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

NL Central Smackdown : Right Fielders

Center Fielders | Poll
Catchers | Poll
Third Basemen | Poll
Shortstops | Poll
2nd Basemen | Poll
1st Basemen | Poll

I'll save the left fielders for Monday since it's a pretty and talented group. Your right--field warriors after the break...

Player 3-Year Warp-3 Average
3 Year Warp-3 Projection
Rob's Ranking
Kosuke Fukudome
N/A
3.37
2
Corey Hart
4.5 (2 years)
5.6 1
Skip Schumaker
1.5 (1 year) 1.43
6
Ryan Ludwick 2.7 (1 year) 1.97
6
Hunter Pence 6.4 (1 year)
5.43 4
Ken Griffey Jr. 4.47
1.77 3
Xavier Nady
2.63
1.93
5


 

 

 

 

 

 


The Justification: I think I sold Hunter Pence short on this one before I looked at the numbers. I just thought he was more useful as a center fielder and a little hacktastic for my tastes. Griffey Jr. probably deserves the top spot as a lifetime achievement award and if you think he can stay healthy, he probably still deserves it. Honestly, any of the top four are probably worth the top spot and when Rick Ankiel gets shifted back here, he'll make it even a little more interesting. But I took Hart for now, a rather successful 2007 campaign and youth on his side. I just didn't know what to expect out of Fukudome, and while the early returns are fantastic, he won't be able to keep his offensive numbers up averaging a homer a month. Nady's had a nice start to the season, but we all know he'll fade and the Cards platoon is just a placeholder until Colby Rasmus is ready and Ankiel gets shifted back.

There's another poll for you guys to fill out below this and I'll leave the old polls open until we finish this.

Please note, you do have to register to vote. This isn't some scheme to solicit registrations, it's just an anomaly of the site and the poll software that's built in. Trust me, I'd love to fix it, but I haven't found another piece of integrated software that does these ranking polls which I really like. Plus if you register, you get a better user experience as I tend to test everything as a registered user and you get an uncached version of the site. You can also view the results of the poll after you vote, instead of having to wait until I close it. It takes all of two minutes to register and unlikes some sites, I'll be more than happy to cancel your account if you wish. You'll never receive any spam from us either...promise.

Comments

This is very tough; really a close grouping and alot of moving parts. I ranked as the following: Fukudome (homer vote, but he is a 4-tool player) Hart (slow start though) Nady Pence (would be higher, except for slow start; based on last year, he could be #1) Griffey (Fading fast) Cards (They are hitting great, but I hate platoons)

I take Hart over the lot at this point, then Fuku, Pence, Griffey, Nady, Cards. Hart is young and is already a pretty complete hitter, plus I think he handles CF at least as well as Pence and Fuku. Pence has the best chance of being a real superstar, but he also seems most likely to flop due to his hacktastic approach. Fuku gets second based on defense and plate discipline. Griffey would be tops if he weren't such an injury risk and if he weren't so old and more expensive than the rest. Nady doesn't seem all that valuable any more, but maybe that's just me.

is his lack of power concerning to anyone else? The bill of goods we got when he was signed was that he'd be good for at least 15 and probably 20 homers a year. He's got good gap power but the weight shift in his swing, in my mind, keeps him from putting more power in his swing. Anyway, I hope he starts hitting for a bit more power soon, as we need it out of our #5 hitter.

[ ]

In reply to by Andrew

I'd be more concerned if he wasn't on pace to hit 50+ doubles. I'll take 50 doubles and a .400+ OBP out of my 5th hitter any day, especially when he has DeRosa and Soto hitting behind him.

[ ]

In reply to by Chad

50 doubles isn't Chadball! No steroids, no homeruns, no watching the ball exit the park followed by cocky strutting around the bases. No boombox in the locker room annoying everyone else. I think Fuku is a few hat size short of Chadball.

[ ]

In reply to by Mister Whipple

Sorry pal, but I'm the authority on Chadball. And 50 doubles is Chadball material. Chad likey the slugging percentage. last year when DLee wasn't hitting the ball over the fence but bouncing them off of it, I was totally ok with that. Walks and singles as your offensive set is not Chadball but Mark Grace was.

[ ]

In reply to by Andrew

personally, i didnt expect more than 15-20 homers at best. however, i do/did expect him to get 40-50 doubles. i expected him to K 100-120 times and though i knew he'd walk im personally impressed by how many so early. to make a sloppy comparison...i pretty much expect mark grace in his prime at the plate (with more Ks and a touch more speed).

Vorare: Exactly! Soto hitting behind Fuku is brilliant, and I hope it continues. Fuku is still adjusting to a lot of pitching he has never seen, and his contact style is unique. He pulls off the ball much more with two strikes on him. He gets into the two-strike situation because he is taking pitches in an attempt to see more (whether that is patience or just feeling out the pitcher, I don't know). The great thing is that he isn't afraid to hit with two strikes, and he's a damn good hitter in that situation. He is Ichiro with more power, and a slightly lower average due to his slower top speed. I see Ichiro leg out a lot of those infield singles which drives his average from the .320-.330 range to the rarefied air he has been privy to the last few seasons.

wonder what theyre working on with him... another day and no play.

this time a 6-4 lead in HOU. I guess the Brewers closer will be David Riske pretty soon.

I think he has more hits today aganist Santana and the NLDS last year then he did his entire Cubs career.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson failed a sobriety test while operating a 30-foot boat, then resisted arrest before being hit with pepper spray and dragged ashore by officers. woo.

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).