Cubs MLB Roster

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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

Dewees Dehero in 2015 Cubs AZ Instructs World Series Championship Game

Donnie Dewees (Cubs 2015 2nd round draft pick  - University of North Florida) laid down a picture-perfect walk-off squeeze bunt single to score pinch-runner Chris Pieters from 3rd base in the bottom of the 9th, as the Riverview Cubs edged the Wrigley Cubs 5-4 in the 2015 Cubs AZ Instructs World Series Championship Game played this morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

Dewees went 5-for-5 in the game (five singles), plus three stolen bases, two runs scored, and the walk-off RBI. 

D. J. Wilson (Cubs 2015 4th round draft pick - Canton South HS - Canton, OH) drew a lead-off walk from Riverview RHSP Oscar de la Cruz and then Matt Rose (Cubs 2015 11th round draft pick - Georgia State U.) belted a two-out two-run home run off the top of the LF fence (just beyond the reach of a leaping Eloy Jimenez) in the top of the 1st inning to get the scoring started, although de la Cruz did strike out the side (all three swinging) around the walk and the two-run HR.

Dewees singled to lead off the bottom of the 1st against Wrigley RHSP Gabriel Lima, and then immediately scored on an Andruw Monasterio hit & run RBI double lined into the LF corner. Ian Happ (Cubs 2015 1st round draft pick - U. of Cincinnati) grounded out 4-3 to move Monasterio up to third with one out, and then Eloy Jimenez drew a walk. Monasterio scored on a WP to knot the game at two as Jimenez moved-up to 2nd base, but Jimenez was thrown-out by LF Robert Garcia 7-2 trying to score on a Kwang Min-Kwon (2015 IFA - South Korea) two-out opposite-field line-drive single to left.

16-year old Isaac Paredes (2015 IFA - Mexico) drew a lead-off walk in the top of the 3rd off RHP Jesus Camargo (ex-Mexico City Red Devils), and worked his way around the bases on a GO and an E-4, before scoring on a two-out Camargo WP. 

The Riverview Cubs came right back in the bottom of the 3rd against LHP Carson Sands (Cubs 2014 4th round pick - North Florida Christian HS - Tallahassee, FL), as Dewees singled, stole 2nd, stole 3rd ,and scored on an Eloy Jimenez sacrifice fly to center. 

The game remained tied at three though seven innings, but then the Wrigley Cubs went ahead 4-3 in the top of the 8th against Cubs top pitching prospect RHP Dylan Cease (2014 6th round draft pick - Milton HS - Milton, GA).

Cease walked Tyler Payne on a 3-2 pitch to open the frame, Isaac Paredes singled to advance Payne to 2nd, and D. J. Wilson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Cease did induce a DP grounder, but Payne scored the go-ahead run on the play.  

The Riverview Cubs came right back to tie the score again in the bottom of the 8th against RHP Adbert Alzolay, however, as Ian Happ drew a lead-off walk, Eloy Jimenez reached base on an E-6, and both runners moved-up on a double-steal. Jason Vosler was called out on strikes for the first out, but Kwon drove-in the tying run with a 4-3 GO.

After submariner RHRP David Berg (Cubs 2015 6th round draft pick - UCLA) easily retired the Wrigley Cubs 1-2-3 in the top of the 9th (F-8, 4-3, K) on just eight pitches, pinch-hitter Yasiel Balaguert singled to lead-off the bottom of the 9th. Chris Pieters was sent-in to run for Balaguert, and promptly stole 2nd, before advancing to 3rd on a 5-3 GO. That set-up the Dewees walk-off squeeze-bunt single to bring an end to the game and to the Cubs AZ Instructional League season, although the Angels/Cubs co-op advanced instructs squad will continue to play games for another week. 

Today's 2015 Cubs AZ Instructs World Series Championship Game was the only game played by the Cubs basic instructs group this year.    

Here is the box score from today's game: 

WRIGLEY CUBS LINEUP
1. D. J. Wilson, CF: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, 1-3, HBP, R)
2. Robert Garcia, LF: 0-4 (K, K, L-8, 4-6-3 DP) 
3. P. J. Higgins, 3B: 0-4 (K, E-4, F-8, F-8, SB) 
4. Matt Rose, 1B: 1-4 (HR, F-7, K, 4-3, R, 2 RBI)
5. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B-DH: 1-3 (K, 1B, 1-3)
6. Wladimir Galindo, DH #1: 0-3 (6-3, HBP, K, K) 
7a. Kevonte Mitchell, RF: 1-2 (1B, K)
7b. Michael Foster, RF: 0-0 (BB, CS)
8a. Yeiler Peguero, SS: 0-2 (K, 4-3)
8b. Jhonny Bethencourt, 2B: 1-1 (2B)
9a. Ian Rice, C: 0-2 (K, K)
9b. Tyler Payne, C: 0-0 (BB, R)
9c. Jhonny Pereda, C: NO AB 
10. Isaac Paredes, DH-SS: 1-2 (BB, 4-3, 1B, R)

