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

A Cub Fans Guide to Blackhawks Hockey

A funny thing happened on the way to the NHL Winter Classic:

The Blackhawks got good. Very good.

As a result, the spectacle that John McDonough begged his league to bring to Wrigley to help him reanimate a recently dead franchise has turned into something else:

A signficant matchup between the Detroit Red Wings, the defending Stanley Cup champions, and the Blackhawks, the Wings' closest divisional pursuers, one of the league's youngest, highest scoring, and most dynamic clubs.

In case you have been too busy following the Cubs' off-season exploits to pay attention to the Blackhawks--or, more likely, if you have never paid attention to the Hawks--here is a Cubs baseball/Blackhawks hockey translator just for you.

 

CUBS
      BLACKHAWKS
 100 years (longest in MLB)
=

Championship drought

=
 47 years (longest in NHL)
 Banks, Williams, Jenkins =

Beloved former stars
and Hall of Famers

 = Hull, Mikita, Esposito
 St. Louis Cardinals  =

Hated rival whose most
hateful quality is their
relative success
 

 =  Detroit Red Wings
 Lou Piniella
 =

Grizzled leader with
lots of battle scars and
a long resume

=
 Joel Quenneville
Alfonso Soriano
 =

Flashy veteran who parlays
great talent into
good performances

 =  Martin Havlat
 Ryan Dempster
 =

Vet who seemed to be
on his way out
then got a new lease
on life

 =  Nikolai Khabibulin
 Geovany Soto
 =

Emerging young star
with a Rookie of the Year
trophy on his mantel

 =  Patrick Kane
 "Hey, Hey, Holy Mackarel!"*
 =

A team song from
back when they knew
how to write team songs

=
 "Here Come The Hawks"
B- and C-list celebs singing
"Take Me Out to the Ballgame"
=
Tired intermission distraction
 = Random hot woman in
tight jeans shooting from
center ice to win a prize
between 2nd & 3rd periods

 

*I know that "Go Cubs, Go" is the current de facto team song, but that would have ruined my '60s team song parallelism. Also, I'm sorry but "Hey, Chicago, whaddya say?" is just no match for "They got the hustle, they got the muscle."

Comments

what if you stopped following the Hawks when they traded Chris Chelios to the fucking Red Wings in 1999?

can I hop back in now?

and no, that wasn't the only reason I stopped paying attention, but it started somewhere around then.

I'm watching tomorrow's game. I'll never forget being at a Blackhawks game and being one of those dudes family guys hate. I screamed obscenities all night and the guy in front of me wanted to take me down. But I was bigger and stronger than he was so he backed down. I'm hoping Milton Bradley is mellowing out, too.

Havlat really hasn't even had any "good performances" in a Hawks uniform and he can't stay on the ice. He's actually been demoted to the third line. I'm with you Rokfish, I was a total Chelios mark as a kid and I would love to take a run at him on or off the ice. If people did quit watching the Hawks after Chelios was traded he's hated now. A lot. He gets raspberries hurled at him every time he touches the puck in Chicago. Said he would never resign with the Wings after being traded and he has about 4 or 5 times now and he's even more hated now after putting 6 successive crosschecks on Kane last season in the UC. If you watched the Tues night game Ben Eager took a run at Chelios and in the typical Red Wing fashion, Chelios did nothing because he's a fraud. They slash and take cheap hits behind the action and then will never drop the gloves or face anyone head on. He'll get booed out of Wrigley tomorrow. Brett Lebda, Chicagoland native and Cubs fan is a jerkoff too. Osgood and Lidstrom are the only likable/respectable players on the Wings. Ex Hawk Daniel Cleary put a cheap hit on Kane on Tuesday night and nearly took his knee out, then Lebda took another shot at Kaner on the boards a period later. Kane is 5'10 and 170lbs. He's this era's Paul Kariya. Someone from the Hawks better step up tomorrow and crush Cleary or Datsyuk. I'm generally not a hockey fight fan, I like big open ice clean shoulder checks but Burish or Walker or someone better knock out Cleary or one of the skilled Wings forwards tomorrow.

as with the Cubs I was an 80's child...the Savard, Larmer, Olcyzk days, which moved into the Roenick, Chelios, Belfour, Mike Keenan days...

plus NHL '93 on Sega was aweseome...

