Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

39 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (one slot is open), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL and one player has been DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT (DFA)   

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and eight players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, three players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-24-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Hector Neris 
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
* Matt Mervis
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Pete Crow-Armstrong 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 8 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2
* Cody Bellinger, OF  
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 3
Kyle Hendricks, P 
* Drew Smyly, P 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P

DFA: 1 
Garrett Cooper, 1B 
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

2024 Cubs Spring Training

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

3/25 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have optioned RHP Hayden Wesneski and OF Alexander Canario to AAA Iowa, C Joe Hudson has been assigned to Minor League Camp, and C Jorge Alfaro has elected free-agency (he had a contractual opt-out).  

So there are now 30 players ACTIVE at Cubs MLB Spring Training (28 on MLB Reserve List and two NRI). 


3/24 UPDATE: 

RHP Carl Edwards Jr and 1B Dominic Smith have elected free-agency (Edwards had an automatic Article XX-B opt-out, and D. Smith had a contractual opt-out). 


3/22 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have assigned LHP Edwin Escobar to Minor League Camp. 

So there are now 36 players ACTIVE at Cubs MLB Spring Training (30 on MLB Reserve List and 6 NRI). 


3/21 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have optioned RHP Daniel Palencia to AAA Iowa. 

Also, RHP Colten Brewer, LHP Richard Lovelady, LHP Thomas Pannone, and INF David Bote have been assigned to Minor League Camp.  

So there are now 37 players ACTIVE at Cubs MLB Spring Training (30 on MLB Reserve List and 7 NRI). 


3/17 UPDATE:

The Cubs have optioned RHP Keegan Thompson and 1B Matt Mervis to AAA Iowa. 

Also, RHP Cam Sanders, C-INF Bryce Windham, and INF Chase Strumpf have been assigned to Minor League Camp. 
 
So there are now 42 players ACTIVE at Cubs MLB Spring Training (31 on MLB Reserve List and 11 NRI). 


3/9 UPDATE: 

RHP Chris Clarke, RHP Sam McWilliams, and LHP Brad Wieck have been assigned to Minor League Camp.

So there are now 47 players ACTIVE at Cubs MLB Spring Training (33 on MLB Reserve List and 14 NRI). 


3/8 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have optioned RHP Ben Brown, OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF Brennen Davis, and INF Luis Vazquez to AAA Iowa, and OF Kevin Alcantara, RHP Michael Arias, and RHP Porter Hodge to AA Tennessee.  

Also, NRI RHP Ethan Roberts, RHP Riley Thompson, C Pablo Aliendo, 1B-C Haydn McGeary, INF Matt Shaw, and OF Owen Caissie have been assigned to Minor League Camp. 
 
So there are now 50 players ACTIVE at Cubs MLB SPRING TRAINING (33 on MLB Reserve List and 17 NRI)


3/1 UPDATE:

The Cubs have added 1B-OF Garrett Cooper (# 41) to their MLB Spring Training roster as a Non-Roster Invitee (NRI). 


2/27 UPDATE:

The Cubs have signed free agent OF-1B Cody Bellinger (# 24) to an MLB contract, and the Cubs have traded LHP Bailey Horn (# 92) to the Chicago White Sox. Also, the Cubs have added OF David Peralta (# 6)  and 1B-OF Dominic Smith (# 12) to their MLB Spring Training roster as Non-Roster Invitees (NRI).


2/23 UPDATE:

The Cubs have added minor league C-1B Haydn McGeary (# 70) as an NRI to MLB Spring Training. He is catching "live" BP and bullpen sides.

Also, Miguel Amaya has switched from # 6 to # 9 (presumably so that David Peralta can wear # 6) and Carl Edwards Jr has switched from # 79 to # 58.


