Minor League Contracts & Roster Rules

MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACTS & ROSTER RULES 

1. A player with no prior MLB or minor league service who signs a minor league contract ("first contract") or a free-agent with prior MLB and/or minor league service who signs a minor league contract must be added to an MLB club's Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List when he is added to a minor league club's Active List or when the contract is filed with the MLB Commissioner (whichever comes first). Contracts must be filed with the MLB Commissioner within 20 days of signing.

2. A player must be added to a Domestic Reserve List immediately if the player is sent outright to the minors, is acquired in a trade, or is selected in the AAA Phase of the MLB Rule 5 Draft.

3. With the consent of the player and the club, a player who has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract may be "Signed for Future Service" (contract is for the following season) if the player signs a minor league contract after July 1st but before January 1st and is not placed on a minor league club's Active List, Injured List, Temporarily Inactive List, or Military List  prior to the conclusion of the Minor League season. (Attendance at a post-season Instructional League and/or participation in Instructional League games do not count). The player cannot be released until he spends at least 15 days on a minor league active list or receives a (minimum) 15-day trial in Spring Training.
NOTE-1: The deadline to sign a player for future service was temporarily extended from December 31st to January 15th beginning in 2022. 
NOTE-2: Beginning on July 1, 2023, players cannot be "Signed for Future Service." 

4. An international free-agent with no prior MLB or minor league service or a player who was eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) who signs a minor league contract as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) after the draft must be added to a minor league reserve list and to a minor league club's Active List within 15 days or when he plays in his first game (whichever comes first). The player cannot be released until he spends at least 15 days on a minor league active list or receives a (minimum) 15-day trial in Spring Training.

5. A player who signs a minor league contract after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First Year Player Draft) must be added to a minor league club's Active List with 15 days or when he plays in his first official minor league game (whichever comes first), but the player does not count against a minor league reserve list until the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season or until he plays in an official minor league game (whichever comes first). The player cannot be released until he spends at least 15 days on a minor league active list or receives a (minimum) 15-day trial in Spring Training.

6. A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), traded to another organization, or transferred from one minor league reserve list to another within the same organization, beginning;with the filing of MLB minor league reserve lists in November and extending through the completion of the Rule 5 Draft.

7. With the approval of the MLB Commissioner, a club may assign (loan) a player signed to a minor league contract to the Active List of a minor league club in another organization, to a club in an MLB Partner League, or to a club in the Mexican League. However, the player must be returned no later than the day after the conclusion of his club's season. 

8. An MLB player who was sent outright to a minor league club during the previous season or after the conclusion of the previous season cannot be tendered a minor league contract for the following season with a salary less than 80% of his previous season's salary (what he was actually paid that season).

9. If an unsigned MLB player is outrighted to the minors after the conclusion of the MLB regular season and then is not tendered a minor league contract by January 15th, the player is a free-agent.

10. If a minor league player under club control (a minor league "auto-renewal" player) is not tendered a salary addendum by March 15th, the player is a free-agent.

11. An MLB club can automatically renew a minor league player's contract no more than six times, so a club can unilaterally control a minor league player (that is, a player not on an MLB 40-man roster) for no more than seven minor league seasons. For purposes of determining eligibility to be a free-agent, a player does not accrue a minor league season if the player spends the entire season on an MLB Active List, MLB Disabled List(s), and/or other MLB inactive list, or if the player spends an entire season on the Restricted List, Disqualified List, Suspended List, Ineligible List, Voluntarily Retired List, and/or Military List. Also, participation in a post-season instructional league, the Arizona Fall League, and/or international winter league(s) do not count toward a minor league season.
NOTE: Beginning on June 5, 2023, a player who is 19 or older on the June 5th prior to signing his first contract can have his contract renewed no more than five times and will remain under club control for only six seasons before he will become eligible to be an MLB Rule 9 minor league free-agent. (This rule does - NOT - apply to any player who signed his first contract prior to June 5, 2023). 


MINOR LEAGUE MINIMUM SALARIES: 

Salaries are paid weekly and are pro-rated.  

