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

C. J. Edwards Faces Diamondbacks at Riverview Park

The AZL Diamondbacks took advantage of four walks (including three bases-loaded walks that forced-in three runs) to plate seven runs in the 5th inning, and cruised to a 12-6 victory over the AZL Cubs Monday night at Cubs Park at Riverview Park in Mesa, AZ.

Gleyber Torres grounded out to end the game, but before that he reached base four consecutive times (single, walk, RBI single, and RBI triple) on the heels of last night's game at Salt River Fields when he reached base all six times he batted (two singles, two doubles, and two walks), for a total of ten consecutive Plate Appearances over the two games without being retired. 

2014 13th round draft pick Kevonte Mitchell (Kennett HS - Kennett, MO) continued his hot hitting, lacing three singles, while also stealing a base, scoring two runs, and collecting an RBI. He also made a fine running catch in CF. Torres, Mitchell, and Eloy Jimenez (who walked twice) are easily the top three position player prospects on the AZL Cubs right now (no others even close).  

Cubs top pitching prospect RHP C. J. Edwards (Tennessee 7-day DL - right shoulder inflamation) got the start for the Cubs (his second AZL rehab start) and worked 3.2 IP (62 pitches - 35 strikes), allowing one run on one hit and three walks with six strikeouts (four swinging and two looking) and a 4/1 GO/FO.

Edwards threw 40 fastballs, ten curves, eight change-ups, and four sliders among his 62 pitches, working his fastball at 91-94 MPH throughout the game. He also touched 97 once and 96 twice in the top of the 1st inning, getting lead-off hitter Isan Diaz to bounce-out 5-3 on a broken-bat chopper on a 97 MPH heater for the first out of the game, before blowing two 96 MPH fasballs past Cliff Pennington (rehabbing in the AZL) to end the top of the 1st, as the veteran MLB infielder struck out swinging.

After the 1-2-3 1st inning (5-3, K, K), Edwards allowed his lone run in the top of the 2nd, walking the lead-off hitter on a 3-2 pitch and the third hitter on a 3-1 pitch, before Stewart James grounded an RBI single to right on a 2-0 pitch. Edwards then struck out the next two men on six pitches (both "strike three" pitches swinging on curve balls) to retire the side and strand the D'back runners at 1st & 3rd.

Edwards had an easy 1-2-3 eight-pitch 3rd inning (K, 1-3, 1-3), and he easliy retired the first two men he faced in the top of the 4th (K, 6-3) and went 0-2 on the third hitter, before throwing four balls in a row out of the strike zone for his third walk of the game. At that point he was relieved. 

Edwards had good velocity and kept it throughout his outing, and he was able to throw four different pitches for strikes, although he did struggle a bit to command his "hot" fastball (he threw only 55% of his fastballs for strikes).

5'8 LHRP Alberto Diaz had a nightmare outing (one of the ugliest I've seen out here in a while), entering the game with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the 5th, and then walking the first three men he faced on 13 pitches, followed by a two-run single, before finally getting final out of the inning, He walked the first man he faced in the top of the 6th on four pitches before hitting the next batter (Henry Castillo) on the knee (had to be carried off the field), and then he was mercifully relieved. 

2014 12th round drat pick RHP Tanner Griggs (Angelina JC) followed Diaz and had a poor outing, too, allowing four runs on six hits (five singles and a double) and two walks (plus a WP) in 2.1 IP.

LHP Andin Diaz (the "other" A. Diaz) finished the game for the Cubs and had a typical (impressive) outing, firing mid-90's gas and a mid-80's slider and striking out two (both swinging) in 1.2 IP, but by then it was just too late to make a diifference.  

It was a very long game (thanks to all the walks), and AZL Cubs manager Jimmy Gonzalez got tossed in the top of the 9th for arguing balls & strikes (he felt Cubs pitchers had been getting "squeezed" all night long, and he wasn't going to take it anymore!), and he did a pretty good Lou Piniella impression, too, by getting his "money's worth" after he was tossed (going fully-animated jaw-to-jaw in home plate umpire Mike Carroll's face, and then drop-kicking his cap as he trudged off the field). 

box score



Comments

Thanks PHIL! It sounds as if CJ is making progress from your report. Is he still looking like a "string bean"? Do you think he can project out to a MLB starter someday in the near future? Re Torres - are the coaches having him practice various positions up the middle? Or, are they focusing on his SS play? How's the kid's arm, anyway?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: It looks like C. J. Edwards has put on some weight, but he's still tall & lanky and probably always will be. I really don't think being Satchel Paige or Oil Can Boyd Redux would necessarily be the worst thing. Some of the best Marathon runners in the world have that body type, and they don't have stamina issues. I'm more concerned about the shoulder inflamation, but it looks like that problem has been resolved (at least for now). 