2024 CUBS SPRING TRAINING ROSTER: (last updated 3/25)

30 players

28 players on MLB roster
two players are Non-Roster Invitee - NRI

* bats or throws left
# bats both

MLB ROSTER PITCHERS: 15
25 Yency Almonte
73 Adbert Alzolay
72 Javier Assad
74 Jose Cuas
28 Kyle Hendricks
18 Shoto Imanaga *
45 Caleb Kilian
38 Mark Leiter Jr
43 Luke Little *
66 Julian Merryweather
51 Hector Neris
11 Drew Smyly *
35 Justin Steele *
50 James Taillon
36 Jordan Wicks *

MLB CATCHERS: 2
9 Miguel Amaya
15 Yan Gomes

MLB INFIELDERS: 7
29 Michael Busch *
2 Nico Hoerner
1 Nick Madrigal
20 Miles Mastrobuoni *
5 Christopher Morel
7 Dansby Swanson
16 Patrick Wisdom

NON-ROSTER INFIELDERS: 1
41 Garrett Cooper

MLB OUTFIELDERS: 4
24 Cody Bellinger *
8 Ian Happ #
27 Seiya Suzuki
40 Mike Tauchman * 

NON-ROSTER OUTFIELDERS: 1
6 David Peralta * 

MANAGER 
30 Craig Counsell

COACHES
96 James Adduci (Assistant Hitting Coach - Game Planning)
63 Juan Cabreja (Assistant Hitting Coach - BP Coordinator)
84 Ryan Flaherty (Bench Coach)
33 Willie Harris (3rd base coach)
79 Darren Holmes (Bullpen Coach)
68 Tommy Hottovy (Pitching Coach)
99 Danny Hultzen (Pitching Strategist)
76 Dustin Kelly (Hitting Coach)
80 John Mallee (Assistant Hitting Coach)
90 Jonathan Mota (Assistant Bullpen Coach)
53 Daniel Moskos (Assistant Pitching Coach)
55 Mike Napoli (1st Base Coach)
97 Alex Smith (Data Development & Process Coach)
81 Mark Strittmatter (MLB Field Coordinator)

OTHER:
85 Garrett Lloyd (Bullpen Catcher)

NUMBERS NOT CURRENTLY ISSUED: (as of 2/29)
3 (last worn by David Ross)
17 (last worn by Kris Bryant)
34 (last worn by John Lester)
37 (last worn by Dom Nunez - ST 2023)
44 (last worn by Anthony Rizzo)
47 (last worn by Brandon Hughes)
56 (last worn by Jeremiah Estrada)
59 (last worn by Michael Rucker)
60 (last worn by Sergio Alcantara - ST 2023)
61 (last worn by Brailyn Marquez - ST 2023)
64 (last worn by Jordan Holloway - ST 2023)
65 (last worn by Tyler Duffey)
69 (Cubs do not issue this number)
92 (last worn by Bailey Horn prior to being traded on 2/27)


RETIRED NUMBERS:
10 Ron Santo
14 Ernie Banks
23 Ryne Sandberg
26 Billy Williams
31 Ferguson Jenkins & Greg Maddux
42 Jackie Robinson

Comments

Submitted by Childersb3 on Sat, 03/09/2024 - 03:05 pm

JD Davis

JD Martinez

BBelt

JMontgomery

BSnell

All available on March 9th

Can't see Jed trying to add either of the JDs or Belt with Wisdom, Cooper and Smith already in camp (Peralta too but obviously hasn't played this ST, yet). Cooper seems to be the main RH'ed 1B/DH competition for Wisdom.

And both Snell and JMont will cost so much Jed would have to enter the tax before OD or move some guys like Smyly, Wisdom & Madrigal (Hendricks is probably safe w/Taillon being slow here this ST) to make room for one of those two guys.

 But a trade from the Smyly, Wisdom, and Madrigal group (+ prospects) could add a SP.

I still believe Bieber is an option.

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 03/09/2024 - 03:08 pm

taillon "lower back tightness"

from theathletic....

"“Just locked up on him about 10 pitches into the mound portion of the warmup,” Counsell said. “Hope to know more tomorrow, see what happens overnight.”

