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: The deadline to sign a player for future service was temporarily extended from December 31, 2021, to February 28, 2022. 

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 and who is - NOT - "Signed for Future Service" 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.


MINOR LEAGUE MINIMUM SALARIES

Salaries are paid weekly and are pro-rated.  

BEGINNING IN 2021: 
AAA: $16,800
AA: $14,400
SINGLE-A: $12,000
ACL/FCL: $9,600
DSL: $3,000   


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. 

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.   

No more than 38 players may be placed on the Reserve List of a club's AAA affiliate, beginning when rosters are filed with the MLB Commissioner in November and extending through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft. 

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. 

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 Miltary 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.  


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 / 33 (see NOTE)
NOTE: The maximum active roster limit is 28, but up to five additional players can be assigned to the MLB club's Taxi Squad
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 25 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 25 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 25 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 3-9-2023):

* 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 for Future Service (2023 contract) are underlined in orange
Players signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft are underlined in purple 

DOMESTIC RESERVE LIST 

181 players are RESERVED (nine slots are open), plus three players are on the RESTRICTED LIST, and six have been SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE  

AAA 

IOWA:

35 players, plus one player is on the RESTRICTED LIST

PITCHERS: 23+1
* Jose Aquino
Andres Bonalde (RESTRICTED LIST)
* Ryan Borucki
Nick Burdi 
Danis Correa 
Tyler Duffey
* Roenis Elias 
* Stephen Gonsalves
Jordan Holloway
* Anthony Kay
Ben Leeper
Mark Leiter Jr 
* Brendon Little 
* Brailyn Marquez
Nick Neidert
Vinny Nittoli 
Peyton Remy 
Manuel Rodriguez 
Cam Sanders
* Eric Stout
Curtis Taylor
Cayne Ueckert
Blake Whitney
* Brad Wieck 

CATCHERS: 2 
* Dom Nunez
Luis Torrens

INFIELDERS: 6  
# Sergio Alcantara
David Bote 
Levi Jordan 
* Matt Mervis 
* Esteban Quiroz
* Jared Young 

OUTFIELDERS: 4
Ben DeLuzio 
* Jefferson Encarnacion
* Darius Hill
* Mike Tauchman 


TENNESSEE:

36 players, plus one player is on the RESTRICTED LIST

AA

PITCHERS: 20+1
Max Bain 
Hunter Bigge
Craig Brooks (RESTRICTED LIST)
* Burl Carraway
Richard Gallardo 
Ben Hecht  
* DJ Herz 
* Bailey Horn
Kyle Johnson
* Scott Kobos
Zac Leigh 
* Riley Martin
Michael McAvene
Eduarniel Nunez
* Jack Patterson  
Walker Powell 
Samuel Reyes
* Dalton Stambaugh
Riley Thompson
* Jordan Wicks  
Jarod Wright
 
CATCHERS: 3
* Tim Susnara
Jake Washer 
* Bryce Windham

INFIELDERS: 7
* Bryce Ball 
* Christian Donahue 
Scott McKeon 
Jake Slaughter
Chase Strumpf 
Luis Vazquez
* Andy Weber

OUTFIELDERS: 6
* D. J. Artis 
Brad Beesley 
# Zach Davis
Nelson Maldonado 
# Yonathan Perlaza
* Cole Roederer


SOUTH BEND:

35 players, plus one player is on the RESTRICTED LIST  

Hi-A

PITCHERS: 20+1  
Jesus Camargo (RESTRICTED LIST)
Derek Casey 
Yovannny Cruz 
Bradford Deppermann 
Luis Devers 
Manuel Espinoza  
Kohl Franklin
Saul Gonzalez
Porter Hodge
Chris Kachmar
Trey Lang 
* Adam Laskey 
* Luke Little
Joe Nahas 
Johzan Oquendo 
Daniel Palencia 
Sheldon Reed
Bailey Reid
Jake Reindl
Tyler Schlaffer 
* Didier Vargas

CATCHERS: 3
Pablo Aliendo
Caleb Knight   
# Casey Opitz

INFIELDERS: 8 
# Reivaj Garcia
Ed Howard IV  
# Josue Huma 
Kevin Made 
# B. J. Murray 
Fabian Pertuz 
Yeison Santana
Luis Verdugo

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Owen Caissie 
* Pete Crow-Armstrong 
Jordan Nwogu
* Yohendrick Pinango


MYRTLE BEACH:

35 players    
  
Lo-A

PITCHERS: 19 
Michael Arias 
Yovanny Cabrera 
Angel Gonzalez
* Drew Gray 
* Angel Hernandez
Nick Hull
Grant Kipp 
* Joel Machado 
Brody McCullough
Anthony Mendez
Gregori Montano 
Koen Moreno
Mathew Peters 
Oliver Roque
* Andricson Salvador
Tyler Santana 
Frankie Scalzo Jr 
Sam Thoresen 
* Chase Watkins 

CATCHERS: 5 
* Moises Ballesteros  
* Miguel Fabrizio
* Ethan Hearn
Haydn McGeary
# Malcom Quintero

INFIELDERS: 6
Juan Mora
# Reggie Preciado 
# Pedro Ramirez
Liam Spence 
Felix Stevens 
James Triantos Jr 

OUTFIELDERS: 5 
* Parker Chavers  
Christian Franklin
Frank Hernandez 
* Ezequiel Pagan
* Jacob Wetzel 

 
ACL CUBS

40 players, plus six have been SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE (2023 contract)   

