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

Are the Cubs About to Land Jake Peavy?

UPDATE: Apparently the NSBB story guy(DonnieD) was vacationing in Puerto Rico, not that he lives there. Apperently some folks at NSBB think this is vital information. I think it's inconsequential. I also think most of the folks on that board have an extra chromosome, especially this genius who thinks Chad's bit of information has anything to do with the NSBB story. They're two mutually exclusive stories pal, I just posted them together - try to figure that out.

So to sum up for the reading impaired, i.e. the posters at NSBB - dude met Jake Peavy at a resort in Puerto Rico and Peavy said he's not going to Atlanta and if he can't end up in Southern California, he wants to be in Chicago. Padres rightfully aren't interested in sending him to the Dodgers and Peavy still would prefer to pitch in the NL.

Then, a completely isolated story was related in the comments by one of our readers, NOT The Cub Reporter or any of its writers. That reader heard something from a source that has been reliable in the past for him. I have no reasons to doubt Chad as he's been at posting at The Cub Reporter longer than I've been writing and Chad may be a lot of things, but he's not a liar. 


 

Oh, the Internet...the wild west of information and speculation has spewed out a couple of beauties for us. First, a fella that claims to live in Puerto Rico relays a story of running into Jake Peavy over on the Northside Baseball Message Boards. Read the entire link but he basically says that Peavy only wants to come to the Cubs. There was a Nike Tour in Puerto Rico this week, so he's either a good researcher who has weaved together a fantastic story or telling the truth.

Then, long-time reader Chad relays this bit of information:

MAJOR GRAIN OF SALT ALERT

My boss has an inside guy in the San Diego Padres front office. Says the deal is done. Just waiting on the announcement.

I will say that a few things that my boss has tipped me off on in the past came true.

Please notice the bold type, but we've known Chad a long time around here and I'm confident he  heard what he heard. It MAY NOT come to pass, as it is a rumor afterall, but I don't have any doubts that is what he was told.

So there you go, if nothing happens, don't blame me, I'm just passing along the information. They are rumors afterall. 

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

havent really had much to say about the peavy thing, but while he's cheap for 1 season the "deal" ends shortly afterward as he gets closer to his "real" market value for the 3 years following 09. i REALLY don't wanna see vitters go for peavy. with ceda gone that takes away a top chip, though. wonder if SD was even interested in ceda given how they value their pen arm (pick up pieces, don't spend a lot, hope what's there clicks).

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I wonder why the Padres picked up Giles' contract if they're in such a cost-cutting mode. I really hope we don't trade Vitters. We're not going to get another shot at drafting talent like his in a while (hopefully). $6 million for Randy Johsnon? Where do we sign? Get him anyway, even if we wind up with too many starters, imagine bringing in Johnson in the 7th or 8th to get the lefty heavy lineups (after he gets his 300 wins, of course).

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

they basically added 6m in payroll (9m contract) for giles over the 3m it'd cost to let him go. he's an ob% machine playing "average" RF. he showed he still has some doubles pop in him last year, too. letting peavy go is probably more about "cashing in via trade" on his 1 cheap year before those next 3 "market value" years kick in. even those following years are on the low-end of market value for what he brings...

And once again, the rumor I posted may not pan out but I can promise you two things: my boss knows a guy who works in the Padre front office. what i just told you is what my boss told me those things i would swear on. i cannot say that the rumor is true 100% but i have good reason to believe it

especially this genius who think Chad's bit of information has anything to do with the NSBB story. They're two mutually exclusive stories pal, I just posted them together - try to figure that out Yikes, don't piss off, Rob G.! Chad may be a bitch, but he's our bitch, dagnabbit. I'm getting strange visions of Rob and Chad as Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd.

Pssst.............Jason Schmidt, 3/44 to the Cubs. Heard it from a neighbor of Schmidt's landscaper's third cousin. I think I'll make a 4-letter site post about it. Hot stuff.

At this point I would guess that Chad's boss got some ... faulty information. If a deal that so much of the baseball world has been focusing on over the last three weeks was done several hours ago, I think there would be more info about it.

