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 Battle Wyverns to 2-2 Tie at Fitch Park

Tyler Skulina and five relievers combined to toss a four-hitter, and Carlos Penalver tripled, singled, walked, and scored both Cub runs, as the Cubs and the SK Wyverns (KBO) played to a 2-2 tie in Arizona Instructional League action this afternoon at Fitch Park Field #4 in Mesa. 


Two Korean (KBO) teams sent developmental squads to the Arizona Instructional League this year, witb the SK Wyverns prospects playing in the AZIL East with the Cubs, A's, Angels, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Giants, Rockies, and Las Aguilas de Mexicali (LMP), while the NC Dinos youngsters are assigned to the AZIL West with the Dodgers, Indians, Mariners, Reds, Rangers, Royals, and White Sox. (The Padres are not fielding a team in the AZIL this year, instead opting to send all of their kids to the Dominican Instructional League that begins after the conclusion of the AZIL). 

In addition to the traditional AZ Instructional League, there is also an AZ Advanced Instructional League (AZAIL) operating now, too. This league is designed for older and more experienced players than those normally assigned to the AZIL, and consists of squads from the Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Rangers, Reds, Royals, a Mariners/Brewers co-op team, and Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo and Los Yaquis de Obregon from the Mexican Pacific League.

Six Cubs players who have been assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League (AFL) saw game action in today's AZIL game at Fitch Park, to prep for AFL Opening Day next Tuesday. .

2012 #1 draft pick Albert Almora played CF and batted second in the order, going 0-3 with a 1-3 comebacker to the mound, a P-2 foul out to the catcher, and a strike out (swinging). He caught one fly ball (basket catch, 'natch).

Jorge Soler played RF and batted third, getting three Plate Appearances and reaching base twice on a walk and a line single to left-center. But he was also picked-off 1st base (and he was totally frozen on the play, too, didn't even move, almost like he was distracted or not paying attention).

2013 #1 draft pick Kris Bryant played 3rd base, hit clean-up, and and batted three times, hitting into a 6-4 FC to end the bottom of the 1st, before striking out (swinging) in each of his final two AB (both times on breaking balls on a 1-2 count). He also commited one error in the field (an easy one-hop bouncer hit right at him, that bounced in & out of his glove before dribbling into foul territory).

In addition, Wes Darvill (who is assigned to the Solar Sox "taxi squad," meaning he can play only on Wednesdays and Saturdays) got the start at 2nd base and went 0-2 with a walk, and RHRPs Armando Rivero and Lendy Castillo threw one shutout inning a piece.

The defensive gem of the day was turned-in by 2B Gioskar Amaya, who ranged behind 2nd base with no outs in the top of the 6th to make a diving stop of a grounder headed for CF, and then (from his knees) threw out the Wyverns baserunner trying to advance from 1st to 2nd. 

Here is the abridged box score from today's game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP
:
1a. Trey Martin, LF: 1-2 (1-3, 2B, F-9 SF, RBI)
1b. Shawon Dunston Jr, LF: 0-1 (4-6 FC, RBI)
2a. Albert Almora, CF: 0-3 (1-3, P-2, K)
2b. Rashad Crawford, CF: 0-1 (4-6 FC)
3a. Jorge Soler, RF: 1-2 (BB, 1B, L-5, PO)
3b. Jose Dore, RF: 0-1 (4-3)
4a. Kris Bryant, 3B: 0-3 (6-4 FC, K, K)
4b. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-1 (P-5)
5a. Wes Darvill, 2B: 0-2 (4-3, F-7, BB)
5b. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 0-1 (F-9)
6. Yasiel Balaguert, DH: 1-4 (P-5, F-8, F-7, 1B)
7. Carlos Penalver, SS: 2-3 (1B, 3B, BB, 1-4 FC, 2 R)
8a. Ben Carhart, 1B: 0-1 (5-3, BB)
8b. Kelvin Freeman, 1B: 0-2 (K, 6-4-3 DP)
9a. Wilfredo Petit, C: 0-1 (K, BB)
9b. Erick Castillo, C: 1-1 (1B)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Tyler Skulina: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 2/1 GO/FO, 33 pitches (19 strikes)
2. Rob Zastryzny: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 33 pitches (19 strikes)
3. Armando Rivero: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 13 pitches (8 strikes)
4. Lendy Castillo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 3/0 GO/FO, 9 pitches (5 strikes)
5. Johermyn Chavez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 1/4 GO/FO, 38 pitches (18 strikes)
6. Sam Wilson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 17 pitches (11 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 2
1. C Wilfredo Petit - E-2 (overthrow on SB attempt at 2nd base allowed baserunner to advance to 3rd)
2. 3B Kris Bryant - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
 
CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Wilfredo Petit: 0-3 CS, 1 E (see above)
2. Erick Castillo: 0-1 CS

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSIST:
LF Trey Martin - Batter thrown out 7-2-4 trying to advance to 2nd base after a play at the plate on an RBI single.

ATTENDANCE: 12 (mostly scouts)

WEATHER: Sunny, cloudless, and breezy, with temperatures in the 90's 
 

Comments

what's gerardo concepcion up to, btw? injured? not injured? still in ARZ? expected to play this fall/winter?

anyone else watching the game on TBS get the audio of the bat crack before the video...yet everything else seems to be synched? weird stuff. ...nevermind...just checked twitter...it does seem to be a "thing"

If the Tribe gets knocked out, maybe TheoCo can give the manager's job to Giambi. I think he's just the right guy to give the offense a little juice. Also, Jeremy can chip in with how to turn the most important run of your life into an out.

lulz twitter... pre-game...fan confidence from indians fans after the d.young HR...a few "why is salazar starting?" during the 4th inning TB run..."why the hell is salazar starting? wtf? this was stupid!" lulz.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

i've never cared who managed the yanks, nor wished them as much luck in their wants as this girardi thing. i think he's an awesome manager...nothing wrong with him aside from his occasionally weird pen use, really...and some of his weird double/triple switches for a guy that manages an AL team. still, i don't want to see a $3m+ manager before i want about 1/2 dozen other things involving money to happen to this team. btw, i keep throwing $3m+ around conservatively, but ultimately girardi is most likely going to command $4m+...especially with 2 of the richest teams in the game supposedly wanting his services.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I seriously doubt that if the Cubs spent even $5 million on a manager they would turn around and say about Free Agent X, "oh no, we can't afford him now, because we just paid the ghost of Ron Santo 5 million!!!" The managerial salary has no impact on what they'll spend on players, I am pretty sure.

Looks like Girardi stays in NY. Which to be honest, I'm fine with. AJ Hinch, Eric Wedge, Torey Lovullo, maybe Mike Maddux, maybe Bud Black...all prospective candidates that interest me. We've been burned in the past by the insistence of hiring a "big name"...see Dusty Baker...see Lou Piniella. Girardi is a great manager and I would love to have him, but if it's not meant to be then it isn't the end of the world.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Why not AJ Hinch? A lot of outstanding managers had failed stops elsewhere before things came together. Terry Francona is shining example of this...he spent 4 lousy seasons managing in Philly before he was fired, then regrouped and evenually Theo hired him in Boston where he presided over 2 World Series Championships. I don't need a "winning pedigree" in a manager. What did that ever get us with Dusty Baker or Lou Piniella? A big fat nothing is the answer. Girardi would be great, but it doesn't appear he is interested in leaving the Yankees. And I can hardly blame him. AJ Hinch, Sandy Alomar Jr., Eric Wedge, Torey Lovullo, Tony Pena, maybe Davey Martinez, maybe Bud Black, maybe Mike Maddux...a lot of intriguing names.

[ ]

In reply to by Blou

Again, Mike Maddux is not a candidate unless his grade school and high school-age children moved out of his house and took jobs to support themselves. Or - he changed his mind from his last interview with Theo from two years ago and decided he doesn't care as much about "spending time with his family".

[ ]

In reply to by Blou

"Looks like Girardi stays in NY." Defeatism, thy name is fan-Cubbery (Cub-fannery?)! Girardi has never turned down an offer from the Cubs. They could have signed him after the 2006 season, but Hendry had never watched him play high-school ball, so he signed the home-town guy instead. After the 2010 season, Hendry said Quade had earned the job; otherwise it would probably have gone to Sandberg. Ricketts romanced Epstein and signed him, he can do the same with Girardi; and there are indications that he would like to try.