PITCHERS: 22+5  
Elian Almanzar 
Brandon Birdsell
Garrett Brown (SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE
* Wilson Cunningham 
* Jackson Ferris 
Will Frisch  
Dominic Hambley 
Cody Horton
Shane Marshall
Luis Marte
Mason McGwire (SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE
Gleiber Morales
Nazier Mule
Connor Noland (SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE
* Branden Noriega (SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE
Kenyi Perez
Starlyn Pichardo 
Erian Rodriguez
Cristian Rojas
Jose Romero
Luis Rujano (SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE
Tomy Sanchez
* Marino Santy 
Joel Sierra  
Kevin Valdez
JP Wheat 
* Christian Winston

CATCHERS: 6+1 
Yoanis Aleksandrov
David Avitia (SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE
* Dilan Granadillo
Fredy Montenegro
Miguel Pabon (ex-INF)
* Ronnier Quintero
* Wally Soto

INFIELDERS: 6
Cristian Hernandez
Rafael Morel 
Christian Olivo 
Christopher Paciolla
* Anderson Surriel 
# Esmarly Tatis

OUTFIELDERS: 6 
Brayan Altuve
Ke'Shun Collier
Raino Coran  
Andy Garriola 
* Ismael Mena
* Cristian More


INTERNATIONAL RESERVE LIST  

70 players are RESERVED (rosters are full), plus two are on the RESTRICTED LIST 


DSL CUBS BLUE: 

35 players

PITCHERS: 17
Gabriel Agrazal
David Bracho  
Diego Dugarte 
Joandy Duran 
Leury Gomez 
Charbel Gonzalez
Yoendris Gonzalez
* Zhiorman Imbriano 
Jair Jimenez 
Joel Jimenez
Adrian Martinez 
Abel Moya
Eligio Paredes 
Welington Quintero 
Luis Rafael Reyes
Adrian Santana
Yafrerlyn Vasquez 

CATCHERS: 3
Abel DeLeon 
* Jairo Diaz
Dilver Gomez 

INFIELDERS: 8
# Ezequiel Alvarez  
* Jose Escobar 
Moises Febrillet
Jose Herrera 
Geuri Lubo 
* Luis Maza
Jefferson Rojas
# Sandy Sanchez 

OUTFIELDERS: 7 
* Josefrailin Alcantara 
Albert Belliard
Wilmer Boliver 
Leonel Espinoza 
Daniel Ferreira 
* Raul Guzman
Edward Vargas


DSL CUBS RED :

35 players, plus two on RESTRICTED LIST  

PITCHERS: 19+2 
* Melvyn Amador 
Juan Bello 
Yohan Crispin 
Kenneddy Delgado
Anderson Feliz (RESTRICTED LIST
* Carlos Garcia 
Stanley Guzman
Scarlyn Lebron 
Ronny Lopez
Fraiman Marte
Wilme Mora
David Olivo 
Luis Alberto Reyes 
* Samuel Rodriguez
Wilber Rodriguez
Yenrri Rojas 
Alfredo Romero 
Albaro Santana (RESTRICTED LIST)
Freilyn Silverio 
Runelvis Toribio
Irving Vazquez

CATCHERS: 3
Yidel Diaz
Carlos Ramos 
Adan Sanchez

INFIELDERS: 6
Carlos Altuve
# Elizaul Chalas 
Andrws Cruz 
Joan Delgado
Alexis Hernandez
Lizardo Ruiz  

OUTFIELDERS: 7
Daniel Benschop
Andres Bonolis  
* Darlyn DeLeon 
* Oferman Hernandez 
Erbin Jaque 
Josias Ramirez 
Julio Valdez 
​​

CUBS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT & MINOR LEAGUE STAFF 
VICE PRESIDENT - DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: Jared Banner
DIRECTOR OF PITCHING: Craig Breslow 
DIRECTOR OF HITTING: Justin Stone 
FIELD COORDINATOR: Kevin Graber 
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), Ron Villone (Pitching Coach), John Mallee (Hitting Coach), Griffin Benedict (Bench Coach), and Thomas Boucher (Assistant Coach)
TENNESSEE: Michael Ryan (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), and Dan Puente (Hitting Coach)
MYRTLE BEACH: Buddy Bailey (Manager), Bruce Billings (Pitching Coach), and Rob Vaz (Hitting 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) amd Austin Shumaker (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)

Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info


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

32 players
are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST (26-man limit in effect on MLB Opening Day)

17 players signed to minor league contracts are Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-18-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 16
Adbert Alzolay
Javier Assad 
Brad Boxberger
Michael Fulmer
Kyle Hendricks
* Brandon Hughes
Julian Merryweather
Michael Rucker
Adrian Sampson
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele 
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
Rowan Wick

NRI PITCHERS: 10 
* Ryan Borucki  
Nick Burdi 
Tyler Duffey 
* Roenis Elias  
* Anthony Kay  
Mark Leiter Jr 
* Brendon Little  
Vinny Nittoli 
Manuel Rodriguez 
Cam Sanders 

CATCHERS: 2 
* Tucker Barnhart 
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
* Dom Nunez  
Luis Torrens 

INFIELDERS: 9
Nico Hoerner
* Eric Hosmer
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Zach McKinstry
Christopher Morel
* Edwin Rios
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
# Sergio Alcantara 
David Bote 
* Matt Mervis  

OUTFIELDERS: 5 
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Trey Mancini 
Seiya Suzuki 
Nelson Velazquez

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 2
Ben DeLuzio 
* Mike Tauchman   

OPTIONED: 8
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Miguel Amaya, C 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P 
Ryan Jensen, P 
Caleb Kilian, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Codi Heuer, P 
Ethan Roberts, P
  



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents