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

Monday Funnies: the agony of watching the 5-minute replay.

Five minutes.
Surely that's not the average amount of time it takes to review a call that's been challenged by a manager, but it sure seems like it.
Maybe about 3 weeks ago Cubs were playing the Cards.
Matt Carpenter hits one to center, and Arismendy Alcantara makes an awesome toss to nail him at 2nd base.

Remember?
Alcantara’s throw beats Carpenter by 10 feet, but Carpenter has a goofy head-first slide and bounces a little, then argues that Emilio Bonifacio missed the tag.
The next 5 minutes?
We’re mostly looking at two umps with their headphones on doing nothing.
5 freaking minutes.
They had it uploaded straight on the MLB video highlights.
I can't find it any more, but they left that entire part on the clip - the announcers (wasn’t Len and Jim) babbling on about nothing while umps looked at each other.
I timed it.
From the time Carpenter holds up his hand to say he wasn’t tagged until the time the ump sticks up his thumb is about 5 minutes.

You know what my wife did that day?
Bought groceries.
Sees a sign that says something like “Free cheese with the purchase of this bacon”.
So she gets the bacon, but of course the cheese isn’t conveniently there so she has to walk over to the cheese area, and duh - they’re out of the free cheese.

These people never learn - you can't do that to my wife or she will hunt you down.
Which she did.
Guy in uniform says, “Um...okay, pick another cheese.”
When she told me the story, I asked her how much time that little episode took out of her life?
“5 minutes.”
I go, "Really? I spent five minutes watching a couple umps stand around waiting for somebody in New York to look at a replay so they can tell the umps that when they called a guy out, they were right. And I didn't get any freaking cheese.

She still doesn’t know what that was about.

But I’m here to tell you that MLB has created a giant turd that needs polishing..
If they’re going to waste even more time in the middle of a baseball game, even if the call is super-important, then please - figure out something to entertain us with.
Start by showing Homer Number Two from The Ryno Game (go to about 34 minutes in... this game was being called by Bob Costas on tv but this vid lines up Harry's radio broadcast).
Or how about a little Marla Collins?
Or maybe some video of my son in T-Ball when he was 5.

Next season they'll figure out the replay is the perfect spot to make money.
Next season we'll be hearing... 
"This second look is brought to you by Buick, who invite you to take a second look at the new Yada Yada."
And we'll be seeing a still shot of a Yada Yada on top of a couple umps waiting for somebody in NY to...

Comments

Why was Soler taken out of the game? I'm hoping it was so he could catch a plane to Chicago.

Btw the Orioles just LIT UP Jake Odorizzi to the tune of 4HR in the first 4 innings. I'm guessing there was a lot of frustration after visiting wrigley. But maybe also it's a nod to the Cubs' pitching?

i hope soler + baez + alcantara + whoever else is left to come up (olt, etc) shows enough to have this team spend some loot and expend some effort into making 2015 a contender...even if it's a low-end contender. the kids are here, the pipeline is in place...after the trade deadline fans were already talking about trading away excess prospects even when the ones they were waiting on are still in the minors... i'm ready to see a plan come together...no more of this semi-intentional tanking.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I agree. There are 6-7 positions filled with 'core' prospects (if you count Castillo), decent bench bats (Sweeney, Valbuena, Watkins), and an improving bullpen. They need to spend $40-50M on the best two SPs they can sign (e.g. Lester).

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

i don't care how they get it done...i just want to go into april being able to root for the team as a possible contender who's trying rather than knowing the entire offseason revolved around guys the team will be trying to shift by mid-season. they seem to have a decent batting core that's ready or near-ready (enough to gamble) and solid options for 3 to 4 starting pitchers...and a good pen. whatever deck chairs need to be shuffled i'm down as long as i can care about the season rather than just the games in their own singular nutshell.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Honestly I have forgotten what it's like to have the games matter. Not joking. It's a whole different mindset and the game feels different. I haven't really cared about a loss in a few years, not like watching the Blackhawks and wrestling with the razor's edge of heartbreak vs elation. Looking forward to it ... Kinda.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

