Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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


28 players are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST, plus seven are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two are on the 10-DAY IL, and three are on the 15-DAY IL


Last updated 9-22-20239
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 14
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 6
Nico Hoerner
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom
* Jared Young

OUTFIELDERS: 6
* Cody Bellinger
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

OPTIONED: 7
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Ben Brown, P  
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P
Caleb Kilian, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Michael Rucker, P

10-DAY IL: 2
Jeimer Candelario, 1B
Nick Madrigal, INF

15-DAY IL: 3
Adbert Alzolay, P
Brad Boxberger, P 
Michael Fulmer, P 

60-DAY IL: 4
Nick Burdi, P
Codi Heuer, P
* Brandon Hughes, P
Ethan Roberts, P
 

Minor League Rosters

Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Davis Debut Spoiled by Cutspec

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 04/13/2011 - 04:35 pm

Brice Cutspec (2010 NDFA - Azusa Pacific) clouted a three-run HR in the top of the 1st to spoil the Cub debut of newly-signed veteran LHP Doug Davis, as one squad of EXST Giants thumped one squad of EXST Cubs 9-6 on Field #2, while Jesus Morelli ripped a two-run double down the LF line in the bottom of the 6th to get the Cubs within one run and then scored the tying run on a Yaniel Cabezas RBI single, as the other squad of EXST Cubs and the other squad of EXST Giants played to a 4-4 tie on Field #3, in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Fitch Park in Mesa this afternoon

Both games were seven-inning affairs, and the games were played simultaneously on adjacent fields.

The 35-year old Davis (1-4 with a 7.51 ERA and 1.98 WHIP with MIL in 2010) underwent surgery last October to repair an injured elbow flexor tendon and to transposition his ulnar nerve after suffering through much of the 2010 season with elbow tendinitis. The Cubs signed him to a minor league contract yesterday, and wasted no time in getting him to Fitch Park and into a game.  

Davis got off to a rocky start in the top of the 1st inning, allowing a triple and a walk before the Cutspec HR. He settled down nicely in the top of the 2nd, however, mixing a slow curve with an 84 MPH fastball (cutter) to strike out the side on just 12 pitches. No question Davis is the prototypical "soft-tossing lefty."

Iowa Cubs OF Brad Snyder (strained oblique) continued his injury rehab, playing RF for and getting four AB with the EXST Cubs squad on Field #3. Snyder flied out three straight times to the warning track in dead CF, and then drew a walk in his last PA.

Three pitchers who just arrived at Fitch Park from the Cubs Dominican Academy saw game action today. 20-year old Dominican RHP Starling Peralta (who had an impressive AZ Instructs last Fall when he made his U. S. debut) worked an easy 1-2-3 inning, but 19-year old Venezuelan RHP Ramon Garcia and 18-year old Venezuelan LHP Luis Villalba (both of whom were making their U. S. debuts) did not fare as well, with Villalba hearing the dreaded "Roll It!" when he was unable to get a third out in the top of the 4th after throwing 24 pitches (only 13 strikes). 

In addition to the Cutspec clout off Davis, EXST Giants slugger Leonardo Fuentes slammed a solo HR in the top of the 6th, and EXST Cubs DH Max Kwan mashed a two-run opposite-field HR over the RF fence with two outs in the bottom of the 7th. 

Here are today’s abridged box scores (Cubs players only):

FIELD #2

SQUAD “A” LINEUP:
1. Vismeldy Bieneme, 2B: 0-3 (6-3, F-8, BB, 6-3, R)
2. Marco Hernandez, SS: 2-3 (K, 1B, 3B, R, RBI)
3. Wilson Contreras, 1B: 1-3 (4-3, K, 2B, RBI)
4. Dong-Yub Kim, DH #1: 1-3 (1B, L-8, F-7)
5. Hector Suarez, C: 0-1 (K, BB, BB)
6. Blair Springfield, LF: 0-3 (K, 5-4 FC, K)
7. Eduardo Gonzalez, RF: 0-3 (P-6, 4-6 FC, K, R)
8. Oliver Zapata, CF: 1-2 (1B, BB, K, R)
9. Gregori Gonzalez, 3B: 0-1 (5-4 FC, HBP, HBP, R, CS)
10. Max Kwan, DH #2: 1-2 (K-DP, BB, HR, R, 2 RBI)

SQUAD “A” PITCHERS:
1. Doug Davis: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 36 pitches (23 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
2. Starling Peralta: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 18 pitches (11 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
3. Luis Villalba: 0.2 IP, 2 H 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 24 pitches (13 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
4. Joe Zeller: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 34 pitches (24 strikes), 4/3 GO/FO

SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 1
C Hector Suarez E2 – overthrow on SB attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance an extra base and eventually score unearned run on WP

SQUAD “A” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Hector Suarez: 0-1 CS, 1 E (see above)

FIELD #3

NOTE: Brad Snyder played RF and was the third batter in the bottom of the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th innings

SQUAD “B” LINEUP:
X. Brad Snyder, RF: 0-3 (F-8, F-8, F-8, BB)
1. Pin-Chieh Chen, 2B: 0-3 (F-8, K, 4-3)
2. Johan DeJesus, DH: 1-3 (6-3, K, 1B)
3. Jesus Morelli, LF: 2-3 (F-9, 1B, 2B, R, 2 RBI)
4. Yaniel Cabezas, C: 1-3 (F-7, 6-3, 1B, RBI, PO)
5. Xavier Batista, 1B: 0-3 (K, K, 5-3)
6. Wes Darvill, SS: 0-2 (BB, K, P-6, R)
7. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 1-3 (K, K, 2B)
8. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 2-3 (1B, 1B, 4-6-3 DP, R, RBI, SB)

SQUAD “B” PITCHERS:
1. Ramon Garcia: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 20 pitches (10 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
2. Jin-Young Kim: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 56 pitches (36 strikes), 7/0 GO/FO
3. Jose Rosario: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 PO, 39 pitches (19 strikes)

SQUAD “B” ERRORS: 2
1. 3B Dustin Geiger E5 – fielding error allowed batter reach base safely
2. P Jin-Young Kim E1 – errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 3rd base.

ATTENDANCE: 8

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 70’s

=====================================================

2011 CUBS EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING ROSTER:

MANAGER:
Mark Johnson

COACHES:
Juan Cabreja
Frank Castillo
Jason Dubois
Gian Guzman
David Rosario
Min-Kyu Sung
Rick Tronerud
Desi Wilson

ACTIVE LIST (54):

* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS (30):
* Hunter Ackerman
* Kyler Burke (ex-OF)
* Doug Davis (ACTIVE REHAB)
Dustin Fitzgerald
Ramon Garcia
Angel Guzman (ACTIVE REHAB)
Ty’Relle Harris (ACTIVE REHAB)
* Casey Harman
Ryan Hartman
Jay Jackson (ACTIVE REHAB)
Alvido Jimenez
Su-Min Jung
Jin-Yeong Kim
Luis Liria
Matt Loosen
Hector Mayora
Tarlandus Mitchell
Jon Nagel
Starling Peralta
Austin Reed
Colin Richardson
Jose Rosario
Alvaro Sosa (ex-C)
Larry Suarez
Charles Thomas (ex-3B)
* Luis Villalba
Tzu-An Wang
Yao-Lin Wang
Ben Wells
Joe Zeller

CATCHERS (6):
Yaniel Cabezas
Johan DeJesus
# Brian Inoa
Max Kwan
Carlos Romero
# Hector Suarez

INFIELDERS (9):
Gioskar Amaya
# Vismeldy Bieneme
Wilson Contreras
* Pin-Chieh Chen
* Wes Darvill
Dustin Geiger
Gregori Gonzalez
Dustin Harrington
# Marco Hernandez

OUTFIELDERS (9):
Xavier Batista
Reggie Golden
* Eduardo Gonzalez
Dong-Yub Kim
Jesus Morelli
* Kyung-Min Na
* Brad Snyder (ACTIVE REHAB)
Blair Springfield
# Oliver Zapata

Tags
Extended Spring Training
Brad Snyder
EXST Cubs
Jesus Morelli
Doug Davis

Comments

Submitted by tim815 on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:00 am

You have mentioned Hartman (or is it Harman) and Loosen as the first arms to Peoria from Extended Spring Training. I would guess Kwan or Cabezas as the first catchers. Chen would be my guess as the first infielder. Springfield or Morelli would be my guesses as the first outfielder. Sadly, I see two Peoria outfielders that may get a quick bump (Szczur and Silva), but I don't see anybody that appear ready to inherit their at bats. Correct me where I'm wrong. Thanks as always.

[ ]

Submitted by Hrubes20 on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:29 am

Aren't the Cubs being pretty cautious with Szczur early on? Something about a lingering ankle injury? I'm not sure he'll get promoted very quickly if the ankle still isn't 100%. Not real happy to see Kim give up 7 hits and 3 ERs in only 3 IP. But on the other hand, the 7:0 GB/FB ratio is outstanding and the 2:0 K/BB ratio is nice.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:17 pm

Submitted by Hrubes20 on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 10:29am. Aren't the Cubs being pretty cautious with Szczur early on? Something about a lingering ankle injury? I'm not sure he'll get promoted very quickly if the ankle still isn't 100%. Not real happy to see Kim give up 7 hits and 3 ERs in only 3 IP. But on the other hand, the 7:0 GB/FB ratio is outstanding and the 2:0 K/BB ratio is nice. =================================================== HRUBE: Matt Szczur suffered a leg injury (I think it was his ankle) in a game the last week at Minor League Camp, and it was 50-50 iffy whether he would even be able to start the season with Peoria. I doubt that he is 100%, but he has a football player's mentality of trying to play-through an injury, and so I suspect that's why he is in & out of the lineup so much. Jin-Young Kim gave up seven hits (two doubles and five singles) in his three innings, but three of the hits he allowed were back-to-back-to-back ground ball singles in the 5.5 hole between the diving Dustin Geiger and Wes Darvill. JY Kim has an outstanding sinker that he throws 88-89 MPH (tops), but he can throw it (and his curve ball and change-up, too) fairly consistently for strikes. He has tremendous poise for an 18-year old kid (he turns 19 on Saturday), and he also has the stamina to handle the workoad of a starting pitcher. I wouldn't say he is a top pitching prospect at this point, but he has some promise and could get better as he matures.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:58 am

Submitted by tim815 on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 7:00am. You have mentioned Hartman (or is it Harman) and Loosen as the first arms to Peoria from Extended Spring Training. I would guess Kwan or Cabezas as the first catchers. Chen would be my guess as the first infielder. Springfield or Morelli would be my guesses as the first outfielder. Sadly, I see two Peoria outfielders that may get a quick bump (Szczur and Silva), but I don't see anybody that appear ready to inherit their at bats. Correct me where I'm wrong. Thanks as always. ============================================ TIM: As of right now I would say RHP Matt Loosen, LHP Casey Harman, and RHP Luis Liria would be the pitchers most-likely to get moved-up to Peoria if and when there is an opening there. Both Loosen and Liria can either start or relieve (or "piggyback"), while Harman has been primed strictly as a lefty reliever going back to AZ Instructs last fall (when he made his pro debut). Kyung-Min Na and Jesus Morelli are probably the only two OF now at EXST who might get moved up to Peoria. Na is the most improved player at Fitch Park (he's another Tony Campana), and he actually was with the Peoria squad right up until the last day of Minor League Camp, until he got bumped so that Smaily Borges could mentor fellow Cuban defectors Silva and Serrano. Morelli was with the Daytona squad for most of Minor League Camp, but he was bumped by Ha, Crawford, Burgess and N. Perez at Daytona and then by Silva, Szczur, Borges, and Fitzgerald at Peoria, and was ultimately left at EXST as a potential injury replacement for Peoria or Daytona. Morelli is a good hitter and can play all three OF positions, but if he doesn't develop some HR power he probably has little future in pro ball, because he doesn't have much plate discipline, and he isn't particularly fast either. However, OF Jose Valdez is on the Peoria DL (don't know why, though) and is at Fitch Park on INACTIVE REHAB. Once he is healthy he would probably move ahead of both Na and Morelli on the depth chart if there is an opening at Peoria or Daytona. Blair Springfield has been a bust so far and will be lucky to make it to Boise. The Cubs may try moving him back to the infield (he was a SS-CF in HS) before they give up on him, with 2B the most-likely position. Also, 2010 #2 draft pick Reggie Golden is fat and out of shape, and it is a foregone conclusion that he will probably play with a short season team this summer, the only question being whether it will be AZL Cubs (Mesa) or Boise. He really needs to lose some weight. As far as the infielders are concerned, both Pin-Chieh Chen and Wes Darvill spent most of Minor League Camp with the Peoria squad, and so either could get moved up to Peoria if needed. Darvill can play SS-2B and Chen can play 2B-LF-CF. Switch-hitting Vismeldy Bieneme is a versatile player (2B-3B-SS-LF-CF) with plus speed, and guys like that will sometimes get a promotion just because of their versatility. Because he is an older player with college experience (at East Carolina), Dustin Harrington was with the Daytona squad for a while at the beginning of Minor League Camp as the D-Cubs primary utility infielder (2B-3B-SS), before getting moved quickly downward, first to Peoria, and then to Boise/Mesa. Harrington is the type of "A"-ball "roster filler" who could be an injury replacement at either Peoria or Daytona if needed. Brandon May is out with an undisclosed illness, but if and when he returns to action (and gets into playing shape) he would be a very good candidate to eventually become the everyday 3B at Peoria. He was also on the DL two or three times last year. He needs to stay healthy. Max Kwan was signed as a NDFA college senior (U. of Washington) after the 2010 June draft and (like Dustin Harrington) could be an injury replacement at either Peoria or Daytona should the need arise, although I doubt that he will be around this time next year. Kwan was not at all impressive offensively or defensively at AZ Instructs post-2010 (when he made his pro debut), but he has played much better this year. Kwan benefitted from injuries to Jose Guevara and Carlos Romero during Minor League Camp. (Both Guevara and Romero are still out of action, but while Guevara is still on crutches, Romero is healthy enough to be the bullpen catcher at EXST games). It was a battle between Yaniel Cabezas and Sergio Burruel for the #2 catcher job at Peoria for most of Minor League Camp, and I thought that the Cubs might assign Cabezas there with the other Cuban players, but at the end they decided to leave Burruel with Peoria and keep Cabezas at EXST (at least for a while).

