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

Beras & Guzman Tag-Team Power Lifts Rangers over Angels/Cubs

6'6 slugging RF Jairo Beras (2012 IFA free-agent - $4.5M bonus) hammered two home runs (a solo shot over the LF scoreboard in the 3rd and a three-run blast just to the right of the CF Batter's Eye in the 7th), 6'6 slugging first-baseman Ronald Guzman (2011 IFA - $3.45M bonus) crushed a solo HR over the RF fence and onto Bullard Avenue in the 2nd, walked in the 3rd, and drilled an RBI double off the RF fence in the 5th, and DH Jurickson Profar (on TEX MLB 60-day DL - right shoulder surgery rehab) singled, walked, and scored a run, leading the Rangers to a 7-1 victory over the Angels/Cubs co-op squad in AZ Advanced Instructional League action this afternoon on Nolan Ryan Field at the Surprise Recreation Campus in Surprise, AZ. 

Michael Strentz (Angels) belted a solo HR in the top of the 9th to account for the lone Angels/Cubs run.    

Here is the box scotre from today's game (Cubs players are highlighted in bold & underlined

ANGELS/CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 0-2 (P-2, F-8)
1b. Charcer Burks, PH-CF: 0-2 (K, 5-4 FC)
2a. Bo Way, CF: 0-1 (BB, 5-3, SB)
2b. Rashad Crawford, PH-RF: 0-2 (K, P-5)
3. Wade Wass, C-DH: 0-2 (K, K, BB, SB)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
4a. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 0-1 (6-3, BB) 
4b. Victor Caratini, PH-1B: 0-2 (K, 3-U)
5. Michael Strentz, DH-C: 2-2 (1B, HR, R, RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
6. Shawon Dunston Jr, LF: 2-4 (1B, 1-3, 4-3 DP, 1B, CS)
7. Natanael Delgado, DH #2: 1-4 (3-U, 5-3, 3-1, 1B)
8. Chesny Young, SS: 2-4 (K, 1B, 1B, F-9)
9. Andrew Daniel, 3B: 1-4 (K, L-8, 1B, K)
10. Kody Eaves, 2B: 0-3 (3-U, L-9, F-8)

RANGERS LINEUP:
1a. Christopher Garia, CF: 1-3 (1B, L-9, 1-3)
1b. Darius Day, CF: 1-1 (2B, R)
2. Jurickson Profar, DH: 1-3 (F-8, BB, 1B, K, R)
3a. Evan Van Hoosier, 2B: 0-3 (F-8, 5-U FC, F-8)
3b. Josh Morgan, 2B: 0-0 (BB, R)
4. Jairo Beras, RF: 2-4 (K, HR, 4-3, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI)
5. Ronald Guzman, 1B: 2-3 (HR, BB, 2B, P-6, R, 2 RBI)
6. Dylan Moore, 3B: 1-4 (1B, F-8, K, 6-3, R)
7. Jose Almonte, LF: 0-4 (E-5, 6-4-3 DP, P-4, 6-3)
8a. David Lyon, C: 0-2 (F-9, 4-3)
8b. Jose Trevino, C: 1-2 (1B, K)
9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS: 1-4 (1B, K, 1-6-3 DP, 4-3, RBI)

ANGELS/CUBS PITCHERS
1. Garrett Nuss: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HR, 1 GIDP, 2/5 GO/AO, 49 pitches (30 strikes) 
2. Jaime Barria: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 4/2 GO/AO, 35 pitches (25 strikes) 
3. Ronnie Glenn: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 24 pitches (13 strikes) 
4. Victor Alcantara: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 12 pitches (9 strikes) 

RANGERS PITCHERS
1. Connor Sadzek: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 39 pitches (21 strikes) 
2. Joseph Palumbo: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/AO, 24 pitches (15 strikes)
3. Sam Stafford: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1/2 GO/AO,  29 pitches (19 strikes) 
4. Sterling Wynn: 1.0 IP,, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 9 pitches (7 strikes) 
5. Adam Dian: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 15 pitches (12 strikes) 
6. Blake Bass: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/1 GO/AO, 22 pitches (14 strikes) 

ANGELS/CUBS ERRORS: 1
3B Andrew Daniel - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

RANGERS ERRORS: NONE 

RANGERS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. David Lyon: 1-2 CS
2. Jose Trevino: 0-1 CS 

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy with gusting winds & occasional drizzle and temperatures in the 80's

ATTENDANCE: 28 (mostly scouts)

Comments

AZ Phil, what is the reason the Cubs are co-oping this team? They seem to have plenty of talent that would fill a roster.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG: There are only five advanced instructs squads left, and presently the only "co-op" team operating is the Angels/Cubs.