BEGINNING IN 2023: 
AAA: $35,800
AA: $30,250
Hi-A: $27,300
Lo-A: $26,200
ACL/FCL: $19,800
DSL: $3,000 (plus room & board) 


MINOR LEAGUE SERVICE TIME & ROSTER LIMITS

An MLB organization may carry no more than 180 players on its aggregate Domestic Reserve List from minor league Opening Day up until 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, and no more than 190 players on its Domestic Reserve List beginning at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series up until minor league Opening Day. 
NOTE: Beginning at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the 2023 World Series, the Domestic Reserve List limit will be 175 during the off-season up until MLB Opening Day, and then 165 beginning on 2024 MLB Opening Day up until 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series. 

An MLB organization may carry no more than 35 players on its International Reserve List (if the MLB club has only one DSL Affiliate) or no more than 70 players (if the MLB club has two DSL affiliates).  

Once a player is moved from a club's International Reserve List to a club's Domestic Reserve List, he cannot return to the International Reserve List without consent of the MLB Commissioner. 

Only players on the International Reserve List can play in the DSL. 

If an MLB organization exceeds its Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List maximum roster limit, the organization has up to 48 hours to make whatever roster adjustments or moves necessary to return to (or below) the reserve list limit.   


ESTABLISHING MINOR LEAGUE RESERVE LISTS PRIOR TO RULE 5 DRAFT 

A club's Domestic Reserve List and International Reserve List must be filed with the MLB Commissioner on the second Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving (November 14th in 2023).

1. No more than 38 players may be placed on the roster of a club's AAA affiliate when the reserve lists are filed. A Rule 5 Draft-eligible player on a AAA roster can be selected only in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft.
NOTE: The AAA roster is used only for the purpose of determining eligibility for selection in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Any Rule 5 Draft-eligible player on a club's minor league Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List who is not on the AAA reserve list when the rosters are filed is eligible for selection in the AAA Phase.  

2. If a Rule 5 Draft-eligible player on a club's minor league Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List is not placed on the AAA roster when the reserve lists are filed, he cannot be moved to the AAA roster until after the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.

3. If a Rule 5 Draft-eligible player on a club's minor league Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List is placed on the AAA roster when the reserve lists are filed, he cannot be removed from the AAA roster until after the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.
NOTE: A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), traded to another organization, released, or transferred from one minor league roster to another within the same organization, beginning with the filing of MLB minor league reserve lists and extending through the completion of the Rule 5 Draft.

4. If a free-agent is signed to a minor league contract during the period of time between the date that the reserve list are filed and the Rule 5 Draft, he can be placed on the 38-man AAA roster, but only if there is a slot available.     

For the purpose of determining minor league roster limits & restrictions, a minor league player accrues a year of "service time" for every season in which the player spends at least 30 days on an MLB and/or minor league active list and/or injured list, unless the player spent the entire season on the Injured List.

1. Service time accrued by a player while assigned to a club or clubs in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) and/or Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) does not count when determining minor league roster limits and restrictions for minor league clubs in domestic affilated leagues.
NOTE: Although the VSL has been defunct since 2016 (last season was 2015), there are players in the minor leagues today who accrued minor league service time while assigned to a VSL club back when the VSL was still an active minor league.   

2. A position player making a position change to pitcher or a pitcher making a position change to position player receives a one-year exemption from minor league service time restrictions. However, a position player being converted to a pitcher may not be used as a position player in a minor league game during the exempt year, and a pitcher being converted to a position player may not be used as a pitcher in a minor league game during the exempt year.

3. A player on a minor league "rehabilitation" or "conditioning" assignment does not count against the Active List or Reserve List of the affiliate to which he is assigned.

4. A maximum of three players on a minor league Injured List, Restricted List, and/or Military List may be assigned on a "rehabilitation" or "conditioning" assignment to any one minor league affiliate at any one time, but there is no limit to the number of players who can be on a "rehabilitation" or "conditioning" assignment at the organization's Spring Training Complex (including a club's Arizona or Florida complex league affiliate). There is also no limit on the number of players on an MLB Injured List, Restricted List, and/or Military List who can be assigned on a "rehabilitation" or "conditioning" assignment to any one minor league affiliate at any one time.

5. A player who has been "Signed for Future Service" can be carried on the roster of a full-season single-A, ACL or FCL, or DSL affiliate only. A player with "Signed for Future Service" status does not count against Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List roster limits until minor league Opening Day. A maximum of 50 players in any one organization may have "Signed for Future Service" status at any one point in time, and no more than 12 players "Signed for Future Service" may be assigned to any one single-A, ACL or FCL, or DSL affiliate at the same time. 
NOTE: Beginning on July 1, 2023, a player cannot be "Signed for Future Service."

