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

Ryan Theriot was bitten by a Vampire Cardinal-Bat!

(click on thumbnail for rest of story)

Sometimes, you're Kerry Wood. 
Just walking down the road when you bump into Brian Cashman who says, "Hey, come and play tambourine with Mick and the Boys and be in the most famous Rock n' Roll band in the world."
And suddenly, you're a Yankee. 

Other times, you're Ryan Theriot. 
Just walking down the road when some rancid red bat-thing flies down and bites your neck.
Next thing you know, you're a Cardinal. 

It's all fate, really.

Happenstance. The luck of the draw.
Infection.

Ryan Theriot was traded from the Dodgers to the Cardinals yesterday.

Not the biggest deal in the world - he played a kind of yuppie "Nails" role for the Cubs - a male model-lookin' scrappy overachiever guy at short.
But I liked him and had the Cubs done better in '08 he could have been a Chicago God. 

Instead, he was dumped along with Ted Lilly for some cash and a replacement not much different than he was.

And now, he's a Cardinal.

This doesn't sting like when Mark DeRosa went to the Red Side, but still, it's never good when a Cub becomes a Card. 

But I'll go ahead and say: good luck Ryan.

Just not against the Cubs.

Comments

It was reported on the radio today that Theriot said that he is now on the right side of the Cubs/Cardinals rivalry. Proof that he was bitten by a bat, a contaminated bat. Surely, no half-way intellegent person would say that otherwise.

playing around with the comment settings to get this back to the way other posts display comments.

2b/inf Jose Lopez non-tendered by Seattle after a down year. Cubs should jump on him, he would be an upgrade at 2b and can play other inf spots. He has some pop that DeWitt doesn't, although I don't think he's a great glove guy. Regardless, he would be more fun than a year of DeWitt playing everyday. As a starter he's ranged from 10-25 hr's and 58-96 rbi. RH bat. Doesn't walk much, surprisingly doesn't strike out much, either. Low obp. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lopezjo01.shtml

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Submitted by Paul Noce on Wed, 12/01/2010 - 12:59pm. 2b/inf Jose Lopez non-tendered by Seattle after a down year. Cubs should jump on him, he would be an upgrade at 2b and can play other inf spots. He has some pop that DeWitt doesn't, although I don't think he's a great glove guy. Regardless, he would be more fun than a year of DeWitt playing everyday. As a starter he's ranged from 10-25 hr's and 58-96 rbi. RH bat. Doesn't walk much, surprisingly doesn't strike out much, either. Low obp ====================================== PAUL N: I could see Jose Lopez as an upgrade over Jeff Baker as a RH 3B-2B-1B-RHPH, but he'd also probably cost the Cubs about $2M more in 2011 payroll (likely $3M+ salary for Lopez vs about a $1.25M salary for Baker) if they were to step in and acquire him from the Mariners in a trade prior to Lopez getting non-tendered (as the Cardinals did yesterday when they acquired Ryan Theriot from the Dodgers when he was about to get non-tendered). If he is indeed non-tendered instead of being traded, I would think the Cubs would be very happy to offer Lopez a minor league contract with an NRI to ST, presuming Lopez wants to play for the Cubs and doesn't get a better offer elsewhere. One thing the Mariners dropping Lopez would do is create an opening in Seattle for a new 3B (although Chone Figgins could move there from 2B, with AFL MVP Dustin Ackley taking over 2B). That could add the Mariners to a rather short list of teams (BAL, CLE, and KC being the other ones) who might select Marquez Smith in the Rule 5 Draft and give him a chance to win the starting 3B job in ST.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101129&content_id=16… Although many fans and even Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano would like to see Adam Dunn's big bat in the lineup, the team will likely lean more toward a more economical and defensive infielder. Shortstop Starlin Castro is coming off a 27-error rookie season. Not only do the Cubs want a left-handed bat, but someone who can catch the ball. Lee, a three-time Gold Glove winner, spoiled them. The Cubs aren't limited to thrift store shopping, but do have to be more cost-concious. They have $103 million committed to players next year, plus Jeff Baker, Koyie Hill, Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, Tom Gorzelanny, and Geovany Soto are on the arbitration-eligible list. Those six players combined made $6.125 million in 2010. Expect a final '11 payroll around $130 million. (ed note, AZ Phil has around $119M committed so far) First base isn't the only concern. Although the Cubs appear to have plenty of depth pitching-wise, they would like another innings-eating starter and an experienced right-handed reliever. Don't look for Hendry to be waiting in line to court free agent Cliff Lee. Why more pitching? There are too many questions regarding the rotation. Carlos Silva, acquired last December from the Mariners for Bradley, surprised the Cubs with his strong start. Will he do it again? Randy Wells will be entering his third season, which means no more talk about a sophomore jinx. Will he be more consistent? Lefty Tom Gorzelanny wants to start but may be better suited to a relief role, similar to what Sean Marshall has done. Would he accept that?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