I don't really get why there needs to be a pissing match between blogs and their readers. Many people read and post at a variety of sites. Rob, I appreciate what you "reported." But I think we all realize that reporting internet rumors are going to generate a lot of criticism, especially after the Brian Roberts saga last year. Also, when dealing with a site like NSBB, remember that the opinions of one or more do not always represent the whole site...just as those who comment here do not always represent the views of the bloggers themselves.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Silent Towel, LOL, I remember him. Yikes. The thing with the 4-letter site criticism, is that the main posters over there are total douchebags. They deserve every ounce of criticism that comes their way. The other "Cubs" site I can't stand is desipio, which over the last year or so has degenerated into more of a political hack site dominated by a half-dozen circle-jerkers than anything else. Little to nothing about the Cubs. Thank god for TCR and MLBTR. It's easy to get on Yellon's case given the nature of his reader population, but his intentions are good and it's pretty much all Cubs there, too. Are there other good Cubs blogs I don't know about?

[ ]

In reply to by vance

very true on the last sentence....

I was probably a bit harsh in the update, a bit of that was stored up from some of the stupidity I've read at NSBB over the years. I have nothing against the site or anything, they're fantastic about jumping on every news story first.  The discussion that follows though is somewhere below BCB and ahead of cubs.com and espn.com.

And I reported nothing, I posted a link I found on the Internet, it just happened to be in our comments this time. Just like posting a link from Fox Sports or NSBB or the Sun-Times or MLBTR. The only thing I did any differently was vouch that I'm 100% certain Chad heard what he heard. Now his boss or his boss's source may be wrong, but I'm confident Chad isn't making anything up.

Folks better get learned. You mess with our Chad, and you're gonna be in a world of hurt from an army of angry, well-defined, oiled men. Word to your brother.

[ ]

In reply to by Mister Whipple

eye of the hawk, black hawk, and tonight it was their imperial IPA. it's not that they suck at making beer, it's just that i don't like the taste of the black hawk, the eye of the hawk tastes way too alcohol-strong, and their imperial IPA was way too carbonated while only being 7.5% alcohol. none of the beers i tried from them were worth not finishing the 6-pack, though. far from awful, just not good... my beer of choice is breckenridge 471 double IPA...it's a monster bitter and 9.2% alcohol, but i think the brew hides the alcohol content very well (if you like bitter hop-crazy brews, anyway).

I was fully expecting some sort of excitement tonight -- Other than Sammy Sosa having just hit his 61st HR and approaching #62 on my TV -- I really hope this Peavy thing doesn't drag on too long.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-16-cubs-rafael-f… But the Cubs' original offer for Peavy wasn't good enough for San Diego to consider seriously, and a deal still appears unlikely. "Chicago didn't give us any deadline," Padres general manager Kevin Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I imagine we'll continue to talk, but it's definitely going to take a third team to get something done there."

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

peavy is cheap...but peavy is cheap for 1 year...and he's on the hook for 4. i could live with peavy "slipping away" if it means giving up anything but a package similar in scope to what OAK got as far as quality. cubs can always backload a 3-4 year deal with some pitcher if the payroll crunch is immediate and gamble on the future payroll flexibility. they'll end up paying more overall, but they don't have to entertain the idea of giving up vitters...hopefully.

rob nothing better then portillos do you have 3 of them out there know i live about 35 miles from the closeset one in crystal lake make the trip occasionally

I heard today that the Cubs brass did quite a bit of research on Jeremy Hermida's background and they aren't very high on his makeup. Also Mark Teahen could be on the radar if Hendry can't sign/trade for anyone else. They like his corner INF/OF versatility. I would've liked this 2 years ago, but clearly that shoulder injury has sapped his power Jeff Bagwell/Scott Rolen style. http://www.slate.com/id/2124051/ They vote for Riverside CA as the meth capital of the world. The fact that it's Dusty Baker's hometown is just a coincidence. I have to believe Alsip IL is probably second on the list.

I don't think it'a all that important for the Cubs to compulsively retool the team during the off-season.

This time last year, it was Brian Roberts everyday ad nauseum, and could Erik Bedard maybe be part of the deal, too, and the Cubs never got either of them and yet they still had the #1 offense and one of the best starting rotations in the league anyway (and that was without Rich Hill, too).

And then it was a big deal to try and get a right-handed hitting CF, and after looking at Marlon Byrd and others, Reed Johnson gets released by TOR at the end of ST and there youo go.

And then when it turned out Fukudome wasn't a #5 hitter, and the Cubs needed a power hitting left-handed hitting OF, Jim Edmonds got released by SD and fit the bill.

And then when Hendry wanted to add another front-line starter for the post-season, he puts together a package of  OK prospects (nothing too special) and got Rich Harden from OAK at the trade deadline.

I believe it would be OK to go into next season with the team as is, although re-signing Dempster long-term and Wood for one year would be fine. But I don't think it's smart to trade four of the organization's best prospects to get five years of Jake.  Just sign a FA SP (either Dempster or a replacement for Dempster) and keep the young players you would need to trade to get Peavy for potential mid-season deals to fill holes caused by injury or slump in 2009.

And even without Woody, I'd take my chances with a bullpen of Marmol-Gregg-Samardzija-Cotts-Gaudin-Wuertz-Guzman with Hart, Roquet, Veal, Ascanio, and Lambert in the Iowa pen to start the season, and add parts at the trade deadline if necessary. There is absolutely no need to sign some Eyre-Howry type middle reliever for three years - $11M right now.

Same goes for a left-handed hitting #5 hitter who can play RF. No need to bum rush a FA if it costs too much and if he doesn't fit the perceived need (athletic left-handed hitter who can bat 5th and handle playing RF at Wrigley Field). Just bring back Edmonds and play Fukudome & Johnson in RF instead of CF. And if the lineup doesn't produce enough runs, make a mid-season deal for a big bat (hitters are usually easier to get at the trade deadline than pitching).

I doubt very much that any of the other five teams in the N. L. Central are going to run away with the division, so Hendry really doesn't need to make a trade at this time. Just be patient and wait and see how things look in May-June-July.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I'm going to do the unthinkable and respectfully disagree with some of the venerable AZ Phil's opinions. First, on Peavy, I can understand the argument that he's not worth the precious talent we'd have to trade to get him. Before exiting that discussion altogether, I'd make sure that he does indeed require that much talent (and not just something like Marshall, Pie, Theriot) but certainly you can argue that the Cubs should keep the prospects they have, esp. the good ones, look elsewhere for pitching. The problem with looking at the FA market for pitching though is that the Cubs will be in a bidding war, or rather wars, not just for top talents, like Sabathia, but even for lesser and older pitchers, including Lowe, Johnson, Dempster, Sheets, etc. The price tag for these guys, esp. if CC takes the Yanks' $140m offer, will be through the roof. The beauty of Peavy is that he's named who he's interested in which lessens the Pads' leverage. I disagree about the LH bat as well. In many ways, the offseason is swiftly surpassing the deadline as the important time of the year to re-tool a team. Too many teams nowadays think they still have a shot at the deadline and thus the demand, esp. for high value items like LH power bats, far, far exceeds the supply. Look at 2008 -- teams like the Astros and Rockies, both clearly out of it, nonetheless held on to big names. It's not a matter of just throwing some prospects together and acquiring some nameless slugger. You need a perfect storm of also finding the right slugger (without a NTC) and a team that's willing to deal. I agree that the Central probably won't be run away with by another team, but winning the Central shouldn't just be our goal. Yes, the playoffs are a crapshoot, but it's about building the best team you can for a playoff run. I don't think there's any argument, Phil, that the team you outline above is clearly inferior to 2008's team, and that's just unacceptable in my view.

[ ]

In reply to by Andrew

Who outside of ARI with (Webb, Haren and Scherzer) or SF with (lincecum-Cain-Sanchez) would have a better 1-2-3 than Z-Harden-Lilly in the NL? Hendry is going to augment this team, but keep in mind it did win this division by 7.5 games last year and that the 2nd place team is about to lose its top 2 starters and has seen its closer retire. The roster as is can win this division. However we all know Jimbo will get one more major piece and a good complentary piece to fill in the holes on the club. November 16th is a little too soon to give up on the season.

[ ]

In reply to by Chifan

You've got to keep in mind that Harden may not be around at any given point during the season, DeRosa and Theriot probably had career years, and even if Edmonds comes back he's not going to put up a an OPS+ of 136, add in the loss of Wood and there's your 7.5 games. Now, take out Dempster, and the Brewers aren't going to sit still, they'll probably bring in someone to replace Sheets, and they're getting Gallardo back. The Cardinals are probably going to add another league average starter, closer and upggrade at short, and the Astros will probably add another start to theirer rotation. Oswalt, Sheets and 'the good' Wolf can certainly pitch with any of those threesomes you mentioned, though the Astros would do well to swap Lee and Berkman in the field.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

you most likely can negate any dumpster leaving effect...or at least handicap it to the point of it being moot...because getting another starter of "1-2" caliber seems to be a very vocal priority for the team. *if* still around marshall/gawdy/guzman can be stretched out as a backup-injury starter. that's not bad options, imo. it's not flashy, but its end-rotation-able talent. replacing what edmonds did for the cubs in 1/2 season (guy projected to have 40hr/40-ish doubles if given a full season) is gonna be hard unless dlee/fuku step up their game a bit.