Counsell said the hope is it’s just a spasm and quickly goes away, that nothing like this had bothered Taillon previously this spring and there were no plans for imaging on his back at this time."

Submitted by Bill on Sat, 03/09/2024 - 03:32 pm

On the whole, the Cubs relievers have mostly looked good this spring.  They might have a tough time finding a place for any of the NRI free agents like Edwards or Panone.  Those with options, such as Palencia or Sanders are almost certain to go out to start the season.

[ ]

Submitted by TarzanJoeWallis on Mon, 03/11/2024 - 03:15 am

I think a piggy back for two rotation slots makes sense at least until Taillon makes it back. I would think you would want to make it righty/lefty and include Smyly, Wicks, Assad, and who?

The name most often tossed around is Wesneski but he has had his opportunities. I personally wouldn’t mind, at least initially, trying out Ben Brown as the other right handed piece in the piggyback system.

Thoughts?

[ ]

Submitted by Bill on Mon, 03/11/2024 - 03:44 am

Brown would probably be better at the job right now, but I would prefer to leave him in the minors for a while, for a couple of reasons.

First, I believe that most prospects are brought up much too early, to the detriment of both the prospect and the team.  I don't subscribe to the idea that a prospect can have "nothing to learn" at any level, especially AAA.  No prospect is perfect, and the minors is the place to work in his weak areas. The vast majority of them have a poor to terrible first year, because they were brought up before they were ready.  Not only does this hurt the team that year, but it wastes one year of club control, which is very expensive.

Second, I believe that confidence has a great effect on some, if not many players.  Bringing a prospect up when he is not ready is placing him in a position that he is likely to fail.  When this happens, some never recover their confidence, and their performance even declines back in AAA, where they have had success previously.

I think this especially applies to those with super talent, but only average or above average success in the minors.  An example would be Alcantara, who is universally considered to have outstanding talent.  Yet he has hit between 250 and 270 since coming to the Cubs.  I would hate to see him brought up if he is performing at the same level in Iowa.  Very few players hit better in the majors than in the minors.

I would place Brown in the same category.  He has great stuff, and has flashed great at times in the minors, but his overall performance has been hurt by his lack of consistent command.  If he were to be brought up now and used in relief, that lack of consistent command could be covered up by using him in short stints, but over the long run, his value is much greater as a starter than as a reliever, and the value of his years of club control are largely wasted as a reliever.

It would perhaps be different if it weren't for the fact that right now, the Cubs system is flush with potential relievers.  Sanders, Franklin, Bigge and half a dozen more seem to have as much value as a reliever as Brown.  I would rather go with one of them, than with Brown, at this point.

By the way, your comment about Wesneski illustrates my point.  Yes, Wesneski has had some opportunities.  But he was brought up at a time when he was a killer against righties, but was very weak against lefties.  That was placing him in a position where he was likely to fail, because major league hitters will very quickly find that weakness.  If you look at his career, it was very similar to that of Alzolay.  Tremendous success against righties, and weakness against lefties was good enough to get him to the majors, but he was not successful in the majors until he finally developed a pitch to overcome his weakness.  He did it in the majors, but it took him several wasted years, and now that he appears on the path to become one of the better closers in baseball, he only has a couple of years of club control left.

Every prospect is different, and some players are brought up to the majors with major weaknesses and go on to have great careers.  But I would rather play the odds and wait until he has learned as much as possible in the minors.

Just my opinion.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 03/11/2024 - 03:06 am

I mentioned this here a couple of months ago after the Cubs signed Shota Imanaga, and I am NOT advocating this, but if the Cubs want to ease Imanaga into MLB by having him start only once a week (let's say every Sunday), it would require a modified six man rotation where a 6th starter would be used only when necessary. 

So at least two (or more-likely three) pitchers beyond the five-man rotation would have to be "bulk / multi-innings" guys capable of going at least once through the order and piggy-backing with another bulk innings guy when a # 6 starter is needed.

