you hope the offense takes big leaps). That said, there isn't a position that the Bears are absolutely pressed to take, so I guess that makes a lot of things possible. Still, drafting an OT prospect high would surprise me, unless said player was light years ahead on their board (and I'm not sure you draft Menelik to stick him inside for a year ... he's so raw in general (hard to imagine he'd beat out J'Marcus Webb for the RT job). I tend to think they need to go LB and/or CB fairly early in the draft. Take the best value (and there should be good value mid-round 1 to maybe round 3/4 at those spots). That said, if the Bears can trade back, that'd be nice. I think you'll be able to find similar values from maybe mid-1st to mid-late 2nd, so if you can add another pick (and a future pick could be a consideration), it makes sense. This draft is bleh. Not a huge fan of it. I tend to think the tackles (all three) have been over-hyped a touch (relatively speaking ... it's not that I don't think Joeckel/Fisher/Johnson are good ... just over-hyped). Actually, the guy I really love in this draft might be Sharrif Floyd. Looks like a potential monster with positional versatility. Granted, same was said about Glenn Dorsey once upon a time, so you never know.

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

To me, the absolute priority of any football team should be the linemen, both offensive and defensive, because teams that dominate there will usually win a lot more games than they lose. The glamor positions can wait until the offensive line and defensive line are the best they can be, especially in this draft, where the Bears won't have access to any true studs at the glamor positions. A fantastic offensive and defensive line can make even ordinary playmakers look a lot better than they are. A good offensive line creates gaps, and gives the QB time to throw, and receivers to get open. A good defensive line puts pressure on the QB, puts a wall up on runners, and gives more options to a defensive coach, depending of course on the type of linemen you have. Each part of the offensive line has specific ways you need to defend against it - Henry Melton was a good example of a project pick who had tremendous athleticism and not a lot of experience but he's turned into a killer 3 technique B gap guy, right? Projects are perfectly fine in the draft, ESPECIALLY when you have a draft like this with no marquee studs likely to be available.

Overheard on the radio...

"3-run home run by Ronny Cedeno..."

almost swerved off the road

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Two ways to look at all this. 1 - It's really early, but if the starting pitching holds, things could still get interesting. As bad as the Cubs' hitting is, even a bad hitting team can play competitively when the starting pitching is outstanding. The other way to look at this is that the starting pitching will simply not hold up. Villanueva and Travis Wood could both falter. Garza is starting to go Prior on us. I'm always suspicious of Samardzija, if only because he has only recently turned into a decent pitcher (on the other hand, it's also possible he hasn't reached his ceiling). One thing that really bugs me is the quality of at bats the Cubs get from their number 4 hitter. I'm not happy with the approaches of our 2 and 3 hitters but I at least have some hope because they are young and can still grow, but number 4, that's just an abomination. As long as Soriano is the clean up hitter, the Cubs will not be clearing the bases any time soon early in ball games. Hell, I'd probably put W Castillo in that slot before I'd have Soriano in there.

Starting pitchers tend to look good in April because it's too cold to hit in a lot of places (particularly Wrigley). Usually, Cub pitchers look good in April and Cub hitters look bad. Real bad, this year. Agree that Garza seems to be on the injury track, which is too bad. I think the reality is that this team is built to lose -- you cannot win today with a lousy bullpen. Not sure who Theo will flip at the deadline, but there's nobody who will bring a lot in return. Theo seems wedded to his strategy of being competitive starting 2015 (thus the need for more high draft picks) -- and why not? If it works, he looks like a genius and the ugly years of 2010-2014 will be a distant memory. He's a young guy; he's got time. If it doesn't work -- well, what was the alternative?

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Good point -- it's more of a "Ricketts era" thing, which I think a lot of people equate with Theo, which is the "expect to lose" feeling that lingers over the team. The Ricketts' unfortunate "Year 1" slogan gave everyone a starting point to focus on -- do they have the worst winning percentage of any owner in baseball?

Rotoworld blurb...meh

Both Ian Rapoport and Stacey Dales of NFL Network report the Bears will take Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o if he's available at the No. 20 pick.

We have a bit of information on this same topic and would insist vehemently that the Bears aren't drafting Te'o at No. 20 overall, but there isn't a more uncertain time of year. At least based on game tape and upside, Kansas State's Arthur Brown and Georgia's Alec Ogletree are both superior prospects to Te'o. Most signs do point toward Chicago selecting a linebacker in round 1

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).