Gleyber Torres is a magician with the glove. He has a plus-arm, soft hands, and good footwork turning the DP. Sometimes he gets a bit cocky and tries to show-off or do too much and that results in an error, but it's not for lack of tools.

I have never seen Torres play any position other than SS (even in infield drills), and I doubt that the Cubs will move him to another position. He's the "real deal" at SS.  I would be surprised if he doesn't start the 2015 season at Kane County.

BTW, Torres is another in the long-line of shortstops from Venezuela going back to Chico Carrasquel and Luis Aparicio in the 1950's, then Dave Concepcion and Ozzie Guillen in later years. it's always interesting to see if the Venezuelan kid SS is an Aparicio/Guillen guy (wears #11) or a Concepcion guy (wears #13). Torres wears #13. 

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG: Gleyber Torres is a better pure hitter and has better hands & footwork at SS. Carlos Penalver is faster and a bit more polished. Torres definitely has the higher upside. In fact, I would rate Torres among the Cubs Top 10 Prospects right now (probably #10, right behind Schwarber and Vogelbach).

It's hard to believe that Torres just turned 17 in December. 

Az Phil, in your opinion: how would you lineup 2b/SS with Castro & Baez. Do you see Baez as having 'makeup' issues?

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

While Starlin Castro can certainly play SS, he is a better 2B. Ryne Sandberg and Franklin Font worked extensively with Castro at post-2008 Instructs at Fitch Park (Field #5) and both said at the time that Castro's best position is 2B... not that he can't play SS (he can), just that his best position is 2B.

I saw Castro play SS, 2B, and 3B at EXST, AZL Cubs, and AZ Instructs in 2008 (Castro, Junior Lake, Gian Guzman, and Marwin Gonzalez were all competing for playing time, so they were moved around a lot), and based upon what I saw of him at that time, I would agree that Castro's best position is indeed 2B, next-best is SS, then 3B (he has a decent arm & range but he doesn't have the instant one-step nervous-quickness you look for in a third-baseman). You may remember I also said at the time that Junior Lake should be moved to the OF, which did happen (eventually).  

As for Javy Baez, he is not a better SS than Castro. They are about equal, except Baez is more alert and wants to be the "field captain." Baez also REALLY wants to play SS (I doubt that Castro cares one way or the other, as long as he isn't moved to 2B during the season), and if it is a matter of what Javy wants and what he doesn't want, it is just better for everybody to let him play where he wants to play (if you want to get the best out of him offensively), especially if Castro is not a better SS than Baez (he isn't, they are about equal) and doesn't care if he is moved to 2B. 

However, I have seen Addison Russell at both post-2012 Instructs and post-2013 AFL, and he is a better SS than either Castro or Baez. I think it would be easier to convince Baez to move off SS to make room for Addison Russell than it would be to move just because Castro is currently the Cubs starting SS. 

Like Castro, Baez would probably profile next-best as a 2B, and then 3B (even though he played 3B his junior year in HS), but Castro is actually a VERY good 2B (Baez is not), and so if yiu want the best infield defense you can get, play Russell at SS, Castro at 2B, and Baez at 3B, with the hope that Baez will recognize that Russell really is the best SS of the three, and that it actually probably doesn't matter that much what with all of the infield shifting that is used these days (where infielders move all over the diamond from AB to AB). It might even be better to move Baez to LF rather than 3B, as long as Kris Bryant can handle 3B (jury is still out on that). 

Along with that, if Baez, Russell, Castro, and Rizzo are the future infield, then Bryant would be a corner OF (probably LF, since Jorge Soler is a natural RF, and LF is really just deep 3B). That leaves Arismendy Alcantara in CF, or (once Albert Almora arrives) eventually as a multi-positional "super-sub" who plays every day but just not the same position every day. And then Kyle Schwarber would remain as a catcher. 


Ideally all of the players would be able to play multiple positions. 

Again, this all presumes the Cubs will fill all positions internally and not trade any of their position player prospects for pitching, and that all of the prospects will develop into everyday MLB players (which is actually not as unlikely as some might believe), and that the DH is not implemented in the N. L. in the next CBA (2017).

I think the Cubs would probably be best served by signing at least one free-agent TOR starting pitcher (like Lester or Scherzer), even if they have to overspend and/or forfeit a draft pick to do so, rather than trade position-player prospects for one (like David Price). They could do this as soon as the next off-season (depending on who is available and if they can convince the guy to sign). I would be a bit reticent to sign a rotation starter like Edwin Jackson, though. Non-TOR starting pitchers (like Jackson, Maholm, Feldman, Hammel et al) should be signed to "club friendly" deals only.   

The bullpen should be developed in-house annually (as it was this season, once they got rid of Veras), and back-up bench guys should be of the Valbuena, Coghlan, Ruggiano type ("good soldiers" who can hit off the bench and fill-in as needed, and who can be easily traded, released, or non-tendered it they cease to be useful).  

