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 Trade for Kevin Gregg

UPDATE: The Miami Herald says it's for 4-star prospect Jose Ceda. Shiite. Too much, way, way too much. And since Ceda was one of the possible names going to San Diego for Jake Peavy, you have to think that ship is about to sail.

Double check my work if you wish, but I believe Gregg is set to be a free agent after 2009 and is arbitration eligible for this year. He made $2.5M last year.


 

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Cubs have acquired Marlins relief pitcher Kevin Gregg. The 30-year old pitcher was the Marlins closer for the better part of two seasons racking up 61 saves and ERA's of 3.54 and 3.41 respectively. He strikes out nearly a batter per inning but walks a few too many guys for my tastes. I'm sure the first reaction will be that Kerry Wood is definitely a goner, but my guess is that it's just a possible back-up plan as Gregg could certainly slide into a set-up role. Even if Wood goes, I'd rather see Carlos Marmol in the closer role.

Of course, whenever a Cubs trade goes down, the first question is who do the Cubs get and the second question is what did they give up? Rosenthal don't have the answer on the second part yet, but I'll update as soon as someone finds out.

Comments

I don't think acquiring Gregg means the end of Wood, as Hendry has stated he's still talking to Wood's agent daily, but it would just appear that this trade is currently just to replace Howry and a fallback option in case Wood doesn't resign. That said, Ceda is too much to give up when you consider what the Marlins just gave to the Nats for two more useful pieces in Willingham and Olsen. Ceda doesn't appear to be a lock prospect by any means given his control issues and lack of any pitch outside of a near 100 FB but it's still too much to give up on a setup man who will likely get a bump up to around $4 million in arbitration. It would also seem to nearly put a nail in the coffin on a Peavy trade unless he himself vetoes the deal to the Braves.

If Gregg has a good year, he could be at least a Type B, if not A, after the season right? Is Ceda worth a MLB ready power arm + the potential draft picks?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I think you guys are overrating Ceda a bit. There's not much chance he'd outperforrm Gregg in 2009, and in 2010, as has pointed out, there's a pretty good chance Gregg is going to turn into two top 60 draft picks. He likely represents a $4 to $6 million saving over Wood, which can be put towards the Dempster/Lowe/Peavy/Sabathia/Bradley/Ibanez fund. He's a guy who's shown the ability to close games in the 9th- and that right there is worth at least $4 million in the FA market (see Borowski or T. Jones for reference).

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

you just don't find too many guys that can top 95 mph consistently and I believe Ceda can. I don't feel like looking for the article, but Baseball America had something on it last year about all the pitchers with a fastball clocked over 95 over the last 5 or so years in the minors. It's pretty much a who's who of good pitchers.

a lot has to do with that I don't think Gregg is all that great. Way too many walks, pitcher-friendly environment, etc, etc...

guess he throws a splitter that he gets away from a lot, maybe he'll get back to it.

[ ]

In reply to by Chad

Did Andy Sisco hit 95+ consistently? I honestly don't remember. He was suppose to have a good curve I know. He obviously is loaded with talent or the Royals and WSox wouldn't have wanted him.

Sisco's problem is he's an ass who doesn't care about playing baseball. Never really got in shape and got in some serious shit in the minors with the Cubs...in-fighting, etc.

Getting Gregg makes complete sense for the Cubs, I just don't like giving up Ceda for it. It being the Marlins though, we can get him back in 3 yrs when he gets expensive for the player or players we drafted with the picks for Wood or Gregg. 

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

not sure where Sisco is now, I think he had TJ surgery, but if he can top 95, he'll get about 10 more chances in the majors if he wants them.

Bobby Jenks comes to mind. It only took one team for him to turnaround but the Angels were done with his antics as well. Actually probably the reason the Wsox went after Sisco.

[ ]

In reply to by Chad

So, giving up a guy who might be good but probably won't for a known quantity is a good thing.

The Red Sox and Larry Anderson disagree...

there's numerous times where giving up a prospect has proved stupid, this may very well be one of them. Or it may not.

Look, the trade makes sense for the Cubs and Ceda may flame out, so may Gregg to be honest. His ERA and walk rates don't particularly impress me, not for pitching in Florida and the NL East.

On the other hand, the Cubs scouting department is usually pretty good, so we'll see. I just don't like wasting anything useful for a middle reliever. 

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

But the expectation is that is going to be a middling closer or middle reliever. I do agree that it's a bad trade if you don't make Gregg the closer, though. $4.5 million or whatever is FA price for competent setup men. It's only his 'proven' closer abiity that makes him valuable. Trading for a 'closer' and pitching him in the 7th, doesn't make much sense. He sure had a bad home/road split last year when it comes to control 20 BB/ 19 K's on the road. That came out of the blue, it never happened before.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I can't think of an example where a traded a minor league closer and got burned on it. Kazmir is the most recent example of a rent-a-pitcher deal gone bad that I can think of, but I think the Mets got a year and a half of Zambrano, or traded for him with the intent of signing him. It's pretty rare that a high upside pitcher is moved to a closer's role at such a young age. If memory serves, according to AZ Phil, when we got Ceda he was a one-pitch pitcher, so maybe the Cubs thought having him add two pitches wasn't really reasonable.

Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why? Can anyone predict what JH will say at the Press Conference? I will start: "Anytime you can get one of the game's premier relievers, you HAVE to do it..."

fwiw, Gregg had knee issues at the end of the season and surgery this offseason. Says he'll be ready by spring training. He also blew 9 saves last year.

Honestly, as Bruce Levine said a couple weeks ago, "Hendry hung on the the wrong lefty (Cotts)" And, we still do not have a lockdown LH reliever, correct?

Confirm by WSCR after Hendry press conference. Wood wants 3 year deal, Hendry said Cubs could not do it.

Well that sucks, because now our bullpen just got a little bit weaker. Kevin Gregg is ok, but that is about it, and he doesn't have an electric arm. I put him more in Dempster territory as a reliever/closer. He is going to frustrate the shit out of fans by walking the tight rope in games. Hoffman is gone in SD, bring him in. I would rather have him than Gregg. Does this mean Marmol is our closer now? The 7th and 8th innings are going to be rough without him. I really put Marmol as our team MVP for coming in games like that and shutting the door on teams. The Wood-Marmol connection was a main reason we won so many games.

Funny, what I really hope is that Wood doesn't go somewhere and eventually hurt himself as a starter. I'll be rooting for him.

I would not shed a tear if Dempster doesn't come back. Your going to give that many years and that many $$$'s when he has never proven he can do anything good in back to back years? Let his ass walk and let his new team wonder how he went from a 2.96 ERA one year to a 4.50 one the next. All the while paying a cool 15 or so million a year for that. Mmmm yeah pass.

So if Cubs rotation next year is- Z Lilly Harden\Marshall Smardzja Marquis I'm guessing the money not spent on Wood and Dempster equals one great bat or two good bats?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

If no Dempster, no Wood, and no Peavy, I'd expect the Cubs to sign Lowe (I'd much rather have him than Burnett or Sheets), Samardzija to be used as a starter (either in the majors or in AAA to get ready for the majors) and for the Cubs to get a lefty bat to play RF either via free agency or trade. I'm disappointed by this trade, though. Gregg is good not great. You really send off one of your better trade pieces in order to get a good not great reliever? It's not like we have lots of high-upside pitching prospects.

If Dempster doesn't come back and there's no Peavy, the rotation: Zambrano Lilly Harden Marquis Marshall/Guzman/Samardzija/Hart/Hill? I'd feel better with Demp back, myself.

No way you can give "DL Woody" three years as a closer. I understand. I will miss him as well. HE collected many, many paychecks while not coming close to the pitching mound. It is sad for everyone. But last year was a nice way to finish his career with the Cubs - if it is.

I put on the other post- Hendry- "Kerry understood that our priority right now is to shore up the rotation."

Will refrain from judging until I see how the rest of the moves work out. But initial reaction is "no good shall come of this."

You guys must be crazy. Gregg is a proven MLB reliever, Ceda is not, and may never be. We need the team to be as strong as it can be for this coming season. Ceda for Gregg is an upgrade in that regard. If you could make a similar upgrade 30 times all over the roster, you do it.

my thought isn't that Gregg is a closer... Marmol should be fun in the 9th, but this sure should be an upgrade over Howry.

I understand saying farewell to Woody if he wanted 3 years and even to acquiring Gregg. Not for Ceda though. *Sigh* I think if Peavy were coming here, he would have been acquired by now. The Pads will string the Braves out for a few more days and then trade him for something like Escobar, Flowers, Boyer, and Reyes. Even if we make a run at Lowe, Burnett, or Sheets, the field of our adversaries opens up. Lowe wants to return to Boston and Burnett is known to intrigue the Yankees. This could get ugly quick and we're left with a vastly inferior rotation. If Z has a down year and/or Harden gets hurt, we could be looking at a long year. The problem with the idea about acquiring "one great bat or two good bats" is where do those bats come from? This FA market is much deeper and better in pitching than hitting, and most of the premier bats up for grabs (Tex, Furcal, etc.) are likely to go elsewhere.

Pat Kane-- I'm with you. There was zero chance the Cubs would have Ceda in the big league bullpen in 2009. Zero. Nil. Nada. He would have started the year in AA and if he could continue to find the strike zone (not a guarantee with big Jose), he'd be promoted to Iowa mid-season. Best case scenario he gets a cup of coffee in September and gets ready for a 2010 debut. And of course, there is the non-trivial chance that he simply flames out. Gregg replaces Howry at lower cost, Marmol replaces Wood at SIGNIFICANTLY lower cost, Shark stays for the 7th inning, and the Cubs have $6MM to $7MM/year to throw at an Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu. What's not to like? If Hendry can eat half of Marquis' money and move him, too, he's got the coin together to afford Dunn or Abreu. Cubs fans consistently overvalue our prospects. Ceda for Gregg has the potential to be a long-term loser, but it will almost surely be a short-term winner. I like it. Sorry to see Woody leave though, my brain says yes but my heart says no.

[ ]

In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

not sure how anyone can say that Ceda would have 0% chance to be in the Cubs bullpen at some point in 2009 after Marmol, Samardzija, Hart, Petrick, Gallagher, etc have all seen the majors over the last few years. Even if Ceda had started in AA, which I don't think is a give-in since he ended there last year and pitched well, that he would certainly have a shot to be in the majors in 2009.

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).