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

Lazy Link Thursday

Comments

didn't realize it was subscription at first and I'll put out the full top 20 with another Prospect listmania post once BA's comes out... 11. Esmailian Caridad 12. Brandon Guyer 13. Marcos Mateo 14. Jovan Rosa 15. James Russell 16. Dan McDaniel 17. Chris Carpenter 18. Aaron Shafer 19. Ryan Acosta 20. Matt Cerda

I watched your clip Rob and my only question is why is the Devil the only one with a Chicago accent?

Looking at the ACTA thing, I'm not a huge stat-y kinda guy, but is it really legit to think that Fonty is going to post a better OPS than DeRo this year? Does that projection somehow take into account platoons or something?? I do think Fontenot is slick, scrappy, etc, and depending on the spring I like the idea of him starting at 2B over Miles; I hadn't seen anything projecting him to hit better than DeRosa this year though.

[ ]

In reply to by Tony S.

DeRosa is going to a stronger league, better pitching. So it's possible. Also, unless Martinez and Hafner return to form, the Cleveland lineup doesn't have a lot of pop, especially in the traditional HR spots. If Fontenot bats 2nd as expected his numbers might suffer a little if he tries to just make contact. With little OBP ahead of him, that may not be the case. Playing Fontenot in place of DeRosa will also make the opposition go to the pen later in the game. Last year, they could put the right hand setup guy out there for 5 or 6 consecutive batters. Facing a L-R-R-L-R will change that strategy.

Most people don't know they have a Chicago accent until they aren't in the Chicagoland area. I remember being in Cali when I was much younger, and this kid who sounded just like Spicoli was like, "whoa, you totally have an accent, dude!" And i was like, "no shit, so do you, dude!" It was weird the first time, but isn't it always?!? ;) FWIW, i'm starting to like the way this team is shaping up. I'd love to see Peavy, of course, but i think anyone would trade DeRo and Marquis for Bradley, Vizcaino, and Fontenot (yes, i know he was already on our team, but you get the idea), especially with dumping Grand Marquis' salary...

I suppose Baldelli just wanted to play in Boston, but $500K deal with $1.75M in incentives...seems cheap.

The off season is a push $$ wise, with Vizcaino/Bradley equaling Marquis/DeRosa. Except that it seems the Cubs are going to try to go get a pitcher to fill the 5th spot, or go get Jake Peavy to fill the hole in the rotation. This will cost $$. It's a huge upgrade if it's Peavy, not so much if it's Braden Looper. By the way, great chat on ESPN.com about Andre Dawson, HOF worthy or not. Bsically, I wonder what in the hell is wrong with Keith Law(other chat mentioned Dawson as #1 of the players he wouldn't vote for), and many other baseball fans if they can't see past the OBP thing. OBP is a valuable stat, but it is not the only statistic to measure how good a player was.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

It seems like the pendulum is swinging too far towards the stat guys now. There has to be a happy medium. Law hates that Dawson "made too many outs", but that takes the numbers out of context. It's like when Canseco went 40/40, and Willie Mays said "I could have done that, but that's not the game we played", and was called a cry baby. I remember Dawson as a dangerous hitter with the Expos and Cubs, a guy no pitcher wanted to face. That has to factor into it as well, I'd think.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

You misunderstood what Law was saying. He was saying of all the players he wouldn't vote for, Dawson was the best and closest to HOF material. OBP isn't the only stat to measure how valuable a player is, but it happens to be the most important. If you're making outs at a significantly higher rate than your peers, which Dawson did, then it's pretty difficult to argue you're among the best players of that generation.

[ ]

In reply to by Raven1908

Andre Dawson's OBP was about average for the time he was playing. To compare his OBP to today's standards is unfair, especially when you consider that OBP was not stressed the way it is now and was not a part of Dawson's game that was stressed. In the past, the BBWAA have voted in guys like Brooks Robinson, Ozzie Smith, and others who were defensive specialists. To do this, the writers had to ignore the offensive part of their game. To not vote for Dawson simply because of his average OBP is wrong. Dawson was ROY, league MVP, eight-time gold glove winner, and one of the most feared hitters and respected players of his generation. Anyone who doesn't vote for him may understand sabremetrics, but doesn't understand baseball.

[ ]

In reply to by Little Nate Lewis

Rickett's who lived above what is now the Sports Corner and met his wife in the Bleachers. He is the 40-ish old son of the old man - and PResident of TD Ameritrade Omaha (also the home of Creighton University - where a certain GM was the coach)

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-Man - bad news for you, that I just found out myself as I drove past Addison and Sheffield the other day: The Sports Corner has been completely leveled. Not that it was that great of a bar, but it was a fun place to sit outside on gameday.

bradley press conference at 3:30 CST today...be nice if someone would give out the final details on the contract.

on cubs.com front page they have a little ad for MLB.com job openings... if you select Cubs they have 3 openings...

pitch f/x operator, stats stringer or sports reporter (is Muskat leaving?)

the first two would be sweet P/T jobs for a college kid...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

The operator and stringer jobs are always posted each year at Monster.com for all MLB teams. it's part time and you aren't expected to be at each game. You get scheduled when you can. Funny thing is that I've applied every year and still have yet to get a call.

[ ]

In reply to by 10man

yeah...things are getting out of hand when people get so worked up they're calling other people not gay. chill out, dude. it's just a message board. whatever chad did to piss you off it's just not worth it to trash his good mullety name.

I view the Cubs ownership change with a degree of fear and apprehension - the Trib gets much maligned but I remember the PK Wrigley years. We might get someone who shoots most of his money on the purchase price of the club and then runs the Cubs like a small market team. I like what Dewan has to say about Fontenot, he gives us more lefty at bats and a better on base percentage when he plays regularly.

[ ]

In reply to by mastrick

It wasn't that long ago that Andy McFail did run the Cubs like a small market team. However the lost revenue from a half-capacity August/September 2006 caused him to get canned. Since then the Trib powers have opened the purse strings to an acceptable level.

I'd like to ask our Resident Doc, what kinds of tests may be performed by the Cubs physicians tests, in evaluating MB? Would there be usual range of motion stuff that is measured, would you think? Knee strength? Do they make the athlete do performance stuff and movement that one might expect on the field? I mean, a player, if they wanted to, could hide pain and the doc's not gonna know anything's wrong - correct? Just curious.

Ok...Dawson's OBP was low. Is that the only reason that he should be kept out then? That's the only reason I have seen on the chats, debates, etc this week. 8 time all star, 8 gold gloves, 1 MVP, 2 runners up. 2774 hits, 503 doubles, 438 HR's, 1591 RBI, 314 steals. He is one of 3 players ever to have 400 HR's and 300 steals, the other two are Barry Bonds and Willie Mays. Also, he played the prime of his career in Montreal, not exactley a hitters' haven.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

It is obvious he is not alone in this, but in every crucial AB in the 1989 NLCS, he failed, hitting .105 in the 5-gamer. I felt really, really bad for him at the time watching him K, and look over-matched at the plate. That year was not good for the Hawk as he only hit .252 with 21 HR's. He missed nearly a month with injuries. Had he been on his game, the Cubs might have had a much better chance with Gracie hitting over .600 in the NLCS (nearly matching Will Clark)

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

A ;ot of the '89 Cubs had a good series. Walton, Sandberg and Grace were on base over and over when Dawson came up. If memory serves, Dunston also hit well that series. The big problem was, Zimmer refused to either move Dawson down in the order or remove him from the lineup completely. Ugh. 20 years ago already and it still pisses me off.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Dawson had a bad 89 playoff, and a sub par 89, because he was basically playing on one leg. His bad knee could take hardly any weight at all. Not his fault Zim kept batting him in the same spot instead of dropping him to 5 batting Ryno 4. I remember distinctly one at bat, late in a game (last game I believe, when it was still tied), Dawson came up with the bags loaded and hit into a DP, 1-2-3 I think. Grace said years later that he was amazed Dawson could even walk to the plate, his knee was swelling around the brace he wore. I recall he could hardly move out of the box on the weak ground ball he hit off the front foot. So don't fault him for non-performance at all that year.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