Once Taillon is back, the basic rotation would likely be Steele, Hendricks, Taillon, Wicks, and Imanaga (Sundays only), with Smyly, Assad, and Wesneski stretched out to be used as bulk / multi-inning guys and be available to be used for multiple innings in relief as well as piggy-back (basically able to go at least once through the order) in some combination in the # 6 SP slot (but used as a SP / PIGGY only when needed). 

The other five pitchers on the staff would be the one-inning bullpen guys, probably Alzolay, Neris, Merryweather, Leiter, and Cuas.  

This is sort of how the Tampa Bay Rays set-up their MLB pitching staff, with starting pitchers (SP), one-inning relievers (RP), and multi-inning / bulk guys (BP) who are used for both multiple innings out of the pen and as an opener / piggybacker (when needed). 

The other way to do it would be to have six dedicated SP, two dedicated multi-inning / bulk bullpen guys who are not used as openers or piggy-backers, and five one-inning relievers. 

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 03/11/2024 - 03:41 pm

jd davis made it through waivers unclaimed/untraded and was released...for those who care

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 03/11/2024 - 03:10 pm

STL has been giving former cub, jared young, a lot of ABs this spring as well as time in the OF.  they blew most of their off-season loot on 3 SP's (sonny gray, lance lynn, and kyle gibson).

it's not going well...he's got a  .074/.194/.111 slash.

31 PA, 2 hits (single/double), 2 walks, 2 HBP.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/12/2024 - 03:48 pm

night game tonight, hope it's not a b-team lineup for no other reason than wanting to see a competitive night game for once this spring.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/12/2024 - 03:50 pm

march 12, 2024 and i am still not used to craig counsell wearing cubs gear in the cubs dugout.

i might need a few more months.

Submitted by azbobbop on Wed, 03/13/2024 - 03:39 pm

Just home from the game. PCA lost the ball in the sun today. Good news — Wesneski was very effective against multiple left hand batters today.


Phil…off topic question…on days the Cubs have a game on Mesa, what time are minor leaguers on the back fields? I want to bring my grandson to see how the sausage is made. TY

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 03/14/2024 - 03:05 pm

morel HBP on the foot. he stayed in the game. he also hugged the catcher afterwards because he does stuff like that.

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 03/14/2024 - 03:16 pm

bote with his 5th homer of the spring. maybe he'll get better if they send him to AA rather than AAA. meanwhile, madrigal hits singles sometimes.

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 03/15/2024 - 03:13 pm

every ARZ game on rain delay without starting...except SF/OAK...which went into delay with 2 outs in the top 1st after a lightning strike and all the power went out in the park.

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 03/17/2024 - 03:53 pm

AZ Phil: Now that Cam Sanders has been sent to AAA (certainly expected), can you give your projection for his 2024 season and what he needs to do to get an early call-up.  The others that are waiting in the wings including Keegan Thompson?  Little? Maybe Palencia? Obviously performance at Iowa will matter but I'm just interested in your expectations of this group.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 03/17/2024 - 03:55 pm

CUBSTER: I think the Cubs will probably have all four of their high-leverage relievers who will be at AAA (K. Thompson, Little, Palencia, and C. Sanders) and who will have season tickets to ride the Des Moines - Chicago shuttle take turns closing, so that they can all be ready to do that if & when they get called up to Chicago. 

BTW, Cam Sanders is one of several high profile Cubs minor leaguers who can be a Rule 9 minor league 6YFA post-2024 (K. Franklin, R. Thompson, Aliendo, Roederer, Slaughter, E. Nunez, Devers, and Pagan are the other most significant ones) most of whom will likely NOT sign a minor league successor contract for 2025 if not added to the 40 (most of them will want to go someplace where they can get a chance to, get to The Show), so the Cubs really need to make very accurate projection evaluations for those guys, and add the ones they absolutely don't want to lose to the 40 no later than the 5th day after the final game of the World Series (if not during the season).  

What is very interesting (and I can't recall ever seeing this before) is that the Cubs actually have many more potential minor league free-agents they will probably need to add to the 40 than Rule 5 Draft-eligible guys (there are really only two of those, Owen Caissie and BJ Murray). 

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 03/17/2024 - 03:05 pm

just noticed wyatt langford (TEX) is continuing his unreal start to his career into this spring.  hitting .385 with 5 homers...he's in the lineup vs the cubs today hitting cleanup.

dude might not spend much time in the minors this year...if he doesn't end up breaking with team out of spring.  not bad for a guy with 161 minor league ABs who went from rookie ball to AAA in a half-season after getting drafted last year.

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 03/17/2024 - 03:32 pm

reds lose tj friedl to a wrist fracture.  that's 2 major losses before the season begins.  noelvi marte got popped with a dirty PED test.

it's nice to get less competitive in the NL Central, but it sucks for a small(ish) market team like CIN to lose 2 big pieces when they're starting the strong part of their youth talent surge on the MLB level.

Submitted by TarzanJoeWallis on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 03:29 am

$1 mm per start is a great deal for SF? Not per win. Per start? Assuming he remains healthy?

I guess you’re referring to the fact that they weren’t roped into six or more years for a pitcher who outside of one outstanding season and one very flukey one has been basically league average, maybe a bit better. We shall see how much closer this deal brings SF to World Series champions.

There was a reason 30 teams passed on this guy and a long term contract. I firmly believe $62 mm will be spent by SF the next two years proving the point.

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 03:49 pm

You get the reigning cy young winner, who is in the meat of his prime, for two years. I get the flukiness. I wouldn’t have wanted him for 6, but taking 2 guarantee years of a guy who can do what he did last year? Absolutely worth taking a shot.

You’re looking at the dollar amount from a normal person perspective. $62 million isn’t nothing in baseball, but it’s certainly not an eye popping number, even over a short term. 

[ ]

Submitted by Sonicwind75 on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 03:20 pm

I agree with DJL. Given what Verlander, Scherzer and deGrom are getting paid it's a good deal for SF.  Snell is much younger and/or less an injury risk than that trio.

 

It's even less years and money than Zack Wheeler's $42 milion per year extension who is a couple of years older.   $1+ mil per start is going free agent rate for a top of the rotation free agent starter.  

 

Curious what was Boras' initial ask for his quartet of free agents. Would venture he cost his clients tens of millions this off season.  

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 03:07 pm

yeah, cody bellinger isn't worth 30m a year of production.  some would say he's not even worth 25m. 

gotta do something with that money that's saved because guys like justin steele and adbert alzolay are still in their cheap years.  getting a low-future-impact contract on a high-end talent is a great way to do something with the money.  both bellinger and snell might only be around to be a cost impact for 1 season.

bellinger and snell fills roles both teams need.  at least the cubs didn't have to give up a draft pick to fill their needed role.

[ ]

Submitted by TarzanJoeWallis on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 03:37 pm

Bellinger’s quite different. He HAS moved the needle in that he did satisfy a single, gaping hole in the lineup and several have now picked the Cubs as the favorite to take the Central. Additionally, his contract wisely contains opt outs, which means he’s motivated as it’s is in his best interest to perform so that he can ultimately induce a team like the Giants to cough up an even longer term and more expensive contract.

[ ]

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 03:52 pm

You’ve commented multiple times on the lack of motivation for players who make big money, and while I do think sometimes guys who get big deals decide they’re done trying, for the most part if those deals blow up it isn’t for lack of trying; it’s a reduction in ability. These guys don’t get to the big leagues without being hyper competitive. They don’t put themselves in position for big money without the desire to perform and compete. They want to win, and even a selfish player who doesn’t care about winning still wants to perform well if only to show other players up. To say nothing of the fact of being stuck in a place for like 8 years and being constantly hammered with “why are you bad?” and it’s nastier variations over and over and over. No one wants to get booed at their home stadium. No one wants local media calling them garbage. No one wants their teammates to think less of them. Money is not the only motivator for plenty of players.