CUBS MINOR LEAGUE AFFILIATES

SS = Short Season League
R = Rookie League 
FR = Foreign Rookie League

IOWA (AAA): 
RESERVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 38 (November reserve list roster filing date through Rule 5 Draft only)
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 28
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: NONE

TENNESSEE (AA):
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 28  
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: NONE

SOUTH BEND (Hi-A):
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 30 
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: Maximum two players and one player-coach with six or more years of service time (not including DSL/VSL service time)

MYRTLE BEACH (Lo-A): 
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 30  
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: Maximum two players with five or more years of service time (not including DSL/VSL service time)

ACL CUBS (SS-R):
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: NONE (maximum 30 players designated "active" for each game, not including players on rehab assignment)
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: No players with three or more years of service time (VSL/DSL service time excluded)

DSL CUBS BLUE (SS-FR): 
ROSTER RESTRICTIONS: International players only (maximum two players from Puerto Rico)
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 35 (maximum 30 players designated "active" for each game)
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: No players with four or more years of service time (including DSL/VSL service time) 

DSL CUBS RED (SS-FR):
ROSTER RESTRICTIONS: International players only (maximum two players from Puerto Rico)
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 35 (maximum 30 players designated "active" for each game)
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: No players with four or more years of service time (including DSL/VSL service time)

There is no Active List roster limit for Extended Spring Training and post-season Instructional League ("instructs") squads.


CUBS MINOR LEAGUE ROSTERS (last updated 12-6-2023):

* bats or throws left
# bats both

Players on Optional Assignment from MLB Reserve List are in green
Players on Article XIX-C Minor League Rehab Assignment are in blue
Players signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft are underlined in purple 

DOMESTIC RESERVE LIST 

152 players are RESERVED (23 slots are open)   

AAA 

IOWA:

24 players

PITCHERS: 14 
Hunter Bigge
Chris Clarke
* Edwin Escobar
Kohl Franklin 
Chris Kachmar
Ben Leeper 
Eduarniel Nunez 
* Jack Patterson
Ethan Roberts
Cam Sanders 
Riley Thompson 
Cayne Ueckert 
Blake Whitney 
* Brad Wieck  

CATCHERS: 2 
Caleb Knight
* Bryce Windham

INFIELDERS: 5
David Bote 
# Hayden Cantrelle (Rule 5 Draft pick in AAA Phase)
Scott McKeon
Jake Slaughter
Chase Strumpf

OUTFIELDERS: 3  
* Darius Hill
Nelson Maldonado 
* Cole Roederer


TENNESSEE:

AA 

24 players

PITCHERS: 11
Brandon Birdsell 
* Burl Carraway
Manuel Espinoza 
Richard Gallardo 
Cade Horton
Zac Leigh
* Riley Martin
Walker Powell
Jake Reindl
Frankie Scalzo Jr
* Dalton Stambaugh 
 
CATCHERS: 3 
Pablo Aliendo 
* Moises Ballesteros
# Casey Opitz

INFIELDERS: 5 
Haydn McGeary
# B. J. Murray
Fabian Pertuz
Matt Shaw 
James Triantos

OUTFIELDERS: 5
Bradlee Beesley 
* Owen Caissie 
Christian Franklin
Jordan Nwogu 
* Ezequiel Pagan 


SOUTH BEND:

Hi-A 

29 players  

PITCHERS: 15
Max Bain
Yovanny Cabrera
Luis Devers 
Angel Gonzalez
Saul Gonzalez
Nick Hull
Grant Kipp
Brody McCullough 
Joe Nahas
Connor Noland
Johzan Oquendo 
Tyler Santana
Tyler Schlaffer 
Sam Thoresen
* Chase Watkins 

CATCHERS: 3
David Avitia
* Dilan Granadillo
* Ethan Hearn   

INFIELDERS: 7
# Reivaj Garcia 
Ed Howard  
Juan Mora
Josh Rivera
Liam Spence 
Felix Stevens 
Luis Verdugo 

OUTFIELDERS: 4 
* Parker Chavers
Andy Garriola
* Yohendrick Pinango 
* Jacob Wetzel


MYRTLE BEACH:

35 players     

Lo-A

PITCHERS: 21
Sam Armstrong 
Garrett Brown 
* Jackson Ferris
Will Frisch  
Landon Ginn 
* Drew Gray
* Angel Hernandez 
Scarlyn Lebron 
Shane Marshall (ex-C)  
Luis Martinez-Gomea
Grayson Moore
Koen Moreno 
Eligio Paredes
Kenyi Perez
Starlyn Pichardo 
Erian Rodriguez
Jose Romero 
Luis Rujano 
* Marino Santy 
Kevin Valdez
JP Wheat 

CATCHERS: 2  
* Michael Carico 
Miguel Pabon

INFIELDERS: 9 
Cristian Hernandez
Brian Kalmer 
Jonathon Long
Rafael Morel 
Nazier Mule
Christian Olivo
Reggie Preciado 
# Pedro Ramirez
Jefferson Rojas

OUTFIELDERS: 3
* Brett Bateman 
* Zyhir Hope  
* Ismael Mena


ACL CUBS

40 players      

PITCHERS: 23  
Gabriel Agrazal  
Juan Bello  
* Daniel Brown 
* Wilson Cunningham
Nick Dean 
Kenten Egbert 
* Ethan Flanagan   
* Carlos Garcia 
Dominic Hambley
Ty Johnson 
* Joel Machado
Mason McGwire
Wilme Mora
* Branden Noriega 
Mathew Peters
Luis A. Reyes
Wilber Rodriguez 
Yenrri Rojas
Alfredo Romero 
Will Sanders
Joel Sierra  
Freilyn Silverio
Jaxon Wiggins  

CATCHERS: 5    
# Jairo Diaz
Frank Hernandez (ex-OF)
Adan Sanchez 
* Wally Soto
Carter Trice (ex-INF)

INFIELDERS: 6  
Drew Bowser 
* Jose Escobar 
Alexis Hernandez
Geuri Lubo
* Yahil Melendez 
Christopher Paciolla 

OUTFIELDERS: 6
* Ke'Shun Collier 
* Jefferson Encarnacion 
Leonel Espinoza
* Cristian More
Alfonsin Rosario
* Anderson Suriel
 

INTERNATIONAL RESERVE LIST  

69 players are RESERVED (one slot is open), plus three are on the RESTRICTED LIST


DSL CUBS BLUE: 

35 players, plus one on the RESTRICTED LIST  

PITCHERS: 17+1
* Melvyn Amador
Juan Archbold 
Eduardo Castillo
* Miguel Cruz 
Diego Dugarte 
Charbel Gonzalez
* Jeremy Guzman
Jair Jimenez
Fraiman Marte
Dalbert Mosquea (RESTRICTED LIST)
David Olivo
* Santiago Payares
Francis Reynoso (ex-1B)
Darian Rivero
Adrian Santana
Saul Siri
Yafrerlyn Vasquez
Jeral Vizcaino 

CATCHERS: 4
Henniel Alcala
Carlos Altuve
Ivan Cespedes
Vicent Nunez

INFIELDERS: 10
Yoanis Aleksandrov
# Ezequiel Alvarez 
* Darlyn DeLeon
# Ronnyel Espinoza 
Moises Febrillet 
* Omar Ferrera 
Brailin Pascual 
# Eriandys Ramon
Derniche Valdez
# Grenyerbert Velasquez 

OUTFIELDERS: 4 
* Derik Alcantara
Erbin Jaque 
* Alexey Lumpuy
Edward Vargas


DSL CUBS RED:

34 players, plus two on the RESTRICTED LIST  

PITCHERS: 19+2 
David Bracho 
Kevin Camacho 
Alberto Chala
Brayan Diaz
Joandy Duran
Anderson Feliz (RESTRICTED LIST) 
Jostin Florentino
Yoendris Gonzalez 
* Zhiorman Imbriano 
Joel Jimenez
Bryan Landaez
Ronny Lopez
Emannoel Madeira
Nestor Pirela 
Welington Quintero 
Luis R. Reyes
* Samuel Rodriguez
Jordi Romero
Albaro Santana (RESTRICTED LIST)
Runelvis Toribio 
Irving Vazquez

CATCHERS: 3
Daniel Campos 
Abel DeLeon
Yidel Diaz

INFIELDERS: 6 
Angel Cepeda 
Joan Delgado 
# Ludwing Espinoza 
Albert Gutierrez 
* Luis Maza
# Sandy Sanchez 

OUTFIELDERS: 6
* Albert Belliard
Daniel Benschop
Andres Bonolis
Andrws Cruz  
Josias Ramirez 
Julio Valdez 
​​

CUBS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT & MINOR LEAGUE STAFF 
VICE PRESIDENT - DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: Jared Banner
DIRECTOR OF PITCHING: OPEN
DIRECTOR OF HITTING: Justin Stone 
FIELD COORDINATOR: OPEN 
PITCHING DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR: Casey Jacobson 
PITCHING PERFORMANCE COORDINATOR: James Ogden 
ASSISTANT PITCHING DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR: Carlos Chantres
ARIZONA PITCHING COORDINATOR: Tony Cougoule 
REHAB PITCHING COPORDINATOR: George Thanopoulos 
HITTING COORDINATORS: Steven Pollakov and Rachel Folden
CATCHING COORDINATOR: Mark Johnson
INFIELD COORDINATOR: Dai Dai Otaka 
OUTFIELD & BASERUNNING COORDINATOR: Doug Dascenzo
DOMINICAN ACADEMY FIELD COORDINATOR: Dave Keller
POSITION PLAYER REHAB / DEVELOPMENT LIST COORDINATOR: Desi Wilson 
DIRECTOR OF STRENGTH & CONDITIONING: Blaine Kinsley 
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COORDINATOR: Mark Weisman 
ACL COMPLEX STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COORDINATOR: Dallas Lopez  
MEDICAL COORDINATOR: James Edwards 
ASSISTANT MEDICAL COORDINATOR: Sean Folan 
MENTAL SKILLS PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Bob Tewksbury
MENTAL SKILLS COORDINATOR: David DaSilva
LATIN AMERICAN MENTAL SKILLS COORDINATOR: Javier Guerrero 
IOWA: Marty Pevey (Manager), Griffin Benedict (Bench Coach), Ron Villone (Pitching Coach), John Mallee (Hitting Coach), and Thomas Boucher (Assistant Coach)
TENNESSEE: Kevin Graber (Manager), Jamie Vermilyea (Pitching Coach), Rick Strickland (Hitting Coach), and Tyler Ladendorf (Assistant Coach)
SOUTH BEND: Lance Rymel (Manager), D'Angelo Jimenez (Bench Coach), Clayton Mortensen (Pitching Coach), Dan Puente (Hitting Coach), and Andrew Rueter (Assistant Coach)
MYRTLE BEACH: Buddy Bailey (Manager), Bruce Billings (Pitching Coach), Rob Vaz (Hitting Coach), and Corey Ray (Assistant Coach)
ACL CUBS: Nick Lovullo (Manager), Yovanny Rosario (Bench Coach), Armando Gabino (Pitching Coach), Jose Zapata (Pitching Coach), Chris Pieters (Hitting Coach), Ben Martin (Hitting Coach), Collin Andrews (Assistant Coach), and Andrew Craig (Assistant Coach)
MESA REHAB: Connor Rooney (Rehab Coach) and Hunter Hudson (Rehab Catcher) 
DSL CUBS BLUE: Carlos Ramirez (Manager), Jordal Williams (Pitching Coach), Raymond Pena (Hitting Coach), and J. C. Bonilla (Assistant Coach) 
DSL CUBS RED: Enrique Wilson (Manager), Luis Hernandez (Pitching Coach), Johnny Bethancourt (Hitting Coach), and Yovanny Cuevas (Assistant Coach) 
ATHLETIC TRAINERS: Ed Halbur and Logan Severson (Iowa), Seth Clapp (Tennessee), Nick Roberts (South Bend), Maggie Lowenhar (Myrtle Beach), Tanner Costine  (ACL Cubs), Leroy Martinez (DSL Cubs Blue) and Arnoldo Goite and Leslie Jimenez (DSL Cubs Red)
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACHES: Nathan Garza (Iowa), TBA (Tennessee), Kelcey Mosley (South Bend), Jesus de la Sancha (Myrtle Beach), Dallas Lopez (ACL Cubs), Phillip Garcia-Herrera  (DSL Cubs Blue), and Amaury Gonzalez (DSL Cubs Red)