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

January, Chicago's Hottest Month of the Year

I love baseball newsy days in January. I love roster moves. You can see that I don't even mind listening to a baseball guru or two.

Fox's Baseball analyst, Ken Rosenthal was on WGN Radio's "Sports Central" show hosted by David Kaplan tonight. For those not able to listen, here's a summary of his take on all things recently swirling in Cubsville. He takes on Milton Bradley vs Lou Piniella (a dangerous mix). Could these two ever be as lovable as Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson in the 2003 film, Anger Management? Somehow, I just can't see LouPa getting Bradley to sing, "I Feel Pretty".

Plus a bit more on the shrinking odds to acquire some guy named Jake.

On to the details, after the jump...

David Kaplan: You're thoughts on Milton Bradley.

Ken Rosenthal: I love Milton Bradley, but wonder if Bradley can stay healthy playing RF. They've got to keep him on the field which is going to be the challenge. He is a guy who plays really hard and that's one reason he gets hurt a lot. Fans will like his fire and they are going to like a guy who led the AL in OPS, but they'll only like him if he's on the field producing.

Kaplan: Is Bradley a good teammate? People I respect around the game that I've called say he's an excellent team mate, just leave him alone and let him do his job.

Rosenthal: It may be a challenge for Lou Piniella to leave him alone.  Bradley's primary goal is to win. Bradley had no problems with Ron Washington in Texas and Washington did really well with him.  Lou can't rip him in public like he's done Fukudome. It's potentially a dangerous mix as Lou is volatile too. You can say the same things about Lou (his temperment) that you can say about Milton Bradley. Some thought he should go to Tampa with the DH, but you saw Tampa extended themselves financially to get Burrell $16M, so you can see why Bradley wanted to come to the Cubs as he almost got twice that much from the Cubs. Plus there is an appeal to every player to play with the Cubs. If they win you're a made man.

Kaplan: Handicap the Cubs today vs the end of the 2008 season.

Rosenthal: He likes where the Cubs are but he understands the criticism. Not a cop out, merely an acknowledgment of the value of DeRosa to the team. The reasons for the DeRosa trade were to

1) get more left handed (Miles, Fontenot, Bradley), they are much more of a balanced lineup then thay have been in the past. Even though they lead the NL in runs scored last year, they felt all season that their imbalance was not a good thing. 

2) $ savings

3)  DeRosa's is a free agent after this season and they wouldn't have DeRosa forever. The value they got back seemingly wasn't great but they won't know that for several years.  They've reconfigured themselves to be a more of a  balanced offense. If he stays on the field, Bradley is a dynamic offensive player and he's also what Cubs fans are looking for as far as on base skills. The key is keeping him going and if they do that Jim Hendry is going to look good.

Kaplan: Do you think a Peavy deal will occur?

Rosenthal: Now that the Padres ownership is going to change it's much less likely. New owner Jeff Moorad's first move is not likely to trade Peavy their best and most popular player. Can it still happen, Sure. Any owner who is logical about things can trade any player at any time if the value is proper. Given the PR damage the team has suffered all off-season it seems hard to believe the team is going to make this deal when they haven't made it under duress. He said his guess is that the odds of a trade happening have dropped to about a 10% chance.

Kaplan: When the Marquis and Bradley deals are finalized, do you believe the Cubs are done or will they get themselves another starting pitcher?

Rosenthal: I have a hard time believing they are going to pay big money for another starting pitcher, say Derek Lowe. The Dempster deal was a top of the market deal. The Bradley deal was sticker price. These are not bargain deals. If the (Cubs) ownership change happens and the new owners say get one more  pitcher, then they might be in on Lowe.

Kaplan: Why give up Josh Vitters who they say is the jewel of the system or other prospects when you could keep those guys who cost you nothing and just sign Lowe, for less years and less money, a sinkerballer who would fit in at Wrigley?

Rosenthal: The answers are simple. Peavy is in the prime of his career. Lowe is 9 years older than Peavy. Peavy would probably be under contract for 4-5 years, you'd have to give him another year in a deal. Peavy is a young ace type pitcher. Lowe might be on the decline although he hasn't shown it yet.

Comments

"Just let him alone and let him do his job." (I realize you're paraphrasing, Cubster.)

