Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

42 players are at MLB Spring Training 

31 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE at MLB Spring Training, and nine players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 
11 players are MLB Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 17
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

NRI PITCHERS: 5 
Colten Brewer 
Carl Edwards Jr 
* Edwin Escobar 
* Richard Lovelady 
* Thomas Pannone 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
Jorge Alfaro 
Joe Hudson 

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
David Bote 
Garrett Cooper
* Dominic Smith

OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 1 
* David Peralta

OPTIONED:
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, RHP 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, RHP 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Win NL Wild Card Game

Arrieta and the Cubs make it look easy, and the Pirates stick to the script. Now onward to St. Louis. Game One of the NLDS starts Friday at 5:30pmCT: Lester vs. Lackey.

Go Cubs!

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Comments

Easy? :-) How about Bryant picking it at third? Castro flawless at second. Fowler and Schwarbs - unreal!!! And that Arrieta guy is not that bad either.

So much for the home field in the WC game -- both home teams get shut out. Dexter made himself some money tonight -- and it was well-earned.

Just wondering -- if anger-managgement boy Sean Rodriguez the first position player in MLB history to start a game and get removed for a PH before his first AB?

So excited about this team. So relieved that the Cubs still have baseball left to play this year. Completely agree with the comment on the other thread that it just wouldn't have seemed right for the season to be over early for a team like this. Don't feel bad in the least for Pirates fans who've seen three straight WC season-enders (well, maybe a little bit).

[ ]

In reply to by SheffieldCornelia

Well as I said in another thread, I liked that team, and I rarely like opposing teams. I like Cervelli a lot, if only because of the beating he took earlier in the season when the Cubs kept fouling it off his face. I'll always have a soft spot for Ramirez, and McCutchen is my favorite non-Cubs major leaguer. I'd be in favor of a best of three, but then we're getting awfully close to baseball in November, which is insane.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I felt the same way, too, but... I was very disappointed with Pittsburgh fans. At Wrigley a few weeks ago, they were very obnoxious guests, the cockiness on Twitter, and what's the deal with chanting Arrieta's name during the game? Very bush league. Add that up with Rodriguez's poor sportsmanship and you quickly have a team that you don't mind beating 4-0 in a do or die game.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I...don't know. If chanting would help the Cubs beat the Cardinals in the next series or ultimately the World Series I think I'd be ok with it lol. I'm not supportive of saying insulting things to opposing fans or throwing things but loud noise and chanting seems appropriate to me. I also grew up in France though and that kind of thing is par for the course at soccer and rugby matches and I love it. I find crowds too passive here.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

O & B: I like the one-game Wild Card heart attack game, but I'd actually like to see a best two-out-of-three LDS played in the home parks of the two division winners with the best records, and then the LCS as a best two-out-of-three in the home park of the division winner left standing with the best record, and then let's get to the World Series already. 

The NFL teams with the best records in their respective conference never leave home until the Super Bowl, and an NFL Wild Card team never gets a home game. They don't play the first quarter in New England, the second and third quarter in Denver, and then the 4th quarter and (if necessary) the overtime in New England. If the Patriots (for example) have the best regular season record in the AFC, they get to stay home througout the playoffs (up until the Super Bowl) and can inflate their footballs as Brady likes 'em.

 I like the way the NFL does the post-season because it actually does reward success during the regular season and (unlike the NBA and NHL) makes regular season standings VERY important. You want a home game? Win your division and win as many games as you can. It should be that way in baseball, too. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Football games are played once a week. There are 16 games a year. I'm not even remotely following at all how you can compare the two leagues and playoff systems. It is physically impossible to play a home and away series. The idea of not having any road games in baseball playoffs is certainly a head scratcher. How is not having the first and last game at home a benefit for the division winners and team with the best record? How is it not an incentive to win the division when a WC team has to blow their top pitcher? Call me lost.

[ ]

In reply to by blockhead25

BLOCK: Of course any advantage is an advantage. An MLB, NBA, or NHL team getting the extra game at home in a seven game series is an advantage, I just don't think it is enough of an advantage for winning a division and/or having the best record in a conference or league over the course of an 82-game season (NBA and NHL) or 162 game series (MLB).

My point about football isn't that it would be feasible to split a game up by quarters. What I am saying is that the team with the best record in the AFC or NFC getting to stay home until the Super Bowl (until they lose) is exactly the reward a team should get for having the best record, and a Wild Card team getting no games at home is what you get for not winning your division. You want home games? Win your division. The Fact that the NFL has to do it that way doesn't mean it isn't the best way to do it, because ii is. 

