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

When Marty Brennaman, Rabble-Rouser, Got Spanked By The Commissioner

This is semi-ancient baseball history, but for those of us who haven't thought a whole lot about Cincinnati Reds play-by-play man Marty Brennaman until the last 48 hours or so, we can enjoy this as if it were fresh and new.

In late April, 1988, the Reds were hosting the New York Mets in old Riverfront Stadium. Umpire Dave Pallone, who had a long history of conflict with the Reds in general and Cincy manager Pete Rose in particular, was working first base. In the bottom of the third inning, Rose and Pallone got into a chest-to-chest confrontation over a disputed play on the bases. Rose and Pallone got their fingers in each other's faces, Pallone told Rose, "Get your fucking finger out of my face," Rose shoved Pallone with his forearm and then, after Pallone had given Rose the official heave-ho and turned to walk away, Rose shoved Pallone a second time, in the back.

Here's where Marty enters the story.

As related by James Reston, Jr. in "Collision at Home Plate: The Lives of Pete Rose and Bart Giamatti":

In the broadcast booth above, Reds announcers Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall heaped scorn on the umpire. Brennaman called (Pallone) an incompetent, a terrible, terrible umpire, and reported that in the battle of fingers, Pallone's finger had grazed the face of the saint of Reds baseball. Garbage poured down on the field: golf balls, coins, cigarette lighters, marbles, hot dogs. A whiskey bottle exploded on a seat near an usher. When toilet paper fell near Pallone, the incendiary broadcasters remarked upon the aptness of the symbol.

By Reston's reckoning, this marked "the most terrifying moment of fan riot since the Rose-(Bud) Harrelson incident at Shea Stadium in 1973." Rose was eventually suspended by Giamatti for 30 days. Rose and his attorney flew to New York to meet with Commissioner Giamatti in person and appeal the suspension, but before he met with the manager, Giamatti chose to meet with the broadcasters.

While he took no action, (Giamatti) let (Brennaman and Nuxhall) know that inciting a riot was not part of their job description.

Moral of the story: in the world according to Marty Brennaman, throwing batting practice balls on the field is bad; throwing cigarette lighters and marbles, if it's done in the name of defending the honor of your manager, is something else entirely.

(Credit for bringing this story to my attention goes to the somewhat addled caller who phoned in to the Steve Cochran show on WGN Radio late Friday afternoon. If you're reading this, thanks for the lead.)

 


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Comments

So Brennaman's comments were hypocritical as well as over the top. Not surprising. But throwing shit on the field is obnoxious whether it's in Cincy, Philly, New York or Chicago.

How about his Hee - Haw pardner in the booth? When did Brantley suddenly turn into Larry the Cable Guy? Were they attempting to reach out to the folks across the river in KY?

is anyone else thinking out there...."who cares?" I mean, The reds are irrelevant, Marty is irrelevant hell, who really cares about throwing baseballs anyway? The players know they are coming, so no one is getting hurt and the field crew is getting paid anyway. Sure there are other ways to voice displeasure, but do I really have to waste 10 mins of my life reading articles on how it is some sin of epic proportions? Lets keep it all in perspective.

You just wasted more time from your life (and ours) on a matter that you profess not to care about, chiefly via posting here. Huh?

I was actually at the game and thought the throwing of baseball's on the field was sort of funny, kind of a parody of the traditional throw the ball back where we all know the switcheroo with the real HR ball gets put in the pocket and the "fake" ball gets thrown onto the field. It might have had the Reds yelping if it was their outfielders on the field but since the Cubs were on the field nobody's accusing the ball throwing as being dangerous (ie. hitting an outfielder). With all the balls getting thrown on the field, it shows how many bleacherites are prepared to catch a HR and throw back a non-game ball.

Throwing a ball back is okay. But dozens is bush league. Along with throwing garbage on the field on bad calls or ejections. That being said no one should pick on our fans from other teams. Sorta like "Animal House" when Otter said "He's (Neidermeyer) is abusing our pledges?!!?! Only we get to abuse are pledges."

So, I went to the Reds/Brew Crew game today and wouldn't you know it, I catch Corey Hart's 2nd inning HR, beer and peanuts in my left hand, ball in my right, all without spilling a drop! Next thing you know 26,000 (on a Saturday for Reds blanket giveaway!!)are screaming for me to throw it back, and i shook my head and told them all to for get it cuz this isnt Wrigley! and they booed me. God it felt GREAT!!!! I hope Marty saw it on replay, and saw me with my Cubs hat on, NOT throwing it back...

Marty had a point that the 15 or so baseballs thrown back into the field was bush league move. Clearly it is but Marty soliloquy of how he interprets this fan behavior with the Cubs performance was a cheap shot that he should apologize. He has been around a long time and I expect his to behave as a professional.

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).