"I'm going to make Gretzky's head bleed..."

anyone else having HD problems? some pre-game thing popped on at 9:30, looks like local NBC in Chicago, but it isn't in HD.... DirecTV says the game starts at 10, so I'm hoping it's just a weird glitch or something.

First of all, way to go Cubnut - posting, what, 19 minutes b4 the new year? Dedication, my friend. Second, I second Andrew - I REALLY wish we had that tired intermission distraction...

I know today is a day for College Football (and Hockey) and maybe even College Hoops, but it is also marks in a matter of moments the debut of the MLB Network (DirecTV 213). Probably will be laughable, but a 24/7 baseball fix can't be all bad...

Sean Lowe sneezing at Mets 3/36 offer? http://www.nypost.com/seven/01012009/sports/mets/righty_is_sneezing_at_… An industry source said Boras indeed has told the Mets there's a mystery team in the mix to sign Lowe. --------- Seasonal Allergies? With Boras there's always a mystery team. Usually it's just one team that Boras gets to bid against itself. In this case it's also the Mets, once Bernard Madoff acquires the team from the Wilpons. ========= Jeff Wilpon admits he and his father, Mets owner Fred Wilpon, were "completely blindsided" in losing hundreds of millions of dollars in the $50 billion securities fraud scandal allegedly perpetrated by longtime family friend and business associate Bernard Madoff.

another typical Blackhawk vs elite team performance. 0-8 vs the Wings, Sharks and Bruins. Taking stupid penalties against the top PP scoring teams. You would think that they would have learned their lesson after Tuesday night but nope, more idiotic penalties by Buf, Campbell and Wiz lead to 3 PP goals and the difference in the game. Why Q feels the need to play Campbell and Barker on the same line is beyond me too. Two offensive D against the Wings is not a good plan. Bufuglien is 250-260 lbs and what, 1 hit? Weak. One bright spot with Seabrook & Ladd though.

They're a very young team, they're still learning how to play the Wings - give them some time, they'll get the idea eventually. Putting Cleary over the boards was a good first step in that direction. "...as with the Cubs I was an 80's child..." I started listening to their games on the radio back in the late 60's, with the greatest Chicago sports team that never won a championship (Mikita, Hull, Martin, Esposito, Pappin, Magnuson, etc.) with the greatest Chicago sports announcer ever, IMHO. I went downtown to watch the teams with the RPM line (Rutkowski, Preston and Mulvey), then later on with Savard and Chelios. Wurtz Sr. became my most hated owner after he left the franchise go to seed over the ensuing decades, and took every advantage of loyal fans who were taken for granted every which way. Glad to see his progeny starting to restore the integrity of the team - but it will never be the same as during the days of "The Madhouse on Madison."

[ ]

In reply to by Dmac

but the Hawks beat the Wings 5 out of 8 games last season with an inferior team and supposedly an inexperienced head coach so youth isn't a good excuse. The Hawks also outplayed the Wings in the first two matchups but choked away 2 goal leads in the 3rd period because of these stupid penalties. Campbell and Wiz are vets, not really that young to excuse those penalties and really Buf has been around for 3-4 years too. I can let guys like Kane and Versteeg slide with high sticking penalties because they're 20 and undersized and have to defend themselves that way. No excuse for the others.

is on the air...

studio chat about Manny Ramirez with Al Leiter, Harold Reynolds and Barry Larkin...

nice GeoSoto baseball card thing as part of the set decoration...I assume it's something they can switch out whenever, looks like LCD screens behind them.

fancy graphics...hopefully Rob Dibble or Joe Morgan never show up on the channel.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

progamming note...Friday nights, "World Series Highlights"

in other words, "Go catch a movie night for Cubs fans"

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

mlb network...christmas came late this year for me. i SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hope they broadcast winter league games eventually...aka...next season.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

jackie robinson...peewee reese...mickey mantle patrolling the 1,800ft. oldschool yankee stadium CF... good game to launch with. never seen this game in my life...only clips.

I likes me some MLB Network...That was really cool watching the Don Larsen perfect game. Anything involving Bob Costas and baseball is a good watch by me. My wife is already bemoaning the fact that I have found a reason to watch TV again.

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).