IIRC..Hinch was not liked by his players, and was not a good communicator in Arizona. Why let Sveum go...for someone like that? For all of Dusty and Lou's foibles...there were some playoff teams under their tenures, right?

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

sure, I'm saying the Cubs could go after him, I highly doubt the Rays are that attached if the Cubs are willing to part with some decent but non-superstar players. He's certainly fits the job description of one with experience and good player development track record.

obviously pie in the sky type stuff and I don't expect it to happen, but no one thought Epstein was coming to the Cubs either.

Cubs claim Mat Gamel off waivers...glad they read me :)

$20 virtual bucks says he goes back on waivers at some point this offseason.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

JOHN B: The current waiver claim priority (starting on the day after the conclusion of the 2013 MLB regular season and continuing through the 30th day of the 2014 MLB regular season) is based on the standings of all MLB clubs (regardless of league except for tie-breaker) from the 2013 season (worst record gets #1 priority onward to best record gets 30th priority), with the tie-breaker being the club in the player's own league gets the claim if the tie is with a club from the other league, but otherwise the tie-breaker is the standings from two seasons ago, and if there is still a tie, you go back three seasons, four seasons ago, etc, until the tie is broken.  

POST-2013 WAIVER CLAIM PRIORITY:  

1. HOU
2. MIA
3. CHW

IF N. L. PLAYER:
4. CUBS 
5. MIN 

IF A. L. PLAYER:
4. MIN
5. CUBS

6. SEA
7. PHI

IF N. L. PLAYER:
8. COL
9. NYM 
10. MIL 
11. TOR 

IF A. L. PLAYER:
8. TOR
9. COL
10. NYM
11. MIL

12. SD
13. SF
14. LAA
15. AZ
16. BAL
17. NYY

IF N. L. PLAYER:
18. WAS
19. KC

IF A. L. PLAYER:
18. KC
19. WAS

20. CIN
21. TEX
22. TB

IF N. L. PLAYER:
23. LAD
24. CLE

IF A, L. PLAYER:
23. CLE
24. LAD

25. DET 
26. PIT

IF N. L. PLAYER:
27. ATL
28. OAK

IF A. L. PLAYER:
27. OAK
28. ATL

IF N. L. PLAYER:
29. STL
30. BOS

IF A. L PLAYER:  
29. BOS
30. STL

Also regarding Mat Gamel: 

1. He is out of minor league options;
2. He can elect free-agency if he is outrighted because he has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time;
3. He is eligible for salary arbitration post-2013.  

So while I doubt that the Cubs will try to outright him, they very well could non-tender him on 12/2 and then (presuming he agrees) re-sign him to a non-guaranteed 2014 minor league contract (albeit for "big league money" - probably around $750K) and an NRI to Spring Training.

Also, when a club whose 40-man roster is full is awarded a waiver claim, the club must immediately remove a player from its 40-man roster to make room for the new player, and the club cannot DFA the player they just claimed even if they intend to immediately place him back onto Outright Assignment Waivers. During the season this might involve transferring a player from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL, but that is not an option once the MLB regular season has concluded. So look for the Cubs to DFA J. C. Boscan, and then outright him to the minors once waivers have been secured. And then Boscan will elect free-agency (because he has been outrighted previously in his career), although that would not preclude the Cubs from signing him to a 2014 minor league contract with an NRI to Spring Training (if there is mutual interest).  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Just as a point of information, there are four types of waivers (Outright Assignment, Optional Assignment, Trade Assignment, and Outright Release), and of those four types, the only type of waiver where the player has to be "waived out of his own league" before a club from the other league can be awarded a claim is Trade Assignment Waivers (needed to make trades involving players on an MLB 40-man roster after the July 31st trade deadline up through the conclusion of the MLB regular season).  

For example, if an American League player is placed on Trade Assignment Waivers, and five clubs from the National League make a claim and only one club from the American League makes a claim, the A. L. club is awarded the claim, even if all five N. L. clubs making claims have a worse record than the A. L. club. But that particular waiver priority ONLY applies to Trade Waivers. Otherwise, there is no distinction made between leagues as far as waiver claim priority is concerned, unless the two clubs making claims are tied in the MLB aggregated standings (like the Cubs & Twins are right now, for instance).