The OBP is the primary reason. Then again, that's sort of like saying the primary reason you won't invest in a company is because they're losing a ton of money. It's a pretty important reason. I think Joe Posnanski sums up my feelings on Dawson's case better than I ever could (half way down on the link below). http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/01/07/trapped-by-numbers/#more-1441 He's a player that was very good at a lot of things, but has that one enourmous glaring weakness. Makes for an interesting case either way and as a Cubs fan that became a baseball nut in 1987, he's a player I'd be happy to see make it in (even if his MVP was one of the worst MVP choices ever).

[ ]

In reply to by Raven1908

He's the reverse Ron Santo argument. Cubs fans want to have their cake and eat it too, with these two guys.

Funny thing about Andy McPhail....he kinda sucks as the guy running a ML baseball team. As soon as he is gone the Cubs suddenly start acting like a big market team and getting the best talent on the market. 2006 Andy leaves and then suddenly the Cubs are players on the free agent market. Alfonso Soriano becomes the biggest free agent pickup of the last 20-30 years. We add Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, Mark DeRosa and Cliff Floyd. Next off-season we get the highly coveted Japanese import in Fukudome. This season we get what could be the best bat on the market in Milton Bradley. Suddenly the Cubs aren't cheapskates like under Andy. Then you look over at Baltimore and its a bunch of failed Cubs players since he took over. From Corey Patterson, to Steve Trachsel, to Freddie Bynum and Latroy Hawkins. His big free agent move this year? Cesar Izturis! It's patchwork baseball which Andy is good at. Or what I like to call "What was in the other hand?" style of making the public believe he was serious about putting the best product on the field. Like adding Greg Maddux when what we really needed was a big time bat in a free agent market full of big time bats. Everyone got distracted that it was the Greg Maddux homecoming, falalalala. Made everyone forget the offense was dogshit. They struck out too much, didn't walk enough and were piss poor with RISP. Then the next year it was the big "Addition by Subtraction" tagline. Hey we lost Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou, who together put up 74 HR's and 186 RBI's, who were replace with Jeromy Burnitz and Todd Hollandsworth! And Neifi Perez managed to turn his 62 AB .371 average in 2004 into a 572 AB, .274 BA, .298 OBP year of hell at SS. Got paid pretty nice for it as well. He won a couple WS with Terry Ryans talent and based a whole career off it. Hasn't done jack squat since building a winner anywhere. In fact he is doing what he did when he was with the Cubs. He liked to go out and get Minnesota players. Now he goes out and gets ex-Cub players. His scouting department was a joke, his talent evaluation a crime, his abiltity to get free agents non-existent. Just a horrible horrible person you want running your team.

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

I don't think there were any Ryan players on that '87 team and probably two on the '91 team. Not sure how that becomes winning on 'Ryans' talent. Then it took Ryan 7 years to build a winner in MN. Not that I like McPhail, just some points of fact.

MIKE C: Agree 100% on this. What a blue-blood company guy, who ran the team as if it was the Royals. It makes me furious just thinking about how the guy set the franchise back during his watch. Dick.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Approved Mike and E-Man, 2004 was a golden opportunity. But McFail used the ole "We have Alex Gonzalez. Why would we sign a below market contract for a former MVP shortstop in the midst of his prime?" Then he went and got Maddux to be the 5/6th starter. So that the marketing dept could do it's job. Tragedy.

did sign Todd Hundley... (ducks)

don't think Maddux distracted anybody from the offense considering he was signed a few days before spring training that year. And the offense had plenty of "big bats", led the league in HR's that year and added Lee, Walker, Barrett and eventually Nomar....

not that it was a well-designed offense or anything

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Also that offseason: Sold #5 Starter Juan Cruz for .08 cents on the dollar, then realized he needed a #5 starter. Enter Maddux I still contend that signing Tejada would have at least equated to a playoff run. Who knows how far it would have went.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Hendry was the GM, right? and cruz was traded after they signed Maddux.

I buy that McPhail probably had the purse strings pretty tight and wasn't interested in signing large multi-year FA's like Tejada or Vlad. But trading Cruz had nothing to do with money...and if you're to believe some of the comments around here (George Altman?), it was Cruz's personality that got him traded.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I didn't say because of money he got traded. My point was more that instead of filling the huge glaring hole at shortstop that everyone knew was there. Instead they sign a marketing ploy in Maddux, then traded away a guy who could have done Maddux's job for MLB minimum money. It would be like Hendry trading Jason Marquis for Barry Zito, then not getting Milton Bradley because they don't have the money.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

equating Maddux's 2004 to what Juan Cruz might have done despite any evidence that he has done anything like that is bullshit...no offense.

3 months of Alex Gonzalez didn't cost the Cubs the playoffs by any stretch of the imagination...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Miguel Tejada over Alex Gonzalez wouldn't have been with 2 games? Maddux was a 10 Million dollar #5 starter. It would have probably been the right play in 1993 to get Maddux. By 2004 we had other needs. Most blatantly was SS The fact that they pulled an injured Nomar out of their Hat's on August 1st doesn't negate the facts. McFail and his penny pinching ways cost the cubs their best shot at a WS in my lifetime.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

to correct myself, it was 4 months of alex gonzalez and I'm sure Tejada was worth more than 2 wins in that time.

Of course, there's a big dropoff on the other end of not having Maddux, who ended up our #2 starter vs Cruz and whatever other starters would have filled that role and not been available to fill-in for Wood and Prior that year.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I wasn't trying to argue or anything Rob. It's just that because of the mistakes made back then. We have kind of painted ourselves into a corner now. Hendry has obviously hit more than he has missed on Free Agents since 2006. Yet his backloading of all these deals has sort of come to roost. The SS and RF holes have been here for 5 years now. Hopefully Milton Bradley stays healthy and beats the odds. But it seems like Déjà vu all over again with Fukudome last offseason. I'm starting to think that Jim Hendry just isn't the guy for the job. A nice guy who could maybe be a VP type? He just isn't a very good evaluator of talent. And he seems nice to a fault.(Not offering arbitration, overpaying for absolutely everyone he gets)

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

The Cubs, frankly speaking, are still not run as a complete baseball organization. They are piled high at the top with moneyed veterans, some good, some bad. They have a below average farm system. Around 2011 that will collapse. IMHO, the worst move that was made in the many many years I've been a fan was Dallas Green getting fired. His system was producing by '86, and he had real baseball people in place running the big league club. He had his faults, like not being terribly respectful of his pitchers, but I would have taken my chances. Jim Hendry has experienced a lot of success; if you believe like I do that it is the general manager's job to build a roster that will reach the post season, and the rest is up to the manager and players, he's been a success. But the farm system fell apart until Wilken came aboard, and even his drafts are years away from being judged.

[ ]

In reply to by OakLawnGuy

i think Dallas Green quit after being frustrated with the Trib's meddling...

I also think people have unreal expectations and cannot judge the team they cheer for objectively. This below average farm system keeps producing players for the team and for trades.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Not meaning to quibble, but the day Green was fired was the day he was to name John Vukovich manager. He was called upstairs by Don Grenesko, who ran the show back then and ran the team on a shoestring in much the same way that MacPhail would do a few years later. There was some sort of disagreement, and Green said he would just move down and manage the club himself. Grenesko said, basically, never mind, you're gone. Next thing we know, Jim Frey is stepping out of the booth and into the GM spot. Heard Dallas explain this on a Cub postgame last season.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

There was a story that Green was at meeting with Trib when the whole starting rotation went on DL in 85. And as he was expressing the seriousness of the situation and the need for players the board was too busy patting themselves on the back because at the last home stand they sold a record amount of hot dogs.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Alex Gonzalez's 2003 WARP 3, 5.7 was better than Theriot's (5.6) last year, speaking of glaring holes.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

Interesting comparison of the corner outfielders over at BP - hope this formats reasonably well: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8403 Age PA AVG OBP SLG EqA WARP +/- UZR Abreu 35 684 .296 .371 .471 .291 5.2 -24 -25.9 Burrell 32 645 .250 .367 .507 .295 5.2 -20 -10.8 Bradley 31 509 .321 .436 .563 .339 7.0 + 3 1.2 Dunn 29 651 .236 .386 .513 .300 6.3 -23* -20.0 Ibanez 37 707 .293 .358 .479 .295 7.4 -18 -12.6 Ramirez 37 654 .302 .430 .601 .344 9.8 -13 -4.8 *outfield only (Thanks to Rick Lopez and Ben Lindbergh for their assistance in researching the data. +/- is courtesy of Bill James Online. UZR, courtesy of Fangraphs.) The point of note is that Bradley is the only one who fielded worth a damn in 2008, judged by +/- or UZR (probably FRAA too).

"Remember him comparing Baldelli to Dimaggio a few years back?" Of course that was pure hype, but until his unfortunate medical condition manifested itself last year, he could have had a hell of a career - even HOF worthy.

[ ]

In reply to by Dmac

I think the medical condition manifested itself in his second year, a bad case of Bradley-Prior syndrome. The other condition is supposed to be under control for spring training now that it's properly diagnosed. Based on his Rookie year, you could see a possible HoF'er, but since then I think he's fallen well short of that trajection.

Again, and no one has refuted the other parts of his game. Dawson's OBP was mediocre...but thats it!!!! Every other part of his game was above average.... Please look at all the numbers, not just OBP?? Speed, power, defense. He had it all. To overlook all his accomplishments because of OBP, is ridiculous. Please explain why his other accomplishments don't make up for that? He compares very favorably to many other HOF players, except for that stat.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Putting aside the fact that he compares favorably to other HOFers, since there are more than a handful who aren't that good, I couldn't agree more. Dawson was a guy who produced offensively, who worried opposing pitchers, who saved his own pitchers a lot of grief at the plate and on the field, and was a true leader. Like I said earlier, stats are getting a little too much attention these days. In Keith Law's case, he has stated that OBA is the most important stat in baseball. He's got a strong point, but I don't agree that it's the end-all and be-all. In the context of The Hawk's era (which irritated someone earlier in this thread), Andre Dawson was consistently one of the 8 or 9 best outfielders in the major leagues for a solid 10 years or so. If that's a measure for the Hall of Fame, and I think it is, he belongs. As does Ron Santo.

Our minor league SS Hope? I don't know how many of you saw Darwin Barney in the CWS fro Oregon State (apparently not Dr. Aaron B), but he may be the post-Cedeno hope coming out of the farm. He has a very nice all-around game - scrappy, but a cut above Theriot. Had a nice AFL - best among the Cubs IF attendees: Darwin Barney .342 20 73 25 14 0 10 .364 .425 AZ Phil will perhaps start seeing more of him in the next year or two. I'll be looking forward to his reports, as always.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

What I've read about Barney is that his lack of range may prohibit him from playing big league SS, but that there's no doubt he can hit. He's got plenty of time to work on the fielding though. Cubs like this 2B Tony Thomas too. I've read that his fielding is a little suspect and his Ks too high but he can run and hit for power.

we already have Darwin barney's brother playing ss. Best hope is he can develop a little pop and at least be godenot 2.0

"Quote: "He loves nothing more than a good sweat," said longtime friend and fellow South African Eric Joss. Klaff often invited Joss to sit courtside at Chicago Bulls games during Michael Jordan era. - I know Eric Joss well...maybe he can get me some tickets if Klaff gets the team.

