Now that the Cubs have filed their minor league reserve lists with MLB, the next order of business is deciding whether or not to tender 2021 contracts to the 31 unsigned players on the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) on December 2nd.  

There will no doubt be trades, MLB and minor league free-agent signings, waiver claims, perhaps even a Rule 5 Draft pick, some non-tenders on 12/2, and maybe one or more Cubs minor leaguers will get taken in the Rule 5 Draft, but - AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW - here is the preliminary projected Cubs Spring Training roster:  

37 players presently are on MLB RESERVE LIST (three slots are open)
29 projected NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 11-20-2020
 

11/20 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have selected the contracts of RHSP Cory Abbott, INF Christopher Morel, and RHSP Keegan Thompson, and they have been added to the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). 

Each will have Draft-Excluded Status during the off-season (player cannot be optioned or outrighted to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day), and because they did not accrue any MLB Service Time in 2020, any of the three can be sent to the minors (by optional or outright assignment) - EVEN IF INJURED - as long as the assignment is made no earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day and then up until 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day   

So the Cubs MLB Reserve List now stands at 37 (three slots are open). 

With Abbott, C. Morel, and K. Thompson having been added to the MLB 40-man roster, 71 Cubs minor leaguers remain eligible for selection in the 2020 MLB Rule 5 Draft on 12/10 (see full list of Cubs 2020 Rule 5 Draft eligibles below and the projected 11/20 AAA and AA reserve lists further down at the bottom of the page).
   

After hurling three perfect innings in his previous start, Manuel Espinoza fired three innings of one-hit shutout ball (and threw 75% strikes), and Pablo Aliendo singled twice and drove-in a run and Cam Balego tripled and scored, in Cubs AZ Instructional League intrasquad game action Wednesday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.   

The Giants at Cubs AZIL game was canceled, so the Cubs played an intrasquad game instead.   

The five pitchers who were scheduled to pitch in the AZIL game threw in the intrasquad game, and the game was called after 3-1/2 innings of play after all of the pitchers got their scheduled work. 

It wasn't possible to field two full teams because only the players who were set to play in the AZIL game played in the intrasquad game (the other position players retired to the clubhouse after early BP), so there was no DH used in the game and Alfonso Rivas (who is already an accomplished hitter and really doesn't need any more game ABs) played LF for both squads and did not take an AB (he stood out in LF for the entire game -- that's 90 minutes straight defense in 90-degree heat without a break, folks).  

Also, Ethan Hearn played 1B and Yonathan Perlaza (ex-infielder now playing outfield) temporarily moved back to the infield and played 2B. 

Fireballin' RHP Danis Correa labored through one inning of work while throwing almost all secondary stuff (only a couple of high velo FB) after throwing almost all FB in his previous outing, while RHRP Eduarniel Nunez threw almost 100% FB (only two off-speed pitches) and was sitting 95-96 (T-97). Both Corraa and E. Nunez are 21-year old Dominican power bullpen arms who could advance quickly if they can improve their secondaries and FB command (easier said than done, obviously).    

Here is the box score from the game: 

5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series (which was Sunday 11/1 this season) is an important deadline for several reasons. 

You already know about certain unsigned minor leaguers being declared second-contract or 6YFA on that date/time, but it is also the deadline for outrighting certain players. 

This is why you saw so many players get outrighted by MLB clubs prior to that date/time. 

Chase Strumpf blasted a solo HR over the LF fence to account for the only run of what was a very brief Cubs AZ Instructional League intrasquad game played Monday afternoon on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

The Cubs AZIL game at Rockies was canceled, and only two of the Cubs pitchers scheduled to throw in the AZIL game ended up pitching in the intrasquad game.

The game was called with two outs in the top of the third inning after both pitchers completed their scheduled work.