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

Free Matt Murton

I've been informed that indeed, the Cubs brass do read this website and have promoted Matt Murton. No word on who is getting sent down. Kidding about the Cubs brass reading this website, but our pal Steve Holley at Inside the Ivy is the one giving me the news and he's with the team currently in New Orleans. We can only assume it's Eric Patterson being sent down.


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Comments

Yay. Welcome back Orange Guy. One down, Mumia and Tibet to go.

Murton is not in tonight's line-up for Iowa---Vitters got called up to Peoria today

Watching the Brewers-Reds game here in Madison. Sheets left mid-game with a sore tricep. Was pinch hit for in the 6th after only giving up 2 hits through 5. He then left the dugout for the clubhouse.

[ ]

In reply to by carlosrubi

Well Vitters is a first round pick whether he 'deserved' a callup to A ball or not, they have some millions invested in him so I'm sure he will get plenty of chances at every level in the minors.

[ ]

In reply to by Jeff_Pico

Yeah, but he's also an eighteen-year-old who doesn't need to be rushed through the minors when we've got a third baseman set for years. If he needs to spend half of 2008 in EXST, then leave him there. I haven't seen a single article that says that the Cubs are completely sure he's ready to face A-ball pitching.

[ ]

In reply to by Raisin101

Regardless of whether or not Vitters deserves and/or will benefit from the call-up, Peoria now has two legitimate right-handed hitting prospects--Vitters and Donaldson. When they have games where the put it together, those guys could be dangerous in a-ball. Of course, there will likely be a number of games in which one or both of them looks absolutely lost. Tony Thomas is off to a nice start in Daytona, though he's struck out a lot. Keeping track of Iowa Cubs games isn't nearly as much fun this year as it was last. No Hoff-power so far, no Fontenot, no Pie, no Soto, no Marmol, no Marshall. Gallagher can only play once every five games--who else can I get excited about? Well, I am still a fan of Josh Kroeger's potential, though he's getting old to be talking about potential. Jake Fox seems like an unusual minor league figure to me. What does one do in the minors to prepare for a career as a right-handed pinch-hitter, emergency corner outfielder/infielder, and emergency-emergency catcher?

Levine implied the same thing on his MJH spot with Murt. They just did not feel Epat was going to be of much use with 3 out of the next 5 verus lefties.

Eh, they looked at Fontenot and Patterson (since a lefty bat would be nice) but neither looked good. So it's DeRo back to 2B with Murton headed to LF.

[ ]

In reply to by RowdyYates

I wouldn't count on Murton being the everyday LF until Soriano returns, I think we will see all kinds of different lineups with Derosa, Fontenot, Murton, Johnson and Pie. Maybe even a Ward sighting in Right and Fuku in center.

latest Steve Holley update... http://cubs.scout.com/2/747641.html METAIRIE, La. -- Cubs outfielder Matt Murton was a late scratch from the initial starting lineup in Friday's game between Class AAA Iowa and New Orleans -- a move that might indicate Murton is headed to Chicago. The lineup change was announced roughly one hour before the scheduled 7:05 p.m. (CT) start. Iowa manager Pat Listach declined to say whether Murton will be recalled by Chicago, but the outfielder was not in uniform for Friday's Iowa Cubs game at New Orleans. Through 13 games, Murton batted .317 (13-for-41) for Iowa.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

well I wouldn't lie to you guys and Steve gives me all kind of info that he tells me I can't run. In this case, he explicitly said I could run it and be sure to give him credit.

He then sent me an email 20 minutes later, that he talked to Listach who wouldn't confirm it, but certainly didn't deny it either...something along the lines of "maybe so".

Murton will be in Chicago tomorrow.... 

Tribune reporting that Reed Johnson gets its shot at leadoff on Saturday v. Gorzelanny.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubnut

I'll guess the lineup

CF Johnson 

SS THeriot

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

RF Fuku

2B DeRosa

C Soto

LF Murton

I'd put theriot 8th, Murton 2nd, but Theriot's had a few nice games in a row and I'm guessing that's the lineup Lou will go with.

Murton vs Duke

10/22 .455/.500/.682  (2 2b, 1 HR)

vs Gorzelanny

4/10 .400/.500/.600 (2 2b) 

 

the cubs already hinted at this move when Epat got called up and looking at the schedule: Pirates, Mets, Rockies, Nats...all those teams have a few lefties in the rotation, although I'm unsure how it's going to play out after the Pirates series.

when do we get to start beating up on the Giants?

Does anyone think that EPatt being called up was the last straw for Matt, and he's a nice guy and everything but why else would he keep those photos of Lou and Dusty if he wasn't going to use them?

Richie Sexson up with a man on and two outs...already homered twice tonight. Nails a hanging slider to center that Torii Hunter brings back into the park for the Angels win. Fun stuff. Might of hit right at the top of the wall, but really damn impressive...

Todd Wellemeyer pitched over 100 innings for the first time in his career Friday night and moved to 2-0 after a seven inning, four hit performance. Wellemeyer allowed only one run and struck out six. His ERA sits at 3.24. Granted, he was facing the Giants, but Wellemeyer looked great. He kept the ball down and worked ahead all night. Of the 107 pitches he threw, 72 were strikes. He has suddenly become a very nice-looking option in NL-only leagues. Especially because he'll face the Pirates next time out.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I'm not really surprised Wellemyer has had a nice stretch, he always had good stuff but walked too many people, his career walks per 9 innings is about 5 but this year he's got it down to about 3.. if he can keep up that kind of reduction he might be a different pitcher, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

March 28, 2006: Traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Florida Marlins for Lincoln Holdzkom (minors) and Zach McCormack (minors). June 9, 2006: Selected off waivers by the Kansas City Royals from the Florida Marlins. May 15, 2007: Selected off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Kansas City Royals. ...as I recall Wellemeyer was traded by the Cubs because he was out of options.

The pesky redhead returns! He's been jab, jab, jabbing @ Iowa [13 singles, 10 bb's, zero rbi's]& is ready to start throwing haymakers in Chicago...good luck, 'pesky', AKA, 'le petit orange'...

I like that Murton too but I just wish that he could learn to be a better outfielder. I don't expect much but Murton has got to understand that his future will depend on him having the ability to play the outfield well left field and right field. In addition, it wouldn't hurt if he could try on a first baseman's glove and see if he could make himself a bit more valuable. A weak hitting poor fielding left fielder will only get him so far.

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).