Sad Edwin I had committed to going with a friend tonight. Shit. I didn't think to look at the starters match-ups several days ago. What a moran!

n.ramirez's demotion has been voided and he's back up to be on the 15 day DL with "triceps soreness." whatever.

ejax 26 pitches in the 1st inning and counting...1 out...3 runs in. glorious. -edit- 35 pitch 1st...no more runs on top of the 3, though.

Something makes me feel sympathetic to Jackson Like the guys who built the basement of the Empire State Building Dug the trenches in World War I He might be forgotten but by God he runs his face into that wall every five days. I hope he gets a ring out of this. /probably the scotch talking

With EJax, we may be witnessing history. He may well be the worst starting pitcher to get so many starts over a 2 year period. It simply boggles the mind -- he kills the bullpen, puts the team in a big hole, and has no role in the future success of this team. Bizarre.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

I think the front office is guilty of hopeful thinking with the amount of time they gave Sureoutz Barney Jackson etc this year. Probably shrewd to see if any if them could get their heads above water in time for a trade. But hard to watch. Sad news is he is probably prime meat for a waiver deal too ... so they might keep pitching him all year!!??

TIE GAME! boni HR...a triple away from the cycle. also, it's taken almost 2 hours to play 4 innings of 3-3 ball.

Bryant with a HR. Olt batting .333 through his first 24 AB at Iowa, he has 3 doubles, 8 K's and 0 HR - probably working on his stroke and making contact etc. 2 for 3 tonight with a BB. Not platooning of course because he's not a platoon type player.

Someone please explain why, with Villanueva cruising, Capt. Happy pulls him with 2 outs and no one on base? Fortunately, the two lefties who reached against Wright were stranded.

Yikes -- Rosscup comes into the 9th with Iowa up 1-0, then walks 4 guys to give up the lead. Not good.

Coming into tonight's game, in his 1.5 years as a Cub, EJax had an ERA of 5.29 and a WHIP of 1.50. Tonight, he was given the ball for his 53rd start in a Cub uniform. What other pitcher, on what other team, would be allowed to start 53 games with such a godawful performance? It is beyond comprehension. If he is in the rotation next year, we need to seriously start a campaign to boycott his starts.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

The only thing comparable I can think of off the top of my head would be Barry Zito's last two years. Over 2012 and 2013 he had a 4.82 ERA and 1.52 WHIP, and his WAR was 0.2 and -2.6 those years. But even there, 2012 was a moderate success with a 15-8 record and that positive WAR. According to Baseball Reference Jackson was -1.2 last year and is already at -1.3 this year. But then again according to FanGraphs, Jackson was valued at 2.0 last year and 0.7 this year, and there are plenty of pitchers behind him.

Cubs 2013 7th round draft pick RHRP Scott Frazier made his first game appearance in over five weeks tonight for the AZL Cubs at Riverview Park, and it was not good:

0.1 IP, 0 H, 5 R (1 ER), 5 BB, 1 K, 32 pitches (10 strikes)

Frazier walked the first three men he faced on 13 pitches (the one strike among the 13 was a foul pop up behind home plate that was dropped by catcher Alberto Mineo for an E-2, which is why four of the five runs were unearned).   

After walking the bases loaded, Frazier struck out the #4 hitter (swinging) on a 2-2 pitch, but then he walked the next two batters to force-in two runs and was removed from the game.

Frazier was consistently throwing 96-97 MPH fastballs and was absolutely unhittable, but he just could not throw very many of the heaters over the plate. He tried dialing down the fastball into the low 90's a couple of times but that didn't work, and he threw an occasional breaking ball, but they just bounced in front of the plate.

Frazier has been battling Steve Blass Disease since Minor League Camp, but he has been unable to get himself squared away.  

per Tribune:
Extra innings: Right-hander C.J. Edwards is rejoining Double-A Tennessee after striking out six in 3 2/3 innings Monday in the Arizona League. Edwards began the season at Tennessee before suffering a right shoulder strain after his fourth start. … Class A Daytona pitching coach Ron Villone was named pitching coach for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League, which starts Oct. 7. The Solar Sox will consist of minor leaguers from the Cubs, Angels, Athletics, Blue Jays and Nationals organizations. … Hoyer confirmed the Cubs had five scouts at a workout Saturday for Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo. They are expected to conduct a private workout with him.

Shark's line from last night: 6.2 IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 2 BB, 7 K. No decision. A's were losing 4-1 (to Scott Feldman) but scored 6 runs in the 9th for a 7-4 win.

Felix Doubront is out of minor league options, he can elect free-agency if outrighted (he has accrued 3+ years of MLB Service Time), and he will be first-time arbitration-eligible post-2014, so he would be a possible 12/2 non-tender candidate (with the Cubs then hoping to re-sign him to a non-guaranteed 2015 minor league contract with an NRI to Spring Training). 

