Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus one player is on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 3-28-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 1 
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 1 
Caleb Kilian, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Culling the Cubs 2-0-2-3

If they so desire, the Cubs could add as many as 13 minor league Rule 5 Draft-eligible players to the MLB 40-man roster post-2022 (or perhaps even one or two of them during the month of September).  

So strictly as a thought-experiment, here is what the Cubs MLB 40-man roster - COULD - look like on November 18th, when off-season reserve lists must be filed with the MLB Commissioner in preparation for the 2022 Rule 5 Draft. 

|+++++++++++++++++++++++


PROJECTED CUBS MLB RESERVE LIST
(prior to reserve lists being filed on 11/18)

* bats or throws left 
# bats both 

27 players (plus one player on Restricted List who doesn't count against the 40) 

PITCHERS
: 14 (plus one player on Restricted List)
Adbert Alzolay (out of minor league options) 
Javier Assad (has post-2022 Draft-Excluded status)  
Kyle Hendricks (signed thru 2023 / club option w/buy-out for 2024) 
* Brandon Hughes 
Caleb Kilian (will get a 4th minor league option in 2025) 
* Brailyn Marquez (will get a 4th minor league option in 2024) 
Ethan Roberts 
Manuel Rodriguez (will get a 4th minor league option in 2023) 
Michael Rucker 
Adrian Sampson (probable "Super Two" post-2022 - TBD) 
* Justin Steele (out of options in 2023) 
Marcus Stroman (signed thru 2024 but has opt-out post-2023) 
Keegan Thompson 
Erich Uelmen 
Alexander Vizcaino (on Restricted List - does not count against 40-man roster - gets a 4th minor league option in 2024 if he is on the 40)
NOTE: Rucker would be outrighted (and he can elect free-agency if outrighted) if the Cubs sign a SP like Carlos Rodon, Sean Manaea, or Chris Bassitt or a RP closer like David Robertson, Sampson would be traded or outrighted if the Cubs sign both a SP  AND a closer (and Sampson could elect to be a FA if he is outrighted), Marquez (2022 shoulder surgery) and Roberts (2022 TJS) can be placed on MLB 60-day IL on the first day of 2023 Spring Training (the day pitchers & catcher report) which would open up two additional slots on the 40 for any  additional MLB free-agents signed late in the off-season or during Spring Training, and/or for an NRI RP and/or NRI utility position player added to the 40 by Opening Day, and if & when Vizcaino is reinstated from the Restricted List he would be outrighted to the minors (if he isn't claimed off waivers) and if he is outrighted he can NOT elect free-agency.    

CATCHERS: 3 
Miguel Amaya (will get 4th minor league option in 2023)
Yan Gomes (signed thru 2023 wilth club option for 2024) 
P. J. Higgins 
NOTE: Amaya - MUST - catch on a regular basis at Iowa in 2023 and must master AAA so that he can be ready for MLB in 2024 when he will be out of minor league options

INFIELDERS: 5 
Nico Hoerner (arbitration-eligible)                 
Nick Madrigal ("Super Two" arb-eligible post-2022) 
Christopher Morel (will get a 4th minor league option in 2024)
* Alfonso Rivas 
Patrick Wisdom 
NOTE: Madrigal would be traded, released, or outrighted if Cubs sign a FA SS like Carlos Correra, Xander Bogaerts, Trey Turner, or  Dansby Swanson, and Rivas (who can NOT elect free-agency if he is outrighted) would be outrighted if Willson Contreras accepts the QO or if Cubs sign a FA 1B like Josh Bell (I project Matt Mervis as the Cubs future DH, not as the future 1B).    

OUTFIELDERS: 5 
Alexander Canario (will get a 4th minor league option in 2024)
# Ian Happ (arbitration-eligible) 
Franmil Reyes (arbitration-eligible post-2022) 
Seiya Suzuki (signed thru 2026)
Nelson Velazquez 
NOTE: Reyes would be traded, released, or outrighted if Contreras accepts QO - AND - Cubs sign a FA 1B like Josh Bell. 

++++++++++++++++++++

So the Cubs could then add as many as 13 Rule 5 Draft-eligibles to the 40 by 11/18. This would (by FAR) be the most players added to the Cubs 40-man roster in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft. However, Rule 5 Draft-eligible minor leaguers added to the 40 after 8/15 have Draft-Excluded ststus, meaning they can't be sent outright to the minors after the reserve lists are filed on 11/18  and up until 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day, so once they are added to he 40 they are essentially locked on the 40 during the last half of November, December, January, February, and the first half of March. 

PITCHERS TO BE ADDED TO THE 40: 9  
Ben Brown, SP 
Danis Correa, RP 
Luis Devers, SP (would get a 4th minor league option in 2026)
Jeremiah Estrada, RP  
Kohl Franklin, SP 
Ryan Jensen, SP
* Brendon Little, RP  
Cam Sanders, RP  
Hayden Wesneski, SP
NOTE: If not on the Cubs 2023 MLB Opening Day roster, MLB ready or near-MLB ready pitchers like Correa, Estrada, Jensen, B. Little, Sanders and Wesneski would likely be at AAA Iowa and would be available to ride the Des Moines-Chicago "shuttle" whenever needed in 2023, while B. Brown, Devers, and Frankiin would likely be metriculating at AA Tennessee.   

INFIELDER TO BE ADDED TO THE 40: 1 
Jake Slaughter 
NOTE: On Opening Day 2023, Slaughter would likely be at AAA Iowa and would be available to ride the Des Moines-Chicago shuttle in 2023. 

OUTFIELDERS TO BE ADDED TO THE 40: 3 
Kevin Alcantara (would get a 4th minor league option in 2026)
Brennen Davis 
* Yohendrick Pinango 
NOTE: On Opening Day 2023, B. Davis would likely be at AAA Iowa and if he appears to be MLB-ready he could possibly get called up to MLB at some point during 2023, Pinango would likely be at AA Tennessee in 2023, and Alcantara would likely be at Hi-A South Bend in 2023.  

+++++++++++++++++

MLB ARTICLE XX-B FREE-AGENTS (at 9 AM Eastern on the day after final game of World Series): 
Willson Contreras, C (will definitely be extended a QO and he very well might accept it) 
* Wade Miley, SP 
* Drew Smyly SP  

WILL BE RELEASED PRIOR TO 11/18
* Jason Heyward, OF 

WILL BE OUTRIGHTED SOMETIME PRIOR TO 5th DAY AFTER FINAL GAME OF WORLD SERIES 

GROUP ONE (can elect free-agency if outrighted): 
David Bote, INF (signed through 2024 with club options for 2025-26)  
* Steven Brault, RP (arbitration-eligible post-2022) 
Luke Farrell, SP (still pre-arbitration but out of minor league options)
Michael Hermosillo, OF (still pre-arbitration but out of minor league options) 
Codi Heuer, RP (arbitration-eligible post-2022 - January 2022 TJS) 
Mark Leiter Jr, RP (still pre-arbitration but will be out of minor league options in 2023) 
Alec Mills, SP (arbitration-eligible post-2022 - out of minor league options) 
* Sean Newcomb, RP (arbitration-eligible post-2022 - out of minor league options)   
* Rafael Ortega, OF ("Super Two" arb-eligible post-2022 - out of minor league options)  
Rowan Wick, RP (arbitation-eligible post-2022)    
* Brad Wieck, RP (arbitration-eligible post-2022 - July 2022 TJS - out of minor league options) 
NOTE: Bote is signed through 2024 with club options w/buy-out for 2025-26 so he would probably accept an outright assignment and then he would get an NRI to MLB Spring Training, and Heuer and Wieck are TJS rehabbers so they would probably sign a 2023 minor league successor contract to continue rehabbing with Cubs medical & training staff. One or more of the other eight could possibly sign a 2023 minor league contract with an NRI to MLB Spring Training, but it's not very likely. 
 
GROUP TWO (will be declared minor league 6YFA on 5th day after final game of World Series if outrighted) 
Kervin Castro, RP (will get a 4th minor league option in 2024 if he is still on the 40 at that time)
Narciso Crook, OF 
Anderson Espinoza, SP (will get a 4th minor league option if still on the 40 in 2023)
* Zach McKinstry, INF (will be out of minor league options in 2023)
Frank Schwindel, 1B 
Nicholas Padilla, RP 
NOTE: These players are the ones most-likely to sign a 2023 minor league successor contract (with an NRI to MLB Spring Training). 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Even with 13 additions to the 40, a number of notable Cubs minor leaguers would still be eligible to be a minor league 6YFA and/or eligible for selection in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft.  

NOTABLE CUBS MINOR LEAGUE 6YFA FA (if player does not sign a 2023 minor league successor contract): 
* Bryan Hudson, RP 
# Yonathan Perlaza, OF  
NOTE: Player would become eligible for selection in 2022 Rule 5 Draft if he signs a 2023 minor league successor contract

NOTABLE CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION IN 2022 RULE 5 DRAFT
Pablo Aliendo, C 
* Bryce Ball, 1B 
Chris Clarke, SP 
Yovanny Cruz, RP
Richard Gallardo, SP 
Nelson Maldonado, 1B-OF   
* Cole Roederer, OF 
* Darius Hill, OF 
Levi Jordan, INF 
Michael McAvene, RP 
Fabian Pertuz, INF 
Chase Strumpf, 2B-3B
Riley Thompson, SP 
Cayne Ueckert, RP 
Luis Vazquez, SS 
Luis Verdugo, 3B 
* Andy Weber, INF  
* Jared Young, INF-OF 

So in terms of free-agency, I expect the Cubs will have a limited but expensive shopping list consisting of a big-time SS (Correa, Bogaerts, T. Turner, or Swanson), a 1B (probably Josh Bell), a SP (Rodon, Manaea, or Bassitt), and an established closer (possibly David Robertson). However, there is no guarantee that just because the Cubs might want to sign those guys that they will be able to do it, and if they can't, the Cubs would likely have go full rebuild mode again next season, and therefore 2023 could even be worse than 2022 (but with 2024 and especially 2025 being brighter).

Comments

Phil,

Any thoughts on who might get taken off this list during Rule 5?

I'm thinking Clarke, Hill, & R. Thompson most likely?

Thanks for theorizing Phil. 

I'm anti Rucker. I'd rather keep Heuer than Rucker

I love Devers. Saw in person this yr. Won't light up radar guns but knows how to pitch. But I don't see him being taken in the Rule5 by another team. Hopefully we can be save a 40 spot here. Maybe add CClarke or BHudson.

Also, BMarquez or BHudson? You're probably right with Marquez but he just isn't available to pitch.

I like keeping ASampson over AEspinoza. Try to sneak Anderson Espinoza back to Iowa on a MiLB deal.

If Willy does in fact accept a QO, which I agree he will accept, keeping 4 catchers on the 40 is hard to do. Someone would probably have to go. Higgins or Gomes?

I love how you think Slaughter gets a spot. Love it.

Rivas however, don't see it. If they don't sign a 1B, I'd like to see them add Mervis, but really move Happ to 1B and open up LF for someone else. Another LH bat? DHill or Perlaza? Won't happen but just a thought.

I'd hate to lose Perlaza. Would hate it!!

The only other name that I was hoping we could save a 40 spot was KFranklin. He hasn't been results great. Been better with time, but another team hiding him on their 40 for a full yr is probably at minimum problematic for them.

It's going to be crazy at the end of the season.

Does Jed buy FAs. Spend big. Do we trade for Ohtani (no way Jed has the guts to trade all of his best prospects but doing it for 21st century Babe Ruth would be justified).

Or do we just protect every prospect we possibly can and play some young guys!!

The worst option is only protect some guys, sign marginal FAs in order to flip them for one more sell off / pseudo tank effort.

It would be awesome to get JBell, CCorrea, Rodon or Manaea, and a top RP, with Ohtani. Instant change. 

We are allowed to dream

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

"We are allowed to dream"


Yes, we are! When I was a young child growing up in the 1960's, my parents bought a record album called, Let's Sing Songs in German​​​​​​. One of the songs was Die Gedanken sind frei,which means "The thoughts are free", i.e., you may be able to outlaw what we say but our thoughts are beyond the control of others. That had a certain resonance in post-WWII Germany, I'm sure!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274334756855
 

Yes, we are, Mr. Childers, yes we are!

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

The same record album also had other profound selections, such as Fuchs, du hast die Gans gestolen (fox, you have stolen the goose!). That rollicking little tune is playing on repeat in my head at this very moment. Be thankful I'm the only one here experiencing that particular earworm. 