Why did that NOT seem easy to me? For a couple innings, Arrieta was struggling a bit. One ball getting past Bryant, and it's a completely different game. What a world of difference in the thinking towards Bryant. At the beginning of the year, I would have thought someone would come in for *him *as a defensive replacement if the Cubs were to get this far. The way he held onto that liner after it popped out of his glove. That's keeping your cool in a high pressure situation.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Two 97+ win teams in a do-or-die, great bullpens, overpowering starters, plenty of pop--hard to believe that game wouldn't be tense. A 4-0 lead is not a blowout, especially in that situation and with the Cubs' young bullpen. Not only would a defensive play here or there make a difference, but you get the win there also on the home plate umps strike zone (generous strike calls for Arrieta, including a couple Ks), and on Schwarber sitting on the right pitch at the right time. A lot of luck factored in there, and a lot of focus to make the play when there was an opportunity to make the play.

So I think tomorrow will be the most important test of how far we can go. We can win it all with two pitchers since Arietta has shown he can carry over his success to the post season. If Lester can be dominant also then I think we can go far no matter how Hendricks or Hammel do. Edit/. And in terms of pitching just went through to see how we could maximize Lester and Arietta and came up with this (Lester would be going on 4 days rest three times and Arietta twice): Cubs/Cardinals: 10/9. Lester 10/10. Hammel or Hendricks 10/12 Arietta 10/13 Lester 10/14 Hammel or Hendricks NLCS 10/17 Arietta 10/18 Lester 10/20 Hammel or Hendricks 10/21 Arietta 10/22 Lester 10/24 Hammel or Hendricks 10/25 Arietta World Series 10/27 Lester 10/28 Hendricks or Hammel 10/30 Arietta 10/31 Lester 11/1 Hendricks or Hammel 11/3 Arietta 11/4 Lester

Unbeleivable Dodgers: I just noticed the Dodger's payroll today. It is just absurd. $300,000,000+!! Here is where just some of their money is for 2015: http://www.truebluela.com/2013/10/21/4861112/los-angeles-dodgers-payroll Some "Highlights" Carl Crawford $20MM Brandon McCarthy $17MM Bronson Arroyo $3.5MM Darwin B $2.2MM Dan Haren $10MM Matt Kemp $18MM Brian Wilson $10MM Ryan Webb $2.2MM Dee Gordon $2.5MM Yes, you will note some of the list are not on the team anymore. Or injured. Or in AAA. That's the Dodger's way. Its the "Expensive FA throw shit on the wall and see what sticks" model.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

i still can't believe that crawford contract (7/142). all that loot and years for a LF'r who's entire hitting game revolves around his legs and line-drive power. those triples that raised his value are deceptive as hell to his true power, but it helped him get paid. there's also pause about a guy who's ob% is almost totally driven by hits rather than walks. BOS got lucky unloading that crap deal.

My unsolicited opinions on topics covered in this thread: 1. I hate the fact that after 162 games, a team could be out after 1 game. However, I think the system is pretty close to perfect right now. 2 of 3 isn't feasible unless they shorten the regular season, and it ices the division winners for way too long. This creates excitement, and rewards the division winners. 2. Sure, I feel bad for the Pirates. They had an incredible season that would have been the best record in the league in most seasons, but instead they got a game against the league's best pitcher. But, I wouldn't change a thing. 3. When everyone associated with the game of baseball says Coghlan made a perfectly legit slide, and Pirates fans continue to say the Cubs are dirty and the Pirates don't have gonads to take a Cubs player out, that makes me respect the fan base more. 3. Kinda think it was rather brilliant, and dirty as heck, strategy to hit Arrieta. Get under his skin, change the pace of the game, and set it up so Arrieta can't come inside the rest of the night for fear of getting ejected. Still has little place in baseball, but I think more than simply revenge went into that one. 4. I think the Cubs can beat any remaining team in the playoffs, and lose to any remaining team in the playoffs.

[ ]

In reply to by blockhead25

Well said. On one hand, I thought the HBP was a bad baseball play -- down 4 runs, put a runner on for a red-hot Fowler. On the other hand, they needed to do something -- I hadn't thought about the warning/pitching inside point. Is Hurdle that smart? He does not strike me that way. By the way -- not clear which fan base you are referring to in your "first" 3rd point.

TEX takes the opening game from TOR (@TOR) 5-3. TOR lost bautista + donaldson in-game due to injuries...TEX lost beltre...dunno if any will be lingering issues leading to missed games.

Per Jesse Sanchez at mlb.com, Cubs reportedly have signed 20-year old Cuban OF Eddy Julio Martinez for $3M bonus. 

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).