[ ]

In reply to by Chifan

Who said anything about giving up on it? I'm sure Hendry will acquire a pitcher, although I think it's likely he'll overpay for one that may be sub-expectations. And I'm sure he'll get a bat, although I question where that bat comes from. I was just critiquing AZ Phil's idea that potentially the team could be left as is. Could we contend for the title again? Sure. Could we be reasonably expected to be better than last year or have better playoff results? No.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

the funny thing about all this adding a left-handed middle of the order bat is that it's basically a lateral move.

The Cubs had Soriano, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Soto, Edmonds, DeRosa, Fukudome for the most part last year (and other variations)..but two lefties at most.

next year, it's looking like Soriano, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Soto, new RFer, DeRosa, Fukudome

all they're doing is replacing Jim Edmonds...

now if they do it with Adam Dunn that's an improvement, Bradley and maybe Ibanez are slight upgrades from what Edmonds gave us last year.

The Cubs need to add 2 lefties, not just one if they're really trying to balance out their lineup.

Time to just sign the Unit and forget about Peavy? I'd rather use the prospects to try and trade for a leadoff man anyways. How about a permanent shift of DeRosa to RF and have Hendry try to upgrade BOTH middle infield positions, is that possible?

The whole thing about the Cubs believing they need a lefty bat to hit 4th or 5th and play RF has to do with the Cubs falling flat in the 2007 and 2008 NLDS against a rotation of righty starters and late-inning RHP relievers in the post-season (D'backs 2007 and Dodgers 2008).

Acquiring a lefty power bat who can play RF hit 4th or 5th against right-handed pitchers can be addressed at the trade deadline in July. The right-handed heavy Cubs lineup led the league in most offensive categories in 2008, and it should do very well in 2009, too. The Cubs just need to acquire a quality lefty hitter they can start in RF in the post-season, and that move can be made in July or maybe even in August.

One mistake Hendry made last season was not acquiring a lefty power bat in July, a guy who could hit off the bench in August-September, and then play RF and hit somewhere 4-5 against RHP in the post-season. As it turned out (and this was obvious by mid-season), Mike Fontenot was the Cubs best LHPH last season, and Daryle Ward was an albatross who took an roster slot that should have gone to a lefty bat who could play RF and hit 4th or 5th against tough RHPs, somebody the Cubs should have (and could have) acquired in July.

[ ]

In reply to by Timmer

I think it's straight up criminal that MLB can pick someone other than the highest bidder for a team. All of this smoke and mirrors bullshit with picking the winning bidder is irritating. If you want rules to keep owners in line, make rules to keep owners in line! Not allowing someone to buy a team because of what you expect they're going to do with the media is retarded. I love baseball, but I hate MLB. This process should be transparent and have definitive rules governing it. Bud Selig needs to take the pipe.

This is more irresponsible speculation than wishing, BTW, but I believe Hendry will hotly pursue Rafael Furcal, Milton Bradley, and one FA SP (who could be Ryan Dempster) this off-season.

If Hendry does sign Furcal and Bradley, Furcal plays SS and Ryan Theriot moves to 2B, with Furcal-Theriot hitting 1-2 and Soriano moving down (kicking & screaming) to 6th in the order. 

DeRosa moves to RF and Bradley plays CF (and hits 5th), as Fukudome becomes an extremely expensive "4th OF" and late-inning defensive replacement in RF, and Felix Pie (who is out of minor league options) is the late-inning defensive replacement in CF and PR. Kosuke and Pie would normally enter games when the Cubs are ahead, usually in a double-switch move.

Reed Johnson would be the #1 RHPH and the other PR, Mike Fontenot would be the #1 LHPH and back-up at 2B (allowing Theriot to play SS when needed), and Henry Blanco (presuming he re-signs with the Cubs for less money) is the back-up catcher.