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

between s.baker + k.gregg + d.navarro + mcnutt + boscan + mcdonald + sweeney they should be able to find some room when it's time to take him off the 60-day DL. i imagine h.rondon's slot is safe given how he finished the season...amazingly. dunno what they plan on doing with d.bard.

Bernstein Bear saying Cubs offer will be 5/30M for Girardi.

links are always in the twitter sidebox now, so I rarely bother repeating them here.

I'm rooting for an A's vs. Pirates series, but I'm guessing

LCS:

Tigers vs. Red Sox

Cardinals vs. Braves

Series:

Cardinals vs. Red Sox

Cardinals in 7

sure hope I'm wrong...

I'm nearly certain this is a stupid question, but can a manager can still play - or would he have to be added to the 25-man roster?

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

THE JOE: For a manager (or coach) to be activated as a player, the manager or coach would have to sign a valid Uniform Player Contract (UPC) and then be added to the club's MLB 40-man roster and 25-man roster. Also, a manager or coach could not be activated as a player for the post-season unless the manager or coach was signed to a major league or minor league UPC as of midnight August 31st (and being signed to a minor league UPC on 8/31 would only matter if the manager or coach was replacing an injured player on the post-season roster). 

walk, single, homer, double, HBP, walk, walk, single + fielding error... 7 runs in...0 outs... ...and now they're removing aj burnett. hell of a leash there.

Rangers GM says they'll make a qualifying offer to Cruz in case anyone is interested in him for the Cubs. Cubs 1st round pick is protected.

didn't know dave mckay was fired (1st base coach)... so that's c.bosio (pitching coach), r.deer (asst hitting coach), and mckay...along with dale. this from ESPN... "He, along with manager Dale Sveum and the rest of the Cubs coaches, were let go on Monday, though McKay does have a chance at returning when the Cubs hire a new manager." ...did they clean house? are ALL the coaches gone? rowson? bell? quirk? strode?

all coaches were allowed to explore other opportunities, said new manager could bring them back if they wanted

But this brought me right back. Dear Lord, bring us the 2017 World Champion Cubs with Almora, Baez, Bryant, Villanueva, Vogelbach (DH), Soler, and whoever can pitch.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

he's our very own matt adams-lite. it'll be interesting to see if they let him play 3rd in spring...or if he's going to be a 1st/LF/PH guy. i can't imagine they're counting on gamel to play 3rd after not being good at it to begin with...along with having his knee ripped up earlier this year. either way...awesome freebie on the cheap even if the plan is power off the bench + rizzo backup.

This pretty much sums up Cubbery- "I just remember going out and [Cubs pitching coach] Larry [Rothschild] said, "We're scheduled to be on time." So I go out and play long toss, and it's looking dark. It's cloudy. It looks like it's going to rain again. So I say, "Larry, you sure we're on time?" and he said, "Yep, we're on time." So I started warming up, and I look over, and Maddux was just kind of staring at me. I'm thinking, "What does he know that I don't know? He's not warming up. The game's in 10 minutes." And then sure enough, here come the groundskeepers to roll out the tarp." Visiting team knows more about the situation then the home team.

DUSTY FIRED. Does Theo interview a minority candidate?

Competition:

Nats asking Yanks for permission to speak to Girardi

And as mentioned, Reds now in the mix looking for managers along with Mariners, Cubs, Nats and possibly Yankees

From Heyman article(see tweet)about Dusty-- It wasn't all about one conversation, of course. Baker quite likely started to sense that maybe his time was up in Cincinnati. Maybe that's why he said what he said. "The last couple weeks, I've been getting a rash of hate mail, racial mail,'' he said. "Maybe it is time to go." "This is really ugly," he said. "There are all sorts of references to Barack Obama. So now I know where they are coming from. I don't know, maybe people are mad at him, so they don't like the idea of blacks in authority." /scratched record

dear everything that is right and just in the world, let the dodgers sweep so i can quit hearing the "tommy hawk chawp." sincerely, crunch

using b.wilson + k.jansen last night with a 5 run lead is suddenly looking not-so-wise.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

b.wilson pitches anyway and goes 1ip 0h 0bb 2k. good for him. wonder how much he's going to demand next year...and who's going to pay it. i doubt he will be looking at the cubs or any cold-area teams...dunno, though.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s a fantastic deal for SF

  • 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?