it's become like a minor league game to me...unless it's a close, well played, or dramatic game i'm kinda indifferent even though i know what team i want to win. the product on the field was high-paid horrible for a couple years and it was exchanged with semi-intentionally-horrid for years following the leadership change. the combo of the 2 is numbing.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Completely agree. Someone asked the other day about the NL Central standings and I had no clue what they looked like. I miss checking the standings every day to see how the Cubs were doing in the pennant race, rather than the bottom of the wild-card standings to see what kind of draft pick the Cubs are looking at.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I think they will do just that. When they called up Baez, I got the feeling that was the call to arms. Either that or they needed some butts in the seats. Or both. Plus as has been said I feel like they may have a hard time getting peak talent for their pitchers in the future (tho Shark DID pitch a nice game for the A's tonight).

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

every indication seems to be that this is the last of this tanking, but it's very little but press speculation so far. that said, it seems to be coming from a number of mouthpieces rather than just an article or 2 speculating things. they even get a bonus high 1st round pick next year...great parting gift.

question Az. Phil So if the Iowa season ends monday (no playoffs) Bryant is not coming up could he be sent to Tennessee if they make playoffs?

[ ]

In reply to by rokfish

ROKFISH: With permission of the league's president, an organization can send a player to a minor league club that's in the playoffs as long as the player played at that level (not including DL rehab assignments) sometime earlier in the season. Since Kris Bryant was at Tennessee earlier in the 2014 season, the Cubs should be able to send him back to Tennessee for the Southern League playoffs. 

BP's minor league update has a "timely" mention of Soler (and an awesome one of Schwarber (in a cameo as Godzilla)... http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=24496
Jorge Soler, OF, Cubs (Iowa, AAA): 5-5, 3 R, 2B, 3B, BB. Everyone is wondering when or if Kris Bryant will get a call-up this September, but there’s probably a better chance that Soler will get a taste of the big leagues this season. With a major-league contract that’s already in effect regardless of service time, there’s no reason for the Cubs to hold him off for anything other than baseball-related reasons, and he’s quickly eliminating those from their minds. It’s more than just the prodigious power; he’s showing a good all-around feel for hitting.
Kyle Schwarber, OF, Cubs (Daytona, A+): 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, BB. It was a hell of a weekend for Schwarber, who had homered in four straight games before going off for two on Sunday and raising his batting average 31 points over that stretch. The Cubs finally found a level that could challenge Schwarber for a few weeks after watching him terrorize the low minors like Godzilla roaming the streets of Japan, but like a true prospect, he made the necessary adjustments and figured things out. He drives the ball with authority and controls the strike zone well, two things that are difficult to teach. He can even catch in a pinch, though he’s playing more left field than anywhere else, which is a testament to how quickly the Cubs believe his bat will move. He’s a legitimate middle-of-the-order hitter.

Curb your enthusiasm Pirates send down Polanco after going 1 for last 30. BTW Soler will be in Cincy tomorrow

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Matt Szczur will probably be optioned back to Iowa to make room on the 25 for Soler. If that happens, Szczur would only have to spend seven days (not ten days) at Iowa. He can be recalled next Tuesday (9/2) because the Iowa Cuibs last game is Monday (9/1), and one of the circumstances where a player can be recalled after spending less than ten days on an Optional Assignment is if the minor league team's season is over.

Also, the Cubs will be able to add a "26th man" to their MLB Active Roster for the doubleheader at St Louis on Saturday, and the player (likely a pitcher) will be eligible for both games because the doubleheader was scheduled more than 48 hours in advance. If the doubleheader (and this includes completion of a suspended game as one of the two games) was scheduled less than 48 hours in advance, the 26th man can be added for the second game only. This was a rule change made this season. Previously (2012-13), there was no 26th man available for a doubleheader schedulecd less than 48 hours in advance.

Felix Doubront will be reinstated from the 15-day DL and will start one of the games on Saturday, but he won't be the "26th man" because he is out of minor league options and so he can't be sent back to Iowa on Sunday. What will probably happen is that another pitcher will be optioned to Iowa on Saturday to make room on the 25-man roster for Doubront, and then the player who is optioned will remain with the Cubs on Saturday as the 26th man for the doubleheader, and then that player will (technically) be sent to Iowa on Sunday and be recalled on Tuesday (when Iowa's season is over), although the player will probably physically remain with the Cubs for the two days he is on Optional Assignment. So Saturday's 26th man will only have to spend two days off the 25-man roster. 