[ ]

Submitted by TarzanJoeWallis on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 03:31 pm

DJL, not all athletes are created equal. I grew up with players like Bill Buckner, Pete Rose, Len Dykstra, Nolan Ryan. Guys who put their hearts and souls on the field every time they played. Some of those guys still are out there. Bryce Harper immediately comes to mind, and so does Christopher Morel - isn’t that why we all enjoy him so much?

On the other side of the coin, you have guys like Justin Heyward, who seemed to dogging it for years before being told “You’re of more value to our team is we pay top dollar to keep you off the team than if we play you.” And, lo and behold, he finds motivation and has his most productive season in years for another team. And Kris Bryant, for whom no injury is too minor for him to play through and no amount of rehab is ever too much, and who then goes out and bashes his team.

Through interviews, actions off the field, hustle while on the field, reputation for work ethic, etc, it’s not so hard to see which guys give max effort and which “phone it in.”

I mentioned Buster Douglas some time ago. Let’s look at another example. Ryan Leaf vs. Peyton Manning in their draft year, drafted one and two. When interviewed afterward about what comes next, Manning said, “Well, I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running, working hard, and watching lots of film. Leaf said “I’m going to Disneyworld!”. How did that turn out?

Read something about Nolan Arenado about how he partners in a vineyard when he’s not doing baseball. Is he all about being as competitive as he can be then?

So, no, not all athletes are hyper competitive when they reach these levels. Not even those who claim to be. Words, body language and actions speak volumes.

BTW, keep your eye on mega superstar Shohei Ohtani as he increasingly turns his attention toward Hollywood, endorsements, money and glamour. Mark me as the one guy predicting hugely disappointing performance in the near future for this guy. Baseball is hard and demands full attention, even from its superstars.

[ ]

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 03:05 pm

Of course not all players are built the same. But you’re the one making the generalization that all players stop being motivated when they make big money. I could pick and choose those too. Does Freddie Freeman look unmotivated? How about Acuna as he ran roughshod through the league last year?

Of those players you mentioned, only Buckner seemed like a well adjusted guy. Pete Rose is an asshole who bet on his own team. Nolan Ryan took everything as a slight and fist fought people. Dykstra was a roid abuser. They’re also of a generation of players that hadn’t had it hammered into their head baseball is a business the way modern players are.

Nolan Arenado, to me, seems like a raving hyper competitive lunatic. Odd example. Forced his way out of Colorado cause he hated losing and the front office not trying. Didn’t re-enter free agency and threw away an enormous contract to stay in an org that pretty clearly pushes to win.

[ ]

Submitted by TarzanJoeWallis on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 03:06 pm

Arenado WAS for sure hyper competitive at one point. I’m not so sure now. This year will say a lot about that. Depends in part  how distracted he is by his vineyard, I suppose. The Cardinals as a team have certainly become progressively less competitive since he’s been on board and I personally don’t see them doubling down on free agent pitching improving their lot significantly. They are an aging, uninspired team, most unlike Cardinals teams of the past, and Arenado is a part of that culture and will continue to be.

That said, yes, there are exceptions - some never lose that edge and generally they are inclined toward being hall of famers. They’re not common and not all are nice guys. But I thought the point is to win?

We have different perspectives is all. I see the majority of young talented guys swan dive immediately after they see the big money and based upon various cues see them as not putting in the effort or demonstrating the enthusiasm they did prior to the big paycheck. The list seems endless to me. That’s why I put my emphasis on building a system, having depth, always having guys competing for jobs and working hard because they know there’s another young stud breathing down their neck. And avoiding comfortable, never ending guaranteed salaries. The Tampa model. And the model Jed is building for the Cubs, amidst all the complaints of the Cubs being cheap.