[ ]

Submitted by navigator on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:39 pm

Here's Goldstein on Sports Central winter of 2009,
Castro was recently named the top prospect of the Cubs' system by Jim Callis at Baseball America, but Goldstein said Josh Vitters is still the best prospect in the Cubs' organization. Goldstein is not sure why Starlin Castro is being "blown up" the way he is this winter. Goldstein explained Castro is a very good prospect but is not the elite-level prospect that many are making him out to be. Goldstein said Castro's range is below average; he is slow on the bases and has no power.
hat tip to ChicagoCubsOnline Castro 562 major league AB's .309 .353 .418 .771 Castro minor league totals .310 .362 .421 .783 Vitters minor league totals .276 .319 .438 .756

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:20 pm

2010 OPS by NL RF and most games played or top 2 GP Werth .902 Morse .870 or Bernadina .691 Heyward .845 Stanton .837 or C. Ross .727 Francouer .672 Hart .867 Bruce .853 Colvin .816 (fukudome was .809) Pence .785 Ludwick .744 Jones .720 or Milledge .712 Ethier .863 Upton .790 Hawpe .756 or Spillborghs .797 Venable .711 or Ludwick (see above) Schierholtz .676 still puts him 8th, not going to bother adding LF cause it'll be about the same result. Colvin is also 25 and playing at the league minimum. *note* some of those OPS numbers are what they got playing RF, some were they're overall numbers. I was jumping between ESPN and BR and didn't feel like being perfect about it.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:04 pm

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2011/04/minor-league-tran… don't think any of that is new... Signed: LHP Doug Davis, LHP Polin Trinidad (re-signed) Released: OF Brandon Watson Placed on restricted list: OF Melvin Camarena Recalled: RHP Casey Coleman, RHP Jeff Stevens Option transferred: C Welington Castillo (Triple-A to Double-A) Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Manolin de Leon, RHP Angel Guzman, RHP Gian Carlos Guzman, RHP Ty'Relle Harris, RHP Randy Jackson, RHP Dylan Johnston, RHP Su-Min Jung, RHP Oswaldo Martinez, RHP Trey McNutt, RHP Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP Todd Wellemeyer, 1B John Urick, 2B Carlos Figueroa, 2B Augie Ojeda, OF Brad Snyder

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:35 pm

Iowa: already won 10-6 over Albuquerque, F. Perez with 3 runs scored, a SB and 3 BB's. M. Ramirez goes 1/3 with 2 BB. C. Carpenter w/ 2 shutout innings. Smokies: Jackson CF, Flaherty 2B, Ridling 1B, Spencer RF, Vitters 3B, Clevenger C, Adduci LF, Lalli DH, Gonzalez SS Chris Archer vs. Rafel Dolis Daytona: Crawford LF, Watkins 2B, Ha CF, Bour 1B, Castillo DH, Burgess RF, Lake SS, Cerda 3B, Noble C, RHP Kurcz Peoria: Szczur 8, LePage 4, Rohan 3, Jones DH, Borges 9, Fitzgerald 7, Giansanti 5, Burruel 2, Soto 6, Beeler 1 followed by Lopez