[ ]

In reply to by blockhead25

I'm not too keen on this guy either... WTF would a South African Jew who loves soccer and contemporary art want to do with the Cubs? He buys distressed buildings and resells... Doesn't sound like a guy who wants to spend big market cheese...

[ ]

In reply to by Doug Dascenzo

I think he's implying that he won't be able to meddle on Saturdays, which is an important day for owners to meddle. And, I think I speak for all Cubs fans when I say that I absolutely do not want an owner who likes contemporary art.

The most anxious moment of this winter has been waiting to find out what if anything triggers a third-year option for Bradley.

i was simply stating all things the Trib mentions about the guy... not once does it mention: he attends Cubs games or is a Cubs fan; he came to America and fell in love with baseball blah blah blah; he's from/lives/eats/sleeps/shits/meets wife in bleachers, in love with the Chicago Cubs... like they did for Ricketts and Utay. Instead they mention he loves soccer and art... and buys floundering old KMarts and Montgomery Wards... fuck this guy... at least i can count on Ricketts and Utay to at least know the pressure to win here...

I had a thought and felt the need to post it on the internet: CF Joey Gathright 3B Aaron Miles 1B Derrek Lee RF Kosuke Fukudome LF Reed Johnson 2B Mike Fontenot SS Ryan Theriot C Paul Bako P Sean Marshall Might we see this late next September? 'Cause that is scrap.

1. Josh Vitters 2. Jeff Samardzija 3. Andrew Cashner 4. Wellington Castillo 5. Jay Jackson 6. Ryan Flaherty 7. Mitch Atkins 8. Tyler Colvin 9. Kevin Hart 10. Micah Hoffpauir Posted 12/22/08

Bradley press conference highlights (to me): "All I want to do is win. The Cubs have been on my radar for a while now and that reason being, the history, you know - of falling short... I give it my all. When I go home, I'm physically and mentally exhausted, because I gave everything I had that day for my teammates to try to win that ballgame. And there's a lot of guys who make a lot more money...that don't really care, just keep collecting their check, but if I didn't get a check I'd still go out there and play just as hard... I don't feel like everybody is against me anymore. I mean, I really felt like that in the past. That I had to watch my back about everyone and everything, but...you gotta just learn to trust somebody at some point...[being around good guys in Oakland and Texas] I felt that love. You know what, anybody, all they wanna do is just be loved...I felt like I finally fit and um, you know getting elected to the all star team by the players, you know was just a complete honor and I think all of that changed me... I haven't met a person that didn't like the Cubs...It's a tremendous honor to be here." I'm sold.

After hearing the tape of the press conference, Bradley seems to think carefully before speaking, and had some well spoken moments. I will be sold after he stays healthy enough to play 120-140 games in RF.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Bradley struck me as a guy who's going to say what's on his mind, and look you in the eye doing it. Wonder if that will show next time Ramirez or Soriano admire a 350 foot "homer"? Now THAT would help the club!

Rob, thanks for the Des Plaines clip. I grew up at 5 corners and everybody knows you just take River Road to get there. People in Texas have an accent, unless they are from the Midwest. The Texas Rangers fill the stadium only when the Tigers are in town, and of course, in 2007 when Sammy hit his 600th against Jason Marquis. Speaking of the Rangers, they expect their offense to be down a good 30% since Bradley is gone. Keep him off the artificial stuff, Lou. And shed a few pounds so you can hurry and get in between M.B. and whoever (umps, fans, ball girls). Personally, I'm happy we got someone to light a fire. Mets and Phillies might be the only teams in the league to contend for the flag. 3rd times a charm, as they say... I'm raising my glass to Jim H.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s a fantastic deal for SF

  • 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?