The league was originally established as a "parallel" league to the AFL (a sort of "junior AFL"), for players too advanced for traditional ("basic") instructs but who were unable to get placed on AFL rosters due to AFL player-limits.

When it started about five or six years ago, AZ advanced instructs was designed to operate with ONLY "co-op" teams, with the eight MLB organizations that share a Phoenix-area campus providing about 15 or 20 players each to their respective advanced instructs co-op squad (SD/SEA co-op, LAD/CHW co-op, CIN/CLE co-op, and KC/TEX co-op).  

I wrote an article here at TCR back then about the Cubs wanting to participate in advanced instructs, but only if they could find a willing partner nearby (I suggested either OAK or LAA).  

link 

When the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies moved to Talking Stick in 2011, the two clubs were supposed to field an advanced instructs co-op team, but then the Rockies decided not to participate because they would have to travel to the west-side (Peoria, Goodyear, Surprise, and Camelback Ranch) for all of their road games. So the D'backs eventually decided to operate an "advanced" instructs team by themselves, as did the Milwaukee Brewers (who are centrally-located about halfway between the east-side teams and the west-side teams).  

However, the Dodgers, White Sox, Indians, Brewers, Padres, and Mariners pulled out of advanced instructs after last season, leaving just six MLB clubs (CUBS, AZ, CIN, KC, LAA, and TEX) and five teams (Diamondbacks, Rangers, Reds, and Royals, and only one co-op team, the newly-formed Angels/Cubs).  

It's difficuilt for one organization to field an advanced instructs team by itself because there just aren't enough pitchers who need innings. The Cubs pitchers assigned to the Angels/Cubs advanced instructs co-op contingent are pitchers who needed to make-up innings lost during the season due to injury, but the Cubs don't believe that they have enough pitchers to field a team by themselves. (The D'backs have a different organizational philosophy that advocates pitchers throwing in games against other organizations, which is why they field an advanced team by themselves... same goes for the Texas Rangers, KC Royals, and Cincinnati Reds).

Besides providing an environment for players too advanced for basic instructs, advanced instructs also provides a place for injured MLB players to rehab in games after the minor league regular season has concluded (like Jurickson Profar with the Rangers right now, Johnny Giavotella with the Angels/Cubs co-op squad a couple of weeks ago, and Jason Motte with the Angels/Cubs in the near-future), since "basic" instructs has a lot of players and pitchers with very little pro experience (not ideal for a rehabbing MLB player or pitcher), and the AFL does not allow MLB rehabbing players to participate. 

BTW, the Cubs are the only MLB organization based in Arizona that operates a "basic" instructs squad but does not have its basic squad play games against other organizations. The Cubs believe that younger players can learn more by instruction and intrasquad & "sim" games than by spending time playing games against teams from other organizations. That's why the Cubs were interested in fielding an "advanced" instructs team, to provide a place for players who don't need as much instruction as the younger players and who would actually benefit from playing games against teams from other organizations.

I don't know what the future is for AZ advanced instructs. As long as four teams can be operated it will probably continue, and I suppose it is possible that the Cubs could field an advanced team by themselves next season, but only if they believe that they have enough available pitchers.  

Another possibility would be to expand the AFL from six teams to ten teams, utilizing all ten of the Phoenix-area SpringTraining facilities (Mesa HoHoKam, Mesa Riverview, Salt River, Scottsdale, Tempe, Maryvale, Camelback Ranch, Goodyear, Peoria, and Surprise), with only three organizations instead of five providing players to each AFL team, and with each of the three organizations proving twelve players instead of seven, including seven pitchers and five position players, instead of four pitchers and three position players (as is the case now).  

I'm glad this is a one game playoff coming up, because McCutchen is one of my favorite MLB players. And as a baseball fan, I rather like the Pirates. I hope we beat them bad, of course. No mixed feelings here. And, I don't want a nail biter. Too old for that shit. The team of moran fans is easy to hate, though, and more suitable for a longer series.

