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

Ramirez to the DL, Nomar to the Hot Corner

Aramis Ramirez has been placed on the DL, and Ronny Cedeno has been recalled to take his spot on the roster. Of course, with the Cubs a mere 7 1/2 games out of the wildcard with five whole weeks of the season left, we can't expect Cedeno to actually play! This also explains why a third baseman (like, I don't know, Mike Fontenot, who's sporting a .374 OBP in Iowa) wasn't called up to replace A-Ram; we're going to need the veteran presence of Neifi Perez and Jose Macias at third in order to jump past Philadelphia, Florida, Houston, New York, Washington, and Milwaukee and make the post-season. Ramirez will be replaced, at least for today, by Nomar Garciaparra, making his first-ever appearance at third base. Iiiinteresting. Is it a one-off thing, or is it a way for Nomar to make himself a little more desireable on the free-agent market? Once the game starts, he will become the 103rd player to man third base for the Cubs since the Ron Santo trade.

Comments

Hey...if we didn't have Neifi or Macias, the Cubs would have a record of 0-125. You gotta reward their hard work in keeping us in the race, and still a few games ahead of the Pirates. They don't get paid as much as they do to sit on the bench, they've earned their shot. Furthermore, it's essential that we know what Macias and Neifi can do as starters next year...If Macias can transition to short, and Nefi to 2nd...then we have a playoff nucleus infield with a lot of dough to spend on an entire new outfield, a starting pitcher and a couple relievers. "Macias, to Perez, to Lee Double Play." Got a nice ring to it. And the young kids will get a chance to watch and learn from the grinders...Neifi and Macias have a lot to teach the kids.

The sad thing is that we're 7.5 back in the wild card at the same time we're 5 under .500. With 35 games to go, the Cubs would have to go 20-15 to just hit .500 on the season (a .571 tear), and 28-7 (.800) to get back to 89 wins. I doubt the wild card victor will have less than 90 wins, but I've been wrong before. I don't see this happening realistically.

I couldn't agree more with your comment. Macias should be nowhere near third base. I actually thought Ramieriz being hurt was going to be beneficial to Cedeno in that Dusty could play his beloved Perez at third and Cedeno could play SS. However, I was afraid of his beloved Macias playing third which is what I think will happen. The Cubs should be spending every game getting ready for next year: Wood to have his surgery, Hill and maybe even Mitre in the rotation, Murton in the OF, Van Buren in the bullpen, Hairston playing every day. These are absolute minimums.

Adam: 0-125? No player can swing 61 victories, no matter how good they are. I will give you that they've helped more than they've hurt to this point, but you can't put any success to this point on them. I do agree that the kids should play at this point, though - let's start shoring up what we have.

If you must start Nomar, why not second base? And let Neifie play third. If Cubs are just putting him at third to limit him from getting more hurt(if possible), just DL is his ass and wipe your hands of him.

The Cubs make no sense. It's just a fuckin' joke that they still think they have any shot whatsoever.

Nomar will be starting at third today. Interesting.

I'll try to be clearer. Putting Nomar at a position(3rd)that will do the Cubs no good for the future(2006)makes no sense. Start him second(remainder of season), see if he can peform there and evaluate him to see if you want him for second base next year. If he's at third, because he does not have to move alot because he would get hurt at another position(ss or 2b) put him on the DL. Then you start Neifi every day at 3rd, Cedeno at ss, and walker/fotenot at second. Lets look to 2006.

Interesting: Hairston Lawton Lee Barrett Garciaparra Burnitz Perez Cedeno Rusch

I see where you're going, Jacos, but I don't agree. If you're going to move Nomar off of short and have him play a brand-new position, third is much smarter than second. As a short-term fix, I don't mind it. In fact, it's creative thinking. Long-term, (ie the rest of the season) it might actually work. Nomar plays third, Cedeno plays short, and Fontenot splits time at second with Walker. That makes more defensive sense.

"Adam: 0-125? No player can swing 61 victories, no matter how good they are. I will give you that they've helped more than they've hurt to this point, but you can't put any success to this point on them." Sachmet...could you really not tell that my whole post reaked of sarcasm? come on now. We could probably through our A minor league team out there and still come up with a win or two here or there.

Adam... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE NEVER give compliments to Neffi and Jose. They are both illusions. Neffi is off and on, and has had one big hit all year (the GS in St. Louis). Jose only gets hits with no one on base. He is a defensive liability and should not even be in the MLB. Your statement is rediculous! If those two start next year I will stop being a Cubs fan and Jim Hendry should be fired. You are insane.

I think that Jacos' point is that Nomar will not replace Ramirez at 3rd next year, so playing him there this year is pointless. At 2nd, he might play next year...

I guess this answers the question of is Nomar going to back next year and the answer is no. Playing 3rd helps his value as FA and let the Cubs try out Cedeno at SS to see if they need to go after Furcal. No Nomar also means no Walker for next year as from what i have read suggest the Cubs hate his defense and the only reason they signed him was to get Nomar. Finally there doing what they should have done at the trade deadline give up on the season and see which kids can help next year.

Dusty Baylor- I owe you a dollar for being my interperter.

that's cute Christian.... Nomar plays third, Cedeno plays short, and Fontenot splits time at second with Walker In reality, it's more like Nomar at third, Neifi at SS and Walker at second versus righties and Cedeno at SS, Neifi at 2b against lefties. Dusty Baker is still our manager and Neifi is his love-child this season.

No Nomar also means no Walker for next year as from what i have read suggest the Cubs hate his defense and the only reason they signed him was to get Nomar You got a link? Where did you read that?

Will people read my post again with this in mind. I'M KIDDING!!!! Clue #1: The Cubs would be 0-125 without Neifi & Macias. Clue #2: Reward them for keeping us a few games ahead of the Pirates. Clue #3: It's essential to know what Macias and Neifi can do as STARTERS next year. Clue #4: "then we have a playoff nucleus infield" with Neifi and Macias. Clue #5: "Macias, to Perez, to Lee Double Play." Got a nice ring to it" Clue #6: "Neifi and Macias have a lot to teach the kids."

Nomar is playing third. Hairston is playing center field. Kerry Wood is in the bullpen, Glendon Rusch is in the rotation, Dempster is our closer. What a season.

I really expected to see: 3b Macias ss Neifi! 1B Lee rf Burnitz 2b Nomah lf Holly cf Patterson c Blanco P Rusch Rusch goes 3 innings, throws 68 pitches and quits after our batters see 17. He doesn't even bother sitting down.

We may see that three inning, 68 pitch outing from Rusch!

Adam, You idiot, surely you can't be serious saying DLee is our first baseman of the future. Macias to Neifi to HOLLANDSWORTH... now that's a double play. ---

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).