RIVERVIEW CUBS LINEUP
1. Donnie Dewees, CF: 5-5 (1B, 1B, 1B, 1B, 1B, 2 R, RBI, 3 SB)
2a. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-3 (2B, P-2, K, R, RBI)
2b. Luis Diaz, SS: 0-1 (K)
3. Ian Happ, 2B: 0-2 (4-3, BB, 4-3, BB, R, SB)
4. Eloy Jimenez, LF: 1-2 (BB, F-8 SF, 2B, E-6, RBI, SB)
5. Jason Vosler, 3B-1B: 0-3 (3-U, BB, 3-U, K)
6. Kwang-Min Kwon, RF: 1-4 (1B, 5-4 FC, K, 4-3, RBI, SB)
7a. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-3 (F-9, 3-1, K)
7b. Rafael Mejia, 3B: 0-1 (K) 
8a. Jonathan Sierra, DH: 0-3 (3-U, K, 6-3) 
8b. Yasiel Balaguert, PH: 1-1 (1B) 
8c. Chris Pieters, PR: NO AB (R, SB) 
9a. Gustavo Polanco, C: 0-1 (F-9)
9b. Vimael Machin, C: 0-1 (P-5) 
9c. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C: 0-2 (6-3, 5-3)

WRIGLEY CUBS PITCHERS
1. Gabriel Lima: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/AO, 20 pitches (10 strikes) 
2. Junior Marte: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 11 pitches (7 strikes) 
3. Carson Sands: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 19 pitches (10 strikes)
4. Justin Steele: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 15 pitches (10 strikes)
5. Tyler Peitzmeier: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 11 pitches (8 strikes)
6. Ryan Kellogg: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 14 pitches (12 strikes)
7. Kyle Miller: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 10 pitches (8 strikes)
8. Adbert Alzolay: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 21 pitches (11 strikes)  
9. Mark Malave: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 15 pitches (12 strikes) 

RIVERVIEW CUBS PITCHERS
1. Oscar de la Cruz: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 19 pitches (13 strikes) 
2. Casey Bloomquist: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/0 GO/AO, 16 pitches (11 strikes) 
3. Jesus Camargo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 23 pitches (14 strikes) 
4. Scott Effross: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1/0 GO/AO, 12 pitches (10 strikes) 
5. Corbin Hoffner: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 9 pitches (7 strikes) 
6. Enrique de los Rios: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 10 pitches (8 strikes) 
7. Craig Brooks: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches (14 strikes)   
8. Dylan Cease: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/AO, 24 pitches (13 strikes) 
9. David Berg: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 8 pitches (7 strikes) 

WRIGLEY CUBS ERRORS: 1 
SS Luis Diaz - E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

RIVERVIEW CUBS ERRORS: 3 
1. P Oscar de la Cruz -  E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
2. 2B Ian Happ - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
3. C Vimael Machin- E-2 (dropped pop-up in foul territory extended batter's AB) 

WRIGLEY CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Ian Rice: 0-4 CS 
2. Jhonny Pereda  0-2 CS

RIVERVIEW CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Gustavo Polanco: 0-1 CS
2. Vimael Machin: 1 E (see above) 
3. Marcus Mastrobuoni: 1-1 CS

WRIGLEY CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS
1. LF Robert Garcia - threw out runner (Eloy Jimenez) 7-2 attempting to score from 2nd on single 
2. CF D. J. Wilson - doubled runner (Ian Happ) off 1st base 8-3 on attempted hit & run  

RIVERVIEW CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS
LF Eloy Jimenez - threw out batter (Jhonny Bethencourt) 7-5 trying to stretch double into triple  

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures 90+ 

ATTENDANCE: 15 (mostly scouts)

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG: Chris Pieters was sent to instructs to develop his hitting, bunting, and outfield play (he is already a decent first-baseman).  

Pieters is tall and rangy , a "long-strider" in the same mold as Trey Martin and Rashad Crawford. He is a very patient hitter (unusual for a hitter with his lack of experience) and has an outstanding (almost uncanny) eye at the plate, and he is a fast runner with unusually good baserunning instincts, and he is a good basestealer, too.

But he needs a lot of work in the outfield. He is very raw out there. He is fine at 1st base, but his speed and arm are wasted there, and he has no HR power, so 1st base really can't be an option for him going forward. . 

I would say he [projects as a lead-off hitter and (if he can learn how to play OF) a CF. But he is a work-in-progress. 

Still the fact that he has come this far in just six months tends to make me think he could develop into a decent postion-player prospect.; You don't see a pitcher get converted to outfielder very often. Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta is probably the poster boy for that type of conversion. 

 

AZ Phil: Agree, this must have been a really fun game to watch. There was a lot of base stealing going on. Are the pitchers not holding runners or is the catching still a work in progress?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: One of the points of emphasis  at "basic" Instructs this year was teaching the position players the art of baserunning and base-stealing, like getting a good primary and seconday lead, reading the pitcher, cutting bases sharply, and different ways to slide to maximize the baserunner's chance to arrive safely. 

They also have been working a lot on situational hitting (like Happ hitting to the right-side of the infield in the bottom of the 1st to get Manasterio to 3rd with one out) and bunting (like the Dewees walk-off suicide-squeeze bunt single RBI). 

Pitchers have been spending a lot of time working on pick-off moves and keeping runners in check by use of the slide-step and varying the timing of the delivery.  

As for the catchers, most of them throw OK, but they are spending a lot of time on receiving skills (like blocking balls in the dirt and pitch framing), catching pop-ups, making tag plays at the plate, infield play -calls with runners on base. and improved interaction and communication with the pitcher. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

it's kind of mesmerizing to watch --- should Theo add some Ted Abernathy videos for minor league pitching coordinator's use? sadly, Ted passed away in 2004 from complications of Alzheimers. I always loved the Cub bullpen trio of Phil Regan, Ted Abernathy and Hank Aguirre. As a kid, I even worked on both Phil Regan (very quirky delivery) and Ted Abernathy (extreme submarine) imitations when throwing a rubber ball against a wall. It wasn't a good imitation unless I could scrape my knuckles off the ground. I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for submariners. http://tinyurl.com/qaulssq

Phil, were there any "breakout" players during the instructs this year?

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).