Who wasn't 'letting him alone' when Bradley harrassed a cop in the course of doing her duty and got himself arrested and ultimately sent to jail in '04?

He got himself traded from the Indians by getting into a row with his manager after he was pulled from a Spring Training game for not running out a pop-up. I guess Eric Wedge should have 'let him alone.'

Then that crap last year when he was ready to take the head off Ryan Lefebvre, the Royals announcer, because he thought he had been insulted.

The Cubs spent $30 million on a scumball. I am surprised how readily analysts like Rosenthal and Kaplan, who I normally find to be outstanding, are forgetting the worst of this guy's history and suggesting that the Cubs' biggest concern will be his health.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubnut

Wow, I'm glad people aren't asking that about me. I was incredibly immature until I was about 30. It just takes some of us longer than the rest of you. Sorry about that. Maybe we should just throw people onto the street when they can't get their act together by a certain age, and see what happens then. This is a team that needs some fire in it, and I happen to think this guy may give it to them. I suppose it is possible that he hasn't matured yet -- although I don't remember hearing about any problems last year, but don't underestimate the Power of 30 to knock some sense into a person. It is possible that if he sucks out there on the field he'll get booed and then go nuclear. So what? If he sucks, he sucks, and the Cubs will suffer no more or less if he has an incident. The rest of the guys on the team should be able to take care of themselves no matter what Bradley does. They are grown men. Based on my own personal history, I am betting that Bradley is now, too.

My biggest concern is the durability factor. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, and this guy has played more than 105 (?) games once in his career. The second biggest concern, and this is a close second, is his demeanor vis a vis the fans. Especially in the RF bleachers. Look how Jacque Jones let them manhandle him. If Bradley does a 2 for 20 at some point, he'll be just as big of a target and he'll try to give it back as much as they give it to him. I'll say this, it's going to be a really interesting summer either way at Wrigley Field. And what the heck, the white bread approach to the roster didn't help advance them the last two years, maybe adding a short fuse will. I've read in several accounts today that all Bradley wants to do is win. And that comes from former managers, coaches and players.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

Never read anything about Bradley jaking it on the field. His managers and ex teammates and Gerald Perry said he plays hard, wants to win. Yeah he's got a screw loose. Does it really matter if he plays on a regular basis and plays well? That in itself is a gamble given his history, but who cares about the other stuff? Should we cite name, chapter and verse on pro players in many sports who are less than stellar characters off the field, and see how many people wanted them outta town? Dave Duerson? Bobby Hull? AJ Pierzynski? I want performance on the field and the guy is a jerk off the clock, then I'll take him to be a jerk that I want in the lineup.

The Cubs could have easily traded for Bradley in 2007 but declined. That was right around the time they traded Barrett...In any event, they must feel that he's matured to the point that he can be trusted with a multi-year contract. Looking over Bradley's career stats, I couldn't help but think of Felix Pie. Bradley struggled for the first 3 years of his career...

[ ]

In reply to by carmenfanzone

I really don't think Hendry cares a whole lot about his maturity as a person. I think he wants him to fit on the team, do what his manager says and keep his hands off the fans. Performance is going to be what counts. As I recall the price for Bradley in 07 was steeper than what the Cubs wanted to offer, and as is their wont they were committed to the two guys they signed to provide left hand pop in the outfield: Jones and Floyd. I am sure Hendry has vetted Bradley with all his baseball people and done his research and is confident the guy can play and play on a regular basis. Just not sure that he worries about what Milton does at home.

is talking to me about Texas football right now on ESPN...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

and then ESPN reminds me why not to watch them when they put Skip Bayless on with Lil Wayne with Bayless calling Lil Wayne's latest album, his "Purple Rain"...

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

I like lefthanded, but the Cubs tend to go after lefty hitters who hit mostly to the wrong field. The two you mentioned plus Choi, Jacque Jones, Edmonds, Fukudome. (Burnitz not really an opposite-field hitter. He just aimed for the middle of the fairway.) Anyway, I just analyzed Bradley's BR home-run log from last season and of his eleven lefty home runs, five are described as RF Line. Three are simply RF. One is CF-RF, for a total of 9 to the right of center. One is LF-CF and one LF. A pull-hitting lefty slugger. Nice!