By contrast most here seem to see high priced free agents as being largely worth the investment and integral in the path to team success. If they do decline, it’s attributable to age and injuries, not a loss of competitive edge, and that inevitability is acceptable as part of the deal. To each their own I suppose. 

[ ]

Submitted by TarzanJoeWallis on Wed, 03/20/2024 - 03:24 am

I sure didn’t see Heyward offering any kind of contract restructuring or concessions as a gesture to improve the team’s chances of winning during their competitive window. So I can’t think his conscience was weighing on him too badly. And, yes, other athletes have made that kind of sacrifice.

[ ]

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Wed, 03/20/2024 - 03:44 am

They don’t do that in baseball. If they do, it’s extremely rare. Football contracts aren’t fully guaranteed so it’s more common. NBA has a tougher salary cap and the game has moved toward wanting to play with your buddies and they’ll allow a restructure. Plus, the MLBPA is the strongest pro sports players Union, and I am sure they frown upon their members doing such things.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    azbobbop: Yes. 

  • Mike Wellman (view)

    I’ve got Tim’s The Last Out too, along with some other prints of his work.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Very well played game all around tonight.

  • crunch (view)

    best starter and 2 top hitters from the team gone...and they keep on winning.

    little ahead of myself here, but the RSox got 9 outs to find 6+ runs.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Richard Gallardo just left the Smokies game with an arm injury after going to the ground following a pitch. Doesn’t sound good at all.

  • azbobbop (view)

    Phil, do you think Wiggins will start out in ACL?

  • azbobbop (view)

    The level of conversation on this site is intelligent, reasoned and informative. Miles ahead of other Cub sites.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    This was Jaxon Wiggins previous "live" BP on 4/5: 

    JAXON WIGGINS: 
    ONE INNING (20 pitches - 10 strikes) 
    one batted ball in play (F-9 by Stevens)
    one walk (B. Davis) 
    one HBP (B. Davis)
    two strikeouts (Peralta & Escobar - both looking)
    three swing & miss 
    two fouls 
    four called strikes
    nine called balls 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Prior to the Cactus League game at Papago Park, three Cubs pitchers threw "live" BP on Field 1 at the Cubs Sloan Park complex, including RHRP Ethan Roberts (June 2022 TJS) and Cubs 2023 2nd round draft pick RHP Jaxon Wiggins (February 2023 TJS).  

    Wiggins last threw "live" BP three weeks ago before being shut down for a couple of weeks, and this was the first time Roberts has thrown to hitters in almost two years. 

    JAXON WIGGINS: 
    ONE INNING:
    25 pitches (11 strikes)
    no batted balls in play
    two walks (Suriel and J. Diaz) 
    three strikeouts (Carico, Lubo, and Escobar - all three swinging)
    six swing & miss
    two fouls 
    three called strikes 
    14 called balls 
    one WP 

    ETHAN ROBERTS: 
    ONE INNING 
    15 pitches (7 strikes) 
    two batted balls in play (G-3 by Carico and L-9 by Suriel) 
    two walks (Lubo and Carico)
    no strikeouts  
    no swing & miss 
    two fouls 
    three called strikes 
    eight called balls 
    one WP 

    Mat Peters was bumped by Justin Steele from his scheduled game work at Giants, so he threw two innings of "live" BP with Wiggins & Roberts. 

    MAT PETERS: 
    TWO INNINGS 
    44 pitches (23 strikes) 
    five batted balls in play (F-7, L-7, F-7, G-6, G-3) 
    three walks 
    two strikeouts (both Lubo and both looking)
    six swing & miss 
    three fouls 
    nine called strikes
    21 called balls 
    three WP 

  • crunch (view)

    wall stole a HR from busch...double.  nice to see him destroy a curve ball.

    upon further viewing, that might not have been a homer in too many parks...it had a lot of hang time, though.

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