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:35 pm

Dolis with a 1-2-3 top of 1st... Archer: Jackson FO-8, Flaherty 2B, Ridling K, Spencer 2B, Vitters FO-8 1-0 Smokies

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:19 pm

4th: Dolis gives up a 2-out single, a wild pitch but gets out of it with a K 55 pitches, 36 strikes, 19 balls Archer: Vitters BB, Clevenger sac bunt, Wild pitch, Adduci RBI GO 6-3, Lalli GO-3 60 pitches, 37 strikes, 23 balls 2-0 Smokies

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 04:43 pm

5th: Dolis gives up a 1-out triple, scores on a groundout Archer: Gonzalez GO-3, Jackson INF 1B, Bunch of pickoff attempts at 1B, but Jackson still steals 2B, but then thrown out trying to steal 3B and Jackson gets ejected, Flaherty BB and steals 2B, Ridling BB and a wild pitch and Archer is done in favor of Neil Schenk Spencer K's but a wild pitch scores Flaherty Archer 76 P, 42 S, 34 B - 6 GO/3 FB 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K 3-1 Smokies

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 04:23 am

Rotoworld stuff... Q-Ball would "love" for Castro/Barney to be the 1-2 combo. Fukudome probably not ready for Friday. Pena still bothered by thumb injury.

[ ]

Submitted by Ryno on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 04:26 am

Wasn't he talking about moving Castro in the lineup just a few days ago? I mean if he is this fickle, it sounds like he will run the team like I run my fantasy baseball team- poorly. Either way, you don't mess with the 1-2 guys when they're hitting like this. You just ride it out. If you have to reassess in a month, so be it, but let's not change our minds from series to series.

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 04:04 pm

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=13595 Cubs Rafael Dolis, RHP, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K. No. 15 prospect in the system had mid-90s velocity but needs to deepen the arsenal to avoid a relief profile. Josh Vitters, 3B, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 2-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB. Hitting .360 in three games with three walks; it took him 30 games to draw his third Double-A walk in 2010. and for crunch Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 1-for-2, HR (5), R, RBI, BB, K. Maybe that crazy season in the Cal League was for real after all. At least maybe, don't want to make too many conclusions on his impressive .381/.536/1.143 line in seven games.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 04:18 pm

Bobby Scales 4th in OPS in the PCL, LaHair 11th, Montanez 16th and Scott Mooore a little behind that Tennessee has 5 of the top 7 in OPS in Southern League (Goldschmidt is 1st) Jackson, Clevenger, Ridling, Vitters, Spencer all over 1.000 with LeMahieu at 929 Cerda and Burgess over 1.000 in FSL and rank #10 and #12. Pierre LePage and Rubi Silva over 1.000 in Midwest League (#2 and #10)

Recent comments

  • crunch 09/27/2023 - 09:02 pm (view)

    happ finally gets HR #20.  he joins bellinger, morel, suzuki, swanson, and wisdom with 20+ HR.

  • crunch 09/27/2023 - 09:29 pm (view)

    took tailon 5 pitches to give up a HR to the 2nd batter of the game.  phew...

  • crunch 09/27/2023 - 09:59 pm (view)

    candel's back and playing 1st.  tauchman DH'ing...  j.young optioned to AAA...forgot he was here.

  • crunch 09/27/2023 - 09:49 pm (view)

    he's wearing this one for life whether he likes it or not.  you can't pull a brant brown in the last week of the season when it's 4 teams going for 2 playoff spots...especially with your last games going forward vs teams that are 1st place in their division.

    he might as well do whatever it takes to move on because it's part of the drama of this chase for the post-season no matter how the cubs do here on out.

  • Arizona Phil 09/27/2023 - 09:33 pm (view)

    FWIW, the year Brant Brown dropped the fly ball in Milwaukee the Cubs made the playoffs anyway, although they did have to play a tie-breaker play-in game with the Giants at Wrigley Field to get in as the N. L. Wild Card team (there was only one Wild Card team in each league back then)...  

  • Charlie 09/27/2023 - 09:16 pm (view)

    Ron Santo's voice came out of me while watching.

    I am really hoping for a bounce back by Suzuki tonight. That error in that moment could really get in your head -- and unfairly shift the public perception of the player for a long time.

  • Arizona Phil 09/27/2023 - 09:28 pm (view)

    F NOLDARAN: 

    The Cubs have no control with respect to Marcus Stroman or Drew Smyly exercising their player options for 2024. 