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Yes, there's a theory, thanks for asking. It's the Different Day Theory. The idea is that righty hitters, even if their numbers are generally good against righty throwers, are likely to have a rough day at the same time if a pitcher with really good breaking stuff is hitting his spots. Like against Derek Lowe last October. A lefty pull hitter is looking for pitches inside. Inside at the waist, at the knees, fastball, breaking ball--no problem. So the exact same pitch that is causing maximum discomfort to Soriano/Lee/Ramirez/DeRosa/Soto looks like low-hanging fruit to Bradley. Jacque Jones was a wrong-way hitter. He couldn't hit a breaking ball inside. So it was like having another right-handed hitter in the lineup. Just keep throwing the same pitch in the same spot to everybody. With some variety in the look of your hitters, you have different guys coming through on "different days." With the heavily right-handed Cubs, it's been feast or famine. Everybody or nobody hitting. The twelve you scored yesterday don't help you today against Lowe, Arroyo, etc. I don't have stats supporting this different-day theory, but there are there no stats opposing it, either. But here's something anecdotal. The Cubs have zero luck against Cole Hamels, even though he's lefthanded, because his changeup is a righty killer. The Brewers are heavily righthanded also, but they were able to beat Hamels once last season by scoring four runs on a couple of two-run homers by Prince Fielder. Of course, it's a bad example because Bradley will bat righty against Hamels. But it illustrates what righty-lefty balance is about.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I can't say I completely disagree with your idea here, though I usually prefer hitting approaches that use all fields (Lee, Ramirez, Fontenot) to guys who mostly use one field (Soriano, Theriot, Jacque Jones). But if a pull-hitting lefty hits guys what a pull-hitting righty doesn't, then don't opposite-field or all-field righties also hit those guys that pull-hitting righties don't? Seems to me that the Cubs had a lot of guys batting from the right side who were perfectly willing to hit the ball to RF or CF, other than Soriano and Johnson. I can definitely agree that the Cubs haven't lefty who could crush the ball toward RF in a while, though Cliff Floyd was supposed to be that. I'm guess I'm just not convinced that being a pull hitter is going to make a lefty more valuable to the Cubs. Now, the power that might come with pulling the ball...

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

I mostly agree. I think the best hitters from both sides try to find a pitch they can drive (pull?) until there are two strikes; and then with two strikes maybe they settle for a single to the opposite field. Lee has gotten too willing (to my taste) to hit a single to right early in the count. Piniella said once that you want a few lefty hitters because the pitcher has to keep shifting the target and he makes a mistake and grooves one. One thing about pull hitters is they crush mistakes. Opposite-field hitters tend to take pitches that they should have crushed. (They weren't looking for something middle-in.) We've seen a bit of that with the Cubs the last couple years, and I don't mean Soriano.

That's so great that he would take some time, like he obviously has, to tell everyone about this saga. He didn't have to say anything about it. Now, at least we who have been hoping he would be able to get the team understand what he is going through.

Ok...take a chance on a player with high upside. Let's forget that this player had a career best last season, while DH'ing 97 of 126 games, and the previous 3 seasons played 75,96,61 games, and has never proven that he can stay healthy to play 120 games back to back even, which would still be missing a quarter of the season.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

I don't remember saying you should ignore it. It is of course the reason the Cubs could sign him in the first place. I guess my point is that while he has risks, he has significant upside. Since, IMO, the Cubs window appears to be closing why not take the risk.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

That's a good point. He is available for the money because he's an injury risk. Remember when Hendry talked about the fact that a non-injury-risk Rich Harden didn't exist...and if he did, he wouldn't be available.

Because then you are stuck paying him while he's injured. The risk is not worth the reward. He had a great season last year, but that's not who he's been his whole career.

I don't mind Hendry rolling the dice here - if Bradley flakes out, he flakes out. His teammates should be able to handle it, the Oakland A's had clubhouse fistfights almost on a daily basis during their glory days in the 70's. They just wanted to win, period. Granted, it's not an exact analogy, but you get the drift.