 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

If you're wondering how the Cubs might manage their MLB 40-man roster in September if they bring up both Manny Ramirez and a third catcher, there is one slot open now, and the Cubs could open one or even two more by recalling Mike Olt and/or Josh Vitters from their Optional Assignments and place one or both on the MLB 60-day DL (Olt is on the Iowa 7-day DL with a hamstring injury, and Vitters is on the I-Cubs 7-day DL with a broken finger).

If Vitters is healthy enough to be reinstated from the Iowa DL, he could be Designated for Assignment and then placed on Outright Assignment Waivers, but that's only if he is healthy enough to be reinstated. Otherwise he would have to be given his Outright Release.

That's presuming the Cubs don't make any trades by the 8/31 post-season roster eligibility deadline (11:59 PM EDT this coming Sunday). I think it's 50-50 that Carlos Villanueva will get traded by the 8/31 deadline, since he will be an Article XX-B FA post-2014 anyway. Same goes for Kyuji Fujikawa if he proves he's durable enough to be of use to a contending club in September.

As for the third catcher, I had thought that it would probably be Rafael Lopez (who will be eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft post-2014), but now I think the Cubs might want to send him to the AFL and see how he performs there before making a final decision on whether to add him to the 40-man roster. So Eli Whiteside could very well get called up to be the third catcher in September, although he would get dropped from the 40 after the season.

 

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Certainly, but MLB limits uniformed personnel in the dugout to players, managers, and six coaches during games. So if he was made a big league coach he would either have to stay in the clubhouse during games or a current coach who is in the dugout would have to go (or be relegated to the clubhouse).

I think it's likely that the Cubs will call-up Manny Ramirez (as a player) in September.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

When Manny Ramirez hit the tape-measure HR at Papago Park versus the A's the last week of Extended Spring Training, the EXST Cubs players mobbed him at home plate like he just hit a walk-off HR in the 7th game of the Wrorld Series.

The young Cubs players who view ManRam as a mentor don't just want to talk with him about hitting, they want to watch him hit in games. He needs to show them how to take a slider to the opposite field in a real game, not explain it theoretically in BP.

So I believe the Cubs will select the contract of Manny Ramirez from Iowa on or about 9/2 and then he will be on the Cubs Active Roster in September, where in addition to serving as a mentor to Baez, Soler, Alcantara, Lake, et al, he will also get a few PA in games as a DH (three-game series in TOR 9/8-9/10) and PH.

And I would not be surprised if the Cubs sign Ramirez to a 2015 minor league contract with an NRI to Spring Training. 

There is a different relationship between players than there is between players and coaches. Even coaches who are well-liked are still seen as part of management, while a player-mentor is just another one of the guys. The young Cub players view Manny Ramirez as a big brother, not Big Brother.

 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

That's all fine and dandy, but he is 42, hasn't hit anything at the big league level since 2010, has all of 71 games played in the minors over the last 3 seasons combined, and is hitting only .222 at AAA, so the idea of him stepping in cold in September and "showing them how its done" is hard to imagine. You may be right and stranger shit has happened, but I'm going on the record of saying this won't happen.

I doubt this is why it happened, but Cubs bringing up Soler is a good way for team Theo to say, "yeah, my old pals just spent a huge sum on half the player." I don't know of course if Castillo is half the player, but the timing is still interesting.

I know Manny is a fun guy to be around, but his influence is being grossly overexaggerated at this point.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I watched Manny Ramirez at Riverview Park the entire month of June, taking BP and playing in games with Jorge Soler (who was there rehabbing), Eloy Jimenez, Gleyber Torres, and the other Cub youngsters who were there, and the kids hung on his every word and they all tried to sit around him on the bench during games. He was a magnet to the young players.  