Because Doubront was acquired in a trade, the Cubs must add him to their MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) immediately, but the Cubs do not have to add him to their MLB Active List (25-man roster) until he actually reports to the club. (He has 72 hours before he must to report).

The PTBNL is supposedly to be named after the conclusion of the December 2014 Rule 5 Draft, which probably means the Red Sox can select any Cubs minor league player who was eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft who was not selected, or cash (typically $50,000).

Barney headed to AAA Albuquerque - probably want to get their hitting coach on him for a period of time? Also didn't realize Ruggiano was 32 yrs old. I think they'll deal him if they can get anything serviceable - SP reclamation project?

Olt 1/1 with an RBI double, batting .346 with no homers. Moved up to 6th behind Soler. Hoping he'll be back and playing every day - need to trade Boni and Valbuena.

VALBUENA! tie game! also, len is strongly hinting through his own musing that boni to SF might be happening after the game is over.

Mike Olt playing every day. Hit safely in 7 of 9 games. 4 multi-hit games, 4doubles, lots of line drives. Batting .344 which is better than Baez, Soler and Bryant during that stretch.

boni to SF was highly hinted at yesterday evening, but nothing has come of it. SF released d.uggla and boni was held out of the lineup, which fueled that speculation. either way, SF pretty much has to find a 2nd base option somewhere because their current options are barney-esque at best.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Hopefully the Cubs can get a power-reliever prospect from SF for Bonifacio (presuming he goes to the Giants), like Steven Okert, Ray Black, Cody Hall, or Stephen Johnson.

The Cubs play the Giants and Angels more than any other organization out here, and so I've seen all four of them pitch a few times over the past couple of years, and I like all of them (especially Okert). 

Twitter saying that John Lackey has been traded to the Cardinals. Sheesh.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Lackey...for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly. I like what Boston got for a 35 yr old (edit: what I thought was an...) expensive starter. Lackey's salary is confusing because of his TJ surgery apparently he is owed $5M this year but it's not clear what he would be due next year with this trade. Can anyone please clarify?

i really hope sureouts finds a new home. cash considerations or a PTBNL works for me...or nothing...whatever keeps him from getting 200+ more PA. he's working hard on going for one of the worst seasons out of a regular playing time RF'r ever (.197/.243/.309). being a model teammate only buys you so much time when you're sucking like he is sucking.

Chris Denorfia just traded from the Padres to Mariners, and Gerardo Parra from D-Backs to Brewers. Both are having terrible years. I hope they move Boni and get something.

no boni in the lineup again? even when he's barely hitting his weight in avg/ob% he's still marched out there to hit leadoff. 2 days in a row out seems like too much of a coincidence without an injury report following it up.

Price going to Tigers in 3-team deal with Mariners. Andrew Miller from Red Sox to Orioles Yankees and Red Sox swap Kelly Johnson for Stephen Drew

Russel saying goodbyes in dugout, looks like he is gone. Wittenmyer tweeting it: Bonifacio and Russel to Braves. No word yet on return.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

That is also reasonable, but they could have done that on openning day. I guess my point is that Baez, more than say Bryant, seems to take time to adjust to a new league. If they are looking to start contending next season (which I think they are), it would make sense to give Baez some major league at bats in 2014.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

BOB R: If I had to guess, I would say INF Chris Valaika will get called up from Iowa (although he will likely be be dropped from the 40 as soon as the season is over) and RHRP Kyuji Fujikawa will be reinstated from the 60-day DL (his 30-day minor league rehab assignment expires on 8/5). The Cubs will probably decline Fuji's 2015 club option after the World Series, though. 

Peter Gammons says it is Victor Caratini... Switch-hitter... ATL 2nd round pick in 2013 draft out of Miami-Dade JC... attended Puerto Rico Baseball Academy... plus arm... Converted from 3B to catcher at Instructs post-2013... was rated Braves #8 prospect by Baseball America going into 2014 season... ... 

Nice trade to braves. I am kinda pissed that I watched Sureoutz and Valbuena for half a year on a last place team going nowhere, and they are still here. Some serious bullshit. Valbuena should be a supersub, Olt should start the rest of the year to see what he has before the onslaught of infielders next year, and Sureoutz should be released. If they don't there is a serious weak link in the system, which I will assume is Renteria.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

I am not sure what you gain by releasing Schierholtz. Neither he nor Lake should be playing, but you have to replace them with someone. The only option is to promote someone from AAA who is not doing that well down there and having them suck just as much, sit on the bench and not get regular at-bats, and have their development stunted. I'd like to see Coghlan, Ruggiano, and Sweeney get the majority of the at-bats in the OF so we have a better sense of who will be useful next year, but beyond that it doesn't matter much if Schierholtz plays ever few days

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).