    Stroman will get $21M in 2024 if he exercises his player option and Smyly gets $10.5M in 2024 (includes a $2M salary escalator based on IP in 2023) if he exercises his player option (both likely, especially Smyly). 

    Kyle Hendricks has a $16M club option for 2024 or else a $1.5M buy-out, and it remains to be seen if the Cubs will exercise the option (which is really just a $14.5M savings because of the buy-out). I would think the Cubs will exercise the club option, because they can always trade him.  

    Also, the Cubs will be paying performance bonuses post-2023 to Yan Gomes (either $250K or $500K based on games started at catcher) and Smyly ($2M based on IP). Also, Cody Bellinger gets as $1M bonus if he wins N. L. Comeback Player of the Year Award (which is very likely).

    So with the $3M+ in performance bonuses still to be paid, the Cubs 2023 payroll AAV will likely end up just slightly under the 2023 MLB $232M CBT threshold, possibly within $1M (TBD).  

    BTW, as things stand right now it appears that the Cubs will have somewhere in the vicinity of $30M in 2024 salary to spend on additions to the roster (I am presuming that Bellinger will opt-out, that Stroman and Smyly will not opt out, that the Cubs will pick up the club options on Hendricks and Gomes but will not pick-up the club option on Brad Boxberger, and that the Cubs will tender 2024 contracts to only three or four of the arbitration eligible guys -- Steele and Alzolay for sure, probably Merryweather, plus MAYBE Tauchman and/or Leiter), with Nick Burdi, Codi Heuer, Nick Madrigal, and Patrick Wisdom likely to be non-tendered (or traded prior to being non-tendered if another club is interested). 

    However, I suspect that the Cubs will attempt to re-sign Heuer and Burdi -- and Tauchman and/or Leiter if they are non-tendered -- to 2024 minor league contracts with an NRI to Spring Training. Brandon Hughes and Ethan Roberts are not arbitration-eligible but they also are likely to be non-tendered and then the Cubs will attempt to sign them to 2024 minor league contracts with an NRI to Spring Training.

    MLB Contract Tender Day this year is November 17th (the Friday immediately prior to Thanksgiving), so I expect to see a lot of transaction-related activity at that time throughout MLB. 

    However, the deadline to add Rule 5 eligible players to the MLB 40-man roster is PRIOR TO MLB Contract Tender Day, so the Cubs will need to drop as many players from the 40 as roster slots are needed PRIOR TO MLB Contract Tender Day.

    The players presently on the 40 who are most likely to be Designated for Assignment (and outrighted if not claimed) to clear slots on the 40 prior to MLB Contract Tender Day for Rule 5 Draft eligibles would probably be Michael Rucker, Jared Young, Jeremiah Estrada, and Caleb Kilian (in that order), although the Cubs could also just DFA one or more of the players they have  already decided to non-tender and not re-sign (like Madrigal and/or Wisdom, and maybe Leiter and/or Tauchman). 

    At 9 AM (Eastern) on the day after the final game of the World Series (two or three weeks prior to MLB Contract Tender Day) is when unsigned MLB Article XX-B players are automatically declared free-agents (they do NOT have to file, it's automatic), so that's when Bellinger, Boxberger, Candelario, and Fulmer will be removed from the Cubs MLB 40-man roster, and then at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series is when all players still on a club's MLB 60-day IL (Burdi,  Heuer, Hughes, and Roberts) are automatically reinstated to the 40-man roster.

    So by 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, the Cubs 40-man roster will likely be full (subtracting free-agents Bellinger, Boxberger, Candelario, and Fulmer, and adding Burdi, Heuer, Hughes, and Roberts back from the 60-day IL). 

    5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series is also the point in time when unsigned minor league players eligible to be a post-2023 MLB Rule 9 6YFA are automatically declared free-agents, unless the player is added to the MLB 40-man roster or has signed a 2024 minor league successor contract. This will impact the Cubs with respect to OF Yonathan Perlaza and SS Luis Vazquez (two legit prospects who are eligible to be minor league free-agents post-2023).  

  • Sonicwind75 09/27/2023 - 09:07 pm (view)

    Ron Santo's "ohhhh nooooo" is what immediately came to my mind. 

  • crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)

    in 1 week of play, masterboney has gone from a line of .206/.289/.265 to .262/.333/.328

    11 hits and 1 walk in 21 PA.  9 singles, 2 doubles.

  • crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:36 pm (view)

    that was a true kick in the teeth loss.  6 run lead blown.  ARZ won.  CIN won.  MIA postponed (vs NYM)

Click HERE for the last 50 comments