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

Pirates @ Cubs: Brault vs Arrieta (Game 130)

Sweet home Chicago.PIT (67-61): LHP Steven Brault (0-1, 3.60)   
CHC (82-47): RHP Jake Arrieta (16-5, 2.62)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST

Arrieta has put together a solid August, going 4-0 with a 1.98 in four games, including an 8-inning shutout in San Diego. He’s 3-1 with a 2.67 in 4 starts against the Pirates this season. Overall, they are 43-202 (.213) against him. Joyce is 7-20 with a HR. Rodriguez is 2-6 with a HR, but destroyed two Gatorade coolers in the process.

The 24y/o rookie Brault had two spot starts in July, and now he’s back. He gave up 1 ER in 4 innings in St. Louis in his debut, and look the loss in Milwaukee after giving up 3 ER in 6 innings. He’s struck out 8 and walked 5 in his 10 innings. He was 2-7 with a 3.70 in 17 appearances in the minor leagues.

Kuhl (3-1, 3.50) versus Hendricks (12-7, 2.19) tomorrow at 7:05pmCST.

Go Cubs!

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

CF WAR is ridiculous...billy hamilton is pulling a 3.0 WAR somehow...and managed a 2.0 WAR last year (even though he missed a month of the season)...and a 3.7 WAR in 2014. yeah, a lot depends on how one is doing relative to others at a given position, but WAR is common used (right or wrong) as a blanket comparing all kinds of players. trout's one of the best, and at this point should probably win over donaldson (and should have more MVPs in the past, too), but the defensive aspect of valuing WAR still needs more tweaking...imo.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

yes, those hamilton WAR numbers are very reasonable. i'm on your side now based on that biting commentary and reasoning of why he's a 3.5-ish WAR player over a 600 PA season. those numbers are obviously well deserved and worthy of no scrutiny...none at all. no issue. CF D is rarer than a jon lester pickoff at 2nd...totally irreplaceable...no way in hell there's good D, low/no-hitting CF's in anyone's system that could do what hamilton is doing. guys like this don't exist...you get like, 2-3 at any given time in history. the fact hamilton has a better WAR than the NL ob% leader on BR's WAR is of no concern about the value of D in overall WAR values...just as it is the competing WAR metrics are different...the difference is an illusion, they secretly agree because they can't be questioned. nothing to scrutinize here...perfection has been obtained. playing 1st base with a .309/.432/.522 line just isn't as valuable as playing CF with a .261/.319/.348 line. you can get a 1st who plays average D with a .309/.432/.522 line anywhere, literally anywhere! where on this planet can you get a good D CF'r who can put up a .261/.319/.348 line, though? that's crazy, you'll never find a good D CF'r as a replacement player who can put up a .261/.319/.348 line in the majors! can you seriously not see how some might have an issue with how WAR values D in some positions, especially when there's 2 competing WAR value creating formulas that sometimes vary by noticeable amounts? maybe they should just call it "Baseball Guy Cool Points" rather than assigning "Wins" for what they consider "Replacement" level players. albert almora projected to be a 4.9 BGCP player over a 600 PA season with his good D and a .265/.291/.422 line. yeah, that sounds awesome. now if you'll excuse me i have some rocks to bang on to start a fire so my cave will be warm this evening because that's a thing that cavemen stuck in the past do.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Thanks for shining a light on this very important topic and steering it away from the frivolity that was the awesomenes of Mike Trout, but moreso on the foolishness of WAR as a metric to judge the value of center fielders. We're all a little wiser now and your contributions are invaluable to this community and to America's pastime. God Bless!