It's odd that Hendry apparently wants a starting pitcher who can be an "innings eater" while he is also reportedly looking at fragile rehab guys like Brandon Webb, Jeff Francis and Erik Bedard. Innings Eater and Long-Term Surgery Rehab does not really equate. Maybe Hendry is following one track where he hopes to catch lightning in a bottle by signing a guy coming back from an injury (like Webb, Bedard, or Francis) to a minor league deal where it costs the Cubs in payroll only if the pitcher actually comes back and can pitch in the big leagues in 2011, and another completely different track where he hopes to sign a Jon Garland or a Javier Vasquez (both now off the board) to a one-year deal in the $7M range. LHSP Zach Duke will likely get non-tendered by Arizona tomorrow (they acquired him from Pittsburgh just to see if they could sign him without having to offer him arbitration), and Duke sounds like just the kind of pitcher Hendry is looking for. (Not to mention that Duke was a Dave Littlefield guy in Pittsburgh, and Littlefield is now one of Hendry's main consigliere).

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

btw, what's the big difference between Dunn and Pena to you? 2 absurdly patient sluggers that K a ton and strand a ton on base. One is generally regarded as good defensively, the other not and one has obviously been more consistent, but their career wOBA and OPS+ numbers aren't that drastically different from each other. 133 OPS+ for Dunn, .384 wOBA 123 OPS+ for Pena, .363 wOBA Pena is a year older but I'm presuming they're looking at him for a one year deal at less money, rather than 3-4 that Dunn wants. personally I like Berkman on a rebound season, but I understand if the doctors and scouts think he's done physically.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Wed, 12/01/2010 - 4:02pm. To me it seems like you can catch lighting in a bottle cheaply. The part I don't get is the need to go cheaply on First Base? Either Dunn or Berkman would instantly be our best hitter the day they signed. Unless Hendry is TRYING to get fired? How can he even dance around not making an impact on that front? =================================== DR AARON B: Last summer prior to trading Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to the Dodgers for Blake DeWitt, Kyle Smit, and Brett Wallach (and a few million $$$ in payroll relief), the report here in Phoenix was that the D'backs had offered Kelly Johnson to the Cubs for Theriot and James Russell, but the Cubs turned it down because they didn't want to trade Russell. If the Cubs can't find the LH power-hitting 1B they want (or if they finally realize that Soto might have to play a lot of 1B in 2011), perhaps they will revisit the Kelly Johnson deal and offer DeWitt and Russell for a LH power-hitting 2B (and perhaps a third player for Zach Duke) and see if the D'backs bite. It would save the D'backs about $10M+ in 2011 salary (Johnson and Duke are both eligible for salary arbitration post-2010), and would give the Cubs what they believe are two of their three primary needs going into 2011 (a LH power-hitter who can hit 3-4-5 in the lineup and a mediocre veteran SP innings-eater).

who must burn $100 bills to stay warm in the winter have apparently offered Konerko a contract for some ungodly reason.

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).