While Ramirez may have little if any influence on Eli Whiteside or Jonathon Mota, his influence on Soler and Baez (in particular) has absolutely not been over-exaggerated.  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Manny is a fun guy, Baez and Soler seem to be the same guys with the same numbers  and the same strengths and weaknesses since his arrival. I'm sure guys like being around him and having fun helps a lot. But what has changed in any of these guys since his arrival? Baez always started slow at every level and got going. Teams cannot afford a mascot on their 40-man.

That being said, Cubs can do a lot whacky things this last month if they want. It would be fun to watch, but he shouldn't be taking AB's from anyone.

 

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Soler has a .383 OBP and strikes out 17% of the time. So those are better numbers from a pure hitting standpoint by a not unsubstantial margin. A lot I've read has said he may be the best prospect of the bunch. I don't think it matters too much. Cubs are pretty loaded and can afford to see a prospect or two fail. But I kinda hope it isn't him because they need outfielders and his numbers are pretty good. Totally agree about Manny not taking ABs from anyone but I wouldn't mind him up there as a mascot.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

RYNO: Part of being a coach is that you are a supervisor, you give orders, you get players to comply with The Program. you write reports. Manny Ramirez just doesn't do that.

When ManRam was at Riverview Park in June, I never once saw him go up to a player and dispense advice. He either led by example, or the player came to him. He was like a guru, and guru's do not come to you, you go to them.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Just as an aside for those of you who haven't seen Manny Ramirez lately and remember him with the long dreds he wore in L. A, he had a Mohawk haircut when he was at Riverview Park in June, and so some of the players got a "Mohawk," too. It all fits into the "We Can Do Whatever the Fuck We Want" Cub mantra for 2015.

AFL 7

A. Russell, D. Vogelbach, J. Hannemann, I. Pineyero, G. Concepcion, CJ Edwards, Z Cates.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I'm a little surprised Vogelbach and not Schwarber. I thought he was being super-fast-tracked, a la Bryant. And I forgot about Zach Cates completely. So, does Olt go play winter ball somewhere once his hamstring heals?

Rain delay in the top if the 1st??? Why would the Reds put Cueto through that? I thought the home team controlled the game until the game actually starts.

Addison Russell not in the lineup again tonight. Hmmm. Based on his announced AFL news I'm guessing there's nothing major wrong with him. Did he really have a splint on his hand/finger last night?

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

yeah, bringing him up to majors to truly expose his flaws is usually not ideal...

that being said, baseball people aren't stupid, nothing he's showing now wasn't obvious before. But I do believe he'd be the Cubs choice to move among Castro, Baez, Russell if it came to one of them.

Four in a row, Soler coming up, the young guns in the 'pen on a roll, EJax out of the rotation...remember the Rockies of '07!

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

I'm sure you're half joking but if we were serious about trying to win, you gotta move Baez outta the 2 slot - or maybe even send him back to AAA and play Watkins. Also I think we're gonna see Doubront and Turner a bit - and I think they are gonna have to work out some kinks. That was the best Wood has looked in a while.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Benching Baez to play Watkins is just flat-out silly. I think there is some overvaluing Watkins's scrap going on here the last few days. Let's not forget that Watkins was striking out 20.9% of the time in AAA and doesn't bring the pop to compensate for it. I used to hope he'd be a good OBP guy, but he's not going to have a high enough batting average with that K rate for his walks to make up for his other shortcomings.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Haha. I had NO idea he was striking out at that rate, thanks. I just would want someone who's not gonna strike out 50% of the time in the lineup or batting 2nd. But my point wasn't to judge Baez, but rather just illustrating that the Cubs aren't gonna make a season ending run at the playoffs. They're still in their rebuilding spring training style mode. Baez is batting 2nd to get AB in front of Rizzo/Castro and work through adjustments not to win games.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Yeah, he won't have the Baez/Jackson epic MLB SO%, but it seems to have been at the root of his low batting averages at AAA the last two years. But I take your overall point. And I'll pile on that we'd have seen Bryant by now if they were really trying to make a run. The wins feel like a sea change, nonetheless!