AZ PHIL- I love the 13 Rule 5 idea.  My only disagreement would be I'm not sure I'd trade Madigral.  You'd be trading a guy who has high draft pedigree coming off injury.  Don't get me wrong I have been very dissappointed in him, but you'd be trading him REALLY low return at this point.  If they are willing to get rid of Rizzo, Baez, Bryant, Schwarber, what would stop them from trading Hoerner who is at the highest point of his career if you sign a SS.  They don't seem to be in a hurry to extend Happ or Contreras either, so I'd give Madigral one more chance before trading him for a bag of balls.  Hoerner and Morel have played OF.  Can the new SS, Nick, or Nico play 3rd?  Maybe.  If nothing else Madigral becomes the new David Bote/Tommy LaStella.

Today (day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season) the following occurs: 

1. All players on optional assignment to the minors must be recalled. 

2. For clubs not active in the post-season, all players on the 7-day IL (concussion),10-day IL, and 15-day IL are automatically reinstated. 

3. All players selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) who were not placed on a minor league active list after being signed will now count against the club's 180-man minor league Domestic Reserve List (the DRL limit expands to 190 at 5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series).  

4. Injured players may be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers. A player on an MLB 60-day IL who is claimed after being placed on Outright Assignment Waivers can be transferred to the 60-day IL of the claiming club. 
NOTE: All players on a 60-day IL must be reinstated no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the  final game of the World Series; 

5. The MLB office is now closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays up until the start of Spring Training. This affects the filing of contracts, trades, and the waiver wire (a waiver can only be requested when the MLB office is open for business, and weekends do not count toward the two day waiver claiming period for a player who has been placed onto waivers on a Thursday or on a Friday). 

6. Article XX-D players who were outrighted off the 40-man roster and accepted the outright assignment (for the Cubs, that's Clint Jackson Frazier, Michael Hermosillo, and Sean Newcomb) can elect free-agency beginning today up through October 15th.  

The MLB contract tender date has been moved up from December 2nd to the Friday prior to Thanksgiving (which could be November 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, or 22, depending on the date of Thanksgiving that year). So this year, the contract tender date will be November 18th, which coincidentally happens to be the same date as the reserve list roster filing deadline, although they will not be on the same day in most years.  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

The off-season reserve list roster filing deadline has been moved-up from 11/18 to 11/15 this year, so it will not be on the same day as the contract tender deadline. 

The contract tender deadline being moved-up from 12/2 to the Friday prior to Thanksgiving is part of the new CBA and will be that way going forward, but the off-season reserve list roster filing deadline is determined by the MLB Commissioner and is not part of the CBA and so it can change from year to year, probably depending on the contract tender date. MLB will probably want the roster filing deadline to be a few days prior to the contract tender deadline. 

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    steele MRI on friday.  counsell expects an IL stint.

    no current plans for his rotation replacement.

  • hellfrozeover (view)

    I would say also in the bright side column is Busch looked pretty good overall at the plate. Alzolay…man, that hurts but most of the time he’s not giving up a homer to that guy. To me the worst was almonte hanging that pitch to Garcia. He hung another one to the next hitter too and got away with it on an 0-1. 

  • crunch (view)

    amaya blocked like 6-8 of smyly's pitches in the dirt very cleanly...not even an exaggeration, smyly threw a ton of pitches bouncing in tonight.

    neris looking like his old self was a relief (no pun), too.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    In looking for bright spots the defense was outstanding tonight. The “stars” are going to need to shine quite a bit brighter than they did tonight offensively though for this to be a successful season.

  • Eric S (view)

    Good baseball game. Hopefully Steele is pitching again in April (but I’m not counting on it). 

  • crunch (view)

    boo.

  • crunch (view)

    smyly to face the 2/3/4 hitters with a man on 2nd in extras.

    this doesn't seem like a 8 million dollar managerial decision.

  • crunch (view)

    i 100% agree with you, but i dunno how jed wants to run things.  the default is delay.  i would choose brown.

    like hellfrozeover says, could be smyly since he's technically fresh and stretched.

    anyway, on a pure talent basis....brown is the best option.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Use pitchers when you believe they're good. Don't plan their clock.

    I'm sorry. I'm simply anti-clock/contract management. Play guys when they show real MLB potential talent.

    If Brown hadn't been hurt with the Lat Strain he would've gotten the call, and not Wick.

    Give him a chance. 

    But Wesneski probably gets it

  • crunch (view)

    alzolay...bro...