I don't think this is 3/44, but I caught this over at the bretheren's CCO site re, Levine's info on the deal: "Levine revealed that the third year on Bradley's contract is not guaranteed and is a vesting option based on games played in the first two years. Bradley is expected in Chicago by Thursday to take a physical with the official announcement being made on Friday at Wrigley." Count me in the "health worries" column. I'm not as gloom and doom as the Dr. aaron B is, but IF Dome does not turn it around AND Bradley misses significant time, it could be a mess o trouble. I could give a shit about all of the "clubhouse leader" and "sensitive player" bullshit. LEt's win a couple playoff games. And - getting back to the J.D. Drew scenario I brought up yesterday - I am too lazy to look this up, but if Bradley misses the same percentage of games that Drew has during his Red Sox signing - yet produces to the same degree while in the lineup - is it a productive addition?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I think our best case scenario here depends less on Fukudome and more on the Hoff. If he can build on what he started last year, he gives us a RF replacement with some pop when Bradley goes down. That will hopefully limit Gathright's role to mostly pinch running and an occasional start, and CF can remain the Fuku/RJ platoon. If Lou decides to pull a Dusty and replace Bradley's OPS with Fuku in RF and RJ/Gathright in CF (a la replacing DLee with Neifi by sliding Todd Walker over to 1B in 2006), we'll be in for a long season.

That Cuban post on his website was great! Man he would be a great owner for the Cubs..it's too bad he backed out. http://blogmaverick.com/2009/01/06/the-cubs/ As for those who don't want Bradley....maybe he fails his physical. In all honestly i'd rather have Peavy then Bradley! I think the more pitching the better. With Bradley signed it seems unlikely with this economic environment and the fact the Padres are now selling (the new owner may want Peavy)...the window is probably gone.

Good question E-Man...of course, he played 140 games in 2007....not well, but he was out there. Wow....I will say this, Milton Bradley makes JD Drew look like Cal Ripken jr as far as games played. He's played under 100 games just once, which was in 2005. Also, without just looking at HR and RBI as I have accused of doing, career numbers: Drew .284/.392/.502 averaging 109 games a season Bradley .280/.370/.457 averaging 90 games a season

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

And, again, J.D. Drew's contract is more than twice the total money that Milton Bradley's is. 5 years, 14 million dollars per year. 3 years, 10 million per year. There's a reason for that, you know. Historically, more productive players get to make, you know, more money than the less productive ones. Kind of a base economic principle. Don't know why you're complaining about not having J.D. Drew and acting like we could pay him the same amount of money. EDIT: Furthermore, I would go so far as to say that signing a guy like J.D. Drew, who you've proven just a little but more more durable and valuable over the course of his career than Milton Bradley to a FIVE YEAR DEAL is considerably dumber than signing Bradley to 3. I wouldn't say that those numbers you posted above scream to me that Drew worth double the money over a longer deal than Milton Bradley. Particularly since Drew has alleged attitude issues, as well.

Manny ... Abreu ... Dunn ... at least one of these guys will still be unemployed in a month. Garrett Anderson might want to give up hope on that guaranteed deal pretty soon here.

I read that Jason Jennings had "flexor" surgery in late May - after going 0-5 for MB's old club. Since Hendry has had a bit of success and likes reclamation projects with these kind of players, would a minor league offer be a possibility? You know someone will take a flier on him. Help us, oh, Obi Wan Cubster. What exactly is a "flexor" elbow surgery? Is this what Chris Carpenter had?

What exactly is a "flexor" elbow surgery? Is this what Chris Carpenter had? ======== The wrist flexor tendons originate on the bone just above the elbow, medially which is the inside (the medial humeral epicondyle). Carpenter originally had his elbow scoped for arthritis, this didn't work then he had Ulnar Collateral surgery (Tommy John procedure). The medial flexor origin is adjacent to the origin of the Ulnar Collateral so they can sometimes be hard to separate except for the fact that the UCL usually doesn't respond to rest/rehab without surgery and the flexor origin inflammation does respond to conservative rx such as non-steroidal medication and therapy. When the flexor tendon origin inflammation doesn't respond to treatment, it can be explored surgically and the inflammed tissue excised and reinforced. This isn't an arthroscopic procedure as it's outside of the joint and near another important anatomic structure, the ulnar nerve (but that's another topic). http://www.eorthopod.com/images/ContentImages/elbow/elbow_medial_epicon…

Actually the perception of Drew is that unless he's up for a contract he likes to take a lot of games off when he's not seriously hurt. ======== So he's Manny-lite with some defensive upside.