I am intrigued about Alcantara. He really got on top of that home run last night and tomahawked it out. Right now he has struggled on offense to a 228/285/374 line and has not looked super comfortable on defense in CF either. But through 42 games (187 PAs) he has 39 H, 8 2B, 5 HR, and 7 SB, and has a bWAR of 1.3 and an fWAR of 1.0. That would be a 4.0 WAR season with about 30 doubles, 20 home runs, and 25-30 stolen bases, and I would expect he will improve some after adjusting to the league (though of course that's not a given). And with his positional versatility, should be a nice guy to have the next few years.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Oh, boy, I like everything about Alcantara, the graceful swing and glove, the cut of his jib, the look on his face: he's always cool and comfortable. When he runs, I think of Hendry's phrase about Cashner's fastball: easy gas. I've seen them throw to first and second to try to nail Alcantara, but it's never close. In my solar system, he eclipses Castro.

Channeling the I-Cubs, the Smokies lost their sixth in a row yesterday and have dropped into a tie for first in the second half with Dodger affiliate Chattanooga. The two teams begin a 4-game season-ending series tomorrow. Defending FSL champ Daytona doesn't roll that way. They've won six of their last seven to take a 2-game second-half lead over the Tampa Yankees. The Cubs have four left, three at home versus Tampa. Kane County is obviously in the playoffs. Boise might make it, too. The Hillsboro (Oregon) Hops (D'backs) have won both halves but the second-place team overall will also qualify. Boise leads that race by two over Giant affiliate Salem-Keiser. The Hawks have six games remaining with the final three (Sat-Mon) at home against S-K.

it would be kinda "okay, now what?" if the cubs blaze through the rest of the season and end up falling on the wrong side of draft pick protection. ...especially with HOU getting another low pick slammed into the draft because of last year's non-signing. it could make for an interesting off-season. at some point the front office needs to prove it can pull a STL/OAK/etc and make those late-round + non-1st-round picks mean something, though.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I'm with you. Though I will say their later draft picks and trade acquisitions of lower picks look to be pretty high quality. Though yes to prove that they can do what the Cardinals do for instance is still to he seen. That said I think they'll lose some games with the epic holes in the lineup and getting Doubront and Turner involved. And they can always throw EJax out there if they get desperate.

For those of you who have done such things, how would you coach Baez to help cut down on the strike outs?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

take his bat from him? I would think with Mueller teaching him this season and then flying to where ever Baez lives in the off season with Manny in tow and show him Manny's approach to the plate. Even before juicing he had a great eye. Let him know you have to "key hole" the pitch, just because you can reach it doesn't mean you should. And wipe all known video tape of Vlad Guerero.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

True, but Rizzo changed his swing (lowered his hands I believe) and moved closer to the plate. I believe they also adjusted Soler's lower half, and Bryant is said to have made an adjustment on his own. I guess what I am fishing for is does it seem likely that he will need to return to AAA next season to fine tune his approach, like Rizzo did?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

should have been more clear, was talking more about approach rather than swing mechanics...Rizzo's peripherals were always good enough in the minors. I just don't think they'll mess too much with telling him to take pitches right now.

They're not just gonna teach Baez not to hack at everything, no matter what they do with his mechanics. Baez has shown a good ability to adjust though, I hardly think he's hopeless on that end. Also, if he hits enough home runs, he'll get pitched around enough that his BB numbers will at least be okay.

Not being some sort of swing guru, but Rizzo seemed to have some hitches in his swing, not at what he was swinging at, Baez seems the opposite, swing seems fine, it's what he's choosing to swing at.

He's struggled at every promotion and figured it out, have to give him the chance here as well. Getting sent down isn't a death sentence either as Rizzo proved.

Javy Baez 67 games at Iowa before "Manny the Guru" arrived: 206/264/382 with 20/91 BB/K in 272 PA
Javy Baez 37 games at Iowa after "Manny the Guru" arrived: 315/377/769 with 14/39 BB/K in 143 PA 
lol 

 

2013: Through 36 Games at Daytona: 238/271/462, he ended Daytona with a .274/338/535 line at the level 2013: Through 25 games at Tennessee: .214/277/563, he ended Tennessee with a 294/346/638 Shockingly, no Manny at either level. It's almost like he has a history of starting slow at each level or something and adjusting. And if Manny did help him so much at AAA then he seems to have forgotten everything he taught him. Or maybe he only gave him AAA advice?

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).