Dallas Beeler, Corey Black, David Garner, Pierce Johnson, Steve Perakslis, James Pugliese, Duane Underwood Jr, and Rob Zastryzny threw early-morning bullpen side-sessions at Riverview yesterday.  

Underwood threw last, and received specific one-on-one instruction from pitching coach Mike Mason. 


Madden won't announce lineups but Stella is practicing at 3rd and Bryant in LF today. I'd rather see Bryant at 3rd but I guess Stella has been hotter than Coghlan. /edit. Though I guess they could be practicing this with the idea Stella would come in as a PH then double switch him to 3rd base and Bryant to LF. Hope that's the plan instead

[ ]

In reply to by johann

I know it's my own personal dead horse to beat --but Bryant has been a lousy hitter when playing the OF this year. Given that it's his first playoff game, I really hope they keep him in his natural position and don't mess with his routine. Lousy as in 8-for-45 with one XBH and no HR. Small sample and all that -- but why take the chance?

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

I will call your dead horse, "Trigger". In one game, when anything is possble, I am glad that Joe Maddon is our Manager. He knows the stats better than all of us. It would seem, IF La Stella gets the start at 3B, it will be only up to the point that they were to get the lead (crosses fingers). From everything I have read, the game will be managed like a hoops game: offense/defense. So expect La Stella to be out of the game by the 5th. This team is incredibly deep which is so surprising. We never woulda thunk it. In my mind it comes down to Jake pitching nearly flawlessly and the Cubs jumping on one or two Garrett Cole mistakes. They are not a "small ball" team. I am going out on a limb that Schwarber will play a key role as will Castro. Like O&B, I have been a Pirates fan when the Cubs have sucked. My all-time favorite player is Clemente. But I am ready for some kick-ass Cubs ya'll.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Yup. Have to agree. Baseball, like golf, certainly has that psych component for the player. There is no real reason why a fielding position should affect a batting average. The Cubs are 106 years over due for a little luck. Don't you guys think so? Maybe the rookies can bring some dumb luck on.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

i dont know what order they'll be in, but i pretty much expect fowler/schwarb/rizzo/bryant/montero/castro/lastella/arrieta. any change at all (aside from the first 4 guys) wouldn't shock me, though. coghlan is still a wildcard in the lineup equation...plus joe could always march d.ross out there with very slow arrieta pitching. the main reason i don't think bryant stresses over the OF thing is that he goes full on out there, brick wall and all, and he's chalked up a decent number of games in the OF (including this spring). plus, he did drills and played a few games (though not many) in the OF in college.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I know what you are saying, but I feel compelled to point out that there's no such thing as luck, curses, etc. The Cubs this year have as good as a chance as the Pirates to move on to the next round. If the Cubs proceed to the next round or not tomorrow, it will not be because of luck, but because one team outlasted the other. When/if the Cubs are lucky enough to make it to the league series, that's where they may find their biggest challenge. The Dodgers have a good, deep pitching staff. This Cubs team is still insanely young and until they have some big league experience under their belts, will have trouble with a pitcher who is hitting his spots. If the opposing pitcher is making mistakes, the Cubs will feast. This is the truly cool thing about the team that's been put together- this is the floor. They will only improve from here on.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

Fully agree -- can't prove it. But, the numbers are what they are, and a lot of his OF games have come in Aug & Sept, when he has been killing the ball otherwise. And, knowing how baseball players love routine, it seems logical that it could at least be a a factor. Really, really, really hope I'm wrong on this.

i don't know what their roster plans are, but j.herrera is out there practicing with the team. i can't imagine him making any roster, though. dude had 4 PA the entire month of sept. him being a good dude to be around while keeping the clubhouse loose seems to be his main role at this point.

i'd like to know why the mlb.tv internet radio feed of the game (which is always delayed by a few seconds at best) is almost a minute faster than the ESPN cable TV coverage. wtf?

debuting the new format 1 game "sudden death" WC matchup at yankee stadium does a perfect job of showing the intense emotion and drama this game can be. that said, i'm ready to not see yankee stadium or hear fans at yankee stadium for another 5 and 1/2 months. at least i don't have to sit through the braves with their "tommy hawk chawp" this postseason.

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).