$10M a year is highish...but if Raul Ibanez is worth $10.5M a year then I guess Milton Bradley is worth $10M a year. If the Cubs played in the American League, that is. Aside from giving a job to a guy that's played a grand total of 23 games in RF in the last two years, the three-year term surprises me even more. I could see a one or two-year deal with a vesting option based on games played or production. Instead I fear we have a multi-million dollar albatross--win or lose, I suspect that the Cubs will be paying the lion's share of Bradley's salary in 2011 while he suits up for another team. As my 8-yr old niece would say, "This can only end in tears."

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

We discussed this ad nauseum last year. Why to YOU care what the "retail" price is? Were you one of the ones complaining that Mark DeRosa was given too many years, and too much? Did that bother you? It is a "dice roll" at market rates where there are very limited resources for the type of model Hendry purchased. What don't you understand about this? And, once more, if the deal is what Levine states - that I quoted above - it is essentially a TWO year deal that vests if his health holds up during this period.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I wouldnt care about retail price if I were a Yankee's fan. I do care when we dish out sticker price on every guy we get. Then Hendry cries poor when a Peavy/Brian Roberts deal comes along. And ask yourself if DeRosa gets dumped and Woody isn't even offered arbitration if Hendry hadn't of overspent on evey damn free agent he gets? Every contract, and financial move this organization makes has a relation to the next move. Bottom line is that I am a Cubs fan. I want to see them win a WS. But I also want them to be good for the long haul. And until they get smarter with ALL their moves. And get around to stocking the ML system. I just don't think they will get there. Especially now that Cincy has a competent GM. Huntington seems to get it in Pittsburgh. Milwaukee has shown they can develop guys. And St. Louis has a new ballpark.

[ ]

In reply to by DC Tom

Aside from giving a job to a guy that's played a grand total of 23 games in RF in the last two years, the three-year term surprises me even more. I could see a one or two-year deal with a vesting option based on games played or production. It has been reported numerous times and in numerous places, including on this blog, that the contract's third year is some kind of vesting option based on games played or something very similar.

Dodgers, Nats and Mets are in line ahead of us, and actually have money to spend. If the Cubs are now in the market for "live arms", I suspect that this translates into "young and cheap".

I hope like hell I'm wrong, but I think this was a shitty deal. You guys are fighting an awful lot about the specifics, but there are two facts over Bradley's career: 1) He's been in the media, relatively often, almost always negatively; and 2) He's missed A LOT of time with injury. Yes, if you want a third it's he's a helluva hitter when healthy (I'm scared by how much he DH'd last year myself). This isn't the chance you take to put the team "over"; it smells more like a GM who's purse strings are now tight and has run fresh out of ideas. I said it before and I'll say it again. Abreu = out of our price range. Dunn, however, is also a sure thing, maybe not as good, but you can pretty much bet on what his season line will look like, and I'll take a nigh guaranteed 40 HRs and shitty defense right now.

Well,your book is not Lous who really wanted a lh bat.Burell is a rh lf, most people on this board are not. Dunn Supporters (you have seen him tried to catch, right?), and we don't know what Abreau wanted to sign. I will prbably pick burell for my fantasy team Though.

yeah heart attack and apparently had been dead for days before they found him. I suppose it's rather amazing that any members of the Stooges made it to 60, can't say the same for 40% of their MC5 Detroit brethren.

Bradley is the best option for RF for the Cubs. I think lineup is set for opening day with that signing. Starting Pitching: maybe the best option is to do nothing at this time. Peavy is a great option but if you can part with some of the Indiana pitchers Cubs just acquired and maybe Cedeno and Pie. That trade would work now that Cubs have less cash committment due to Marquis trade. OR use Marshall..which may be the best option. Relievers: This area is the biggest ? mark in my opinion. does anyone know if the current bullpen as it now sits, is any good???

The best option for RF is the guy who had a career year mostly DH'ing, who hasn't show he can stay healthy for a full OF season since 2004, and has a career full of altercations on and off the field. Bobby Abreu?

Hoffpauir in RF. Please take a close look at that. He is a 1B, who if he HAD to, could play a little LF. He played 580 games at 1B, 70 in the OF. You more than likely wouldn't want to throw this player into RF at Wrigley...or anywhere else.

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).