I can't see how or why Hendry would feel the need to sign any FA relievers at this time (although he would be foolish not to offer salary arbitration to Kerry Wood and take him back for a year if Woody somehow decides to accept the offer), and the rotation is Zambrano, Lilly, Harden, Marquis (or Marshall if Marquis gets traded, and I do think Piniella would prefer two lefties in the rotation), and whichever FA SP Hendry opts to sign.

Ronny Cedeno and Rich Hill get traded (dumped) sometime before or during ST, and hard-luck Micah Hoffpauir goes back to Iowa for another year.

Again, just provocative irresponsible speculation on my part.

Submitted by Andrew on Sun, 11/16/2008 - 9:56am.

Thanks Phil.

How do your predictions (Furcal, Bradley, and Demp are all FA) square with Hendry's statements that he's going to have to use trades more than the FA market this year to tweak the team?

===============================

ANDREW: Hendry has already made a trade to get Kevin Gregg, and I expect Jason Marquis will get traded (possibly to the Yankees, Mets, or Red Sox, but it could be to someplace like TOR, COL, or ATL, too) to free-up more payroll to sign FAs.

I know a lot of people doubt that Marquis has trade value, but I disagree with that, at least as far as finding a club who is willing to take back 100% of his salary. (I'm not saying the Cubs wil get quality talent back in the deal, BTW, but I do believe they will find a taker for his contract).

While Marquis will be making $9.75M next season and that might seem like too much for what he brings to the table, he never misses a start (except when he gets skipped) and he only has one year left on his contract (so he'll have the motivation to be pitching for a new contract).

I also believe the Cubs will trade Cedeno and R. Hill, although (like with Marquis) they probably won't get anybody of significance back in the deal. (And I wouldn't be surprised if both Cedeno and R. Hill end up in Baltimore).  

But the Cubs may not have the trading chips necessary to make a deal for an everyday left-handed OF with power or a starting pitcherr to replace Dempster, and I think Hendry is finding that out.   

It really would be helpful to know exactly what Hendry's payroll budget (limit) is for 2009. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

You're right that Hendry probably will make some of those moves, but I took his comments to mean that he was going to pursue trades to improve club through addition not subtraction. Most of the moves you describe are just player or salary dumps. I agree that he may be figuring out he doesn't have the proper pieces, but why is he just now figuring this out? (That's a rhetorical question.) Hendry's a smart guy, surely he would have realized prior to now that his farm system is relatively weak and especially lacking in top tier talent. I took his comments as strange when they were made and perhaps as a cover for a potential failure of an offseason (well, we tried to get better, but you gotta have two to tango -- that sort of thing). I agree that knowing the payroll would be real helpful, but perhaps it's because payroll has been cut or hasn't increased? I doubt the Cubs' brass still don't know the number, but it would make sense for them to delay releasing it or not release it at all if that number would displease the fan base.

AZ Phil, Going through your Top 15 prospects and relating that to this thread, the only blue-chip prospects I can see (one's another team would give up a 'Jake Peavy' type player for) are Vitters, Samardzija (NTC), Cashner (can't trade until June), and McDaniel (can't trade until June). Did I miss someone? Would you agree? If correct, then that explains why the Peavy trade is on hold until a third team can be involved. Do the O's have any pitching/prospects that would interest the Padres? Then, Hendry could send Pie, Vitters, and Marshall to the Padres - R. Hill, Cedeno, and Colvin to the O's - O's send Padres what else they want. Maybe the Cubs could even add other 'prospects' the O's want (Veal, Atkins, et al) to get Brian Roberts added to the deal. I absolutely agree there will takers out there for Marquis (salary included), and if so, the Cubs will miss him unless they get Randy Johnson, Lowe, or Peavy to replace him in the rotation.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

He talks about the 2008 Cubs like they were the 2005 Yankees. The most bewildering bit is how that got picked up by a national sports channel.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

foxsports webpage fields a bunch of stuff off affiliates that don't always show up on their main webpage. it's basically one of their "raw feeds" but they call it "morenews." not sure if this article made the main part of the site... http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/morenews good resource, btw. it generally has main-page news minutes+ before the main-page.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Welcome to Chicago sports journalism. Today Phil Rogers brought up how Red Sox want to have 2012 All Star game (100 anniversary at Fenway), even though they had the All star game in ...1990. Gosh, Boston did a good job of disguising Fenway to look like Wrigley. Idiot.

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).