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

it was about a post comparing players based on WAR...and comparing WAR values of a CF to a slew of other players...a post that you made...and i made a comment...that talked about D weighting of WAR...and comparinging WAR values of a CF to a slew of other players...etc etc... hell, we didn't even get in deep. i didn't even involve UZR or FIP versions and their strengths/weaknesses...or position mandated "handicapping" in points...etc. let's not talk about that...cool, fine, awesome. context sucks. san dimas highschool football rules. *shrug*

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

#crunchsplaining

Thanks for the awesome give and take today and for the 535 words you spilled filling in all the gaps that I woefully neglected. We're all a little wiser and better for it. I look forward to your play-by-play summary later in the comments.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Two things: Fangraphs WAR #s include baserunning and Hamilton is elite at that. He leads in SBs with the 54 and and has an 87% rate which is really good. I'm sure once he gets on base he's able to take the extra base quite often too. Both those things will up his overall WAR value. The differences between BR and FG WAR is pretty well documented online and thus If there are discrepancies it's fairly easy to figure out why. It's fairly well accepted that BR WAR is fine as a snapshot but FG is better at predicting future value.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

crunch - you do know that, taking defense out of the equation, Trout has led the AL in wRC+ each of those years, right? And, if you want to complain about position adjustment (which would be serious #crunchsplaining), he's been in the top 3 in the AL in WC (not park/league/position adjusted). And the only players ahead of him (if there were any players ahead of him) in any of those years have been DHs or 1B that play lousy defense. But sure - Trout sucks (or at least isn't as good as WAR says). Because it factors in defense and position. Also - glad nothing has changed at TCR...

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

"trout's one of the best, and at this point should probably win over donaldson (and should have more MVPs in the past, too), but the defensive aspect of valuing WAR still needs more tweaking...imo." that's from my 1st post. there's no suck involved in that. maybe with a few less posts about bullshit that point would have jumped out more. trout got his props above and beyond...i even gave him more MVP props than he received in real life. what i posted was far from damming to trout. that's a problem when threads like this turn into a shitfest without useful info/convo because people are butthurt about stuff outside of the info. it's not trout i have a problem with...it's how valuable playing CF is in a stat that's supposed to measure replacement level players...and a lot has to do with position based bonuses and defense (especially in UZR weighted WAR formulas). i love wRC+, i wish more people would focus on single-ended stats rather than looking at flawed stats that exponentially exaggerate flaws by combining stats into a be-all-end-all stat...especially one that assigns "wins" based on "replacement level" players. ...and yes, nothing changes at TCR...lots of awesome information in between the rage quitting and bitching about other people posting, though.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

the factual correction on your mistakes on your post that I barely bothered to read the first time because it had nothing to do with anything I wanted to talk about is indeed a sign of my degenerative brain condition. I appreciate the safety tip and will be looking into with extreme urgency now.

MyrtleBeachPelicans ‏@Pelicanbaseball The #MBpelicans and @Cubs have extended their PDC through 2020! ---- Carolina League getting 2 new teams too.

"According to FOX Sports' Jon Morosi, Tim Tebow's baseball workout Tuesday in Los Angeles will be attended by scouts from "roughly half" of the 30 major league teams." "One scout told ESPN.com last week that Tebow's swing is so long it might "take out the front row." That's not a good thing."

modern media

@BNightengale: Former #MLB pitcher Dan Haren will be throwing to Tim Tebow tomorrow during his tryout in LA, he announced.

 ‏@ithrow88(dan haren): @BNightengale nope, I was offered the opportunity and declined.

 @ithrow88 Oh and memo to my agent, @bvanwagenen: Pitching to Tim Tebow tomorrow DOES NOT count as getting me a real job offer.

Let's see -- up 3-0, at home, Jake on the mound annnnd....compare and contrast 2015 to 2016. Bleh. Hopefully, the Pirates will uncork a series of 9th inning wild pitches.

Everyone remember Starlin Castro dropping or misplaying just about every ball near second base that involved a tag?

Javier Baez is the opposite of that.

Maddon's master plan to challenge his offense to improve on coming from behind late in games is working amazingly.

This fucking game

Baez lucky to not have hurt his hand with headfirst slide on play at plate in 12th inning.

Classic ending, about 12:11 AM, CST. 5 hours, 3 minutes. Both teams have bases loaded, no out situations in the last inning. Magic #19. Last man on the bench, Montero gets it done.

I saw the first three innings and the last three, so I didn't see Arrieta get hit. His stuff looked nasty at first...what happened? Any insight from anyone who watched? #baseballtalk

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).