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

Cubs Roll a Big Five in 8th to Edge D-backs at Fitch

Javier Baez, Dan Vogelbach, and Rock Shoulders hammered back-to-back-to back doubles and Gioskar Amaya ripped an RBI single to cut the deficit to one, and then Gregori Gonzalez slammed an RBI triple to tie the score and scored the go-ahead run (eventual winning run) on a suicide squeeze play (pitcher threw a ball in the dirt and past the catcher), as the AZL Cubs rallied for five runs in the bottom of the 8th to edge the AZL Diamondbacks 5-4 in Arizona League action at Fitch Park Field #3 this morning in Mesa.

 This was the final 2011 game for the AZL Cubs, who were eliminated from contention for the AZL Wild Card last Thursday.

Recently-signed 2011 draft-picks RHPs Michael Jensen and Tayler Scott made their second appearances in four days, and both looked sharp, each throwing two innings of one-hit shutout ball (although Jensen's one hit allowed was a two-out broken-bat single, while Scott allowed a booming one-out triple but the runner was left-stranded), with a combined 9/0 GO/FO between the two pitchers. Jensen threw 23 pitches (17 strikes) with a 4/0 GO/FO and two strikeouts (both swinging) in his 2.0 IP, while Scott threw 21 pitches (15 strikes) with a 5/0 GO/FO and one K (looking).

Jensen (who broke about three or four D'backs bats in his two innings of work) throws a fastball that tops out at 94 MPH and a hard slider, and reminds me a lot of Daytona RHRP and 2010 10th round pick Aaron Kurcz, and Scott throws an 89-91 MPH fastball and a slow curve.

Cubs #1 draft pick Javier Baez got the start at SS and batted 2nd in the order today.

He doubled off the top of the LF fence and then stole 3B in the bottom of the 1st, flied out to the warning track in CF in his 2nd AB in the 3rd, flied out to the warning track in LF in the bottom of the 5th, and then doubled off the top of the right-centerfield fence in his 4th PA leading off the five-run 8th. No question the kid has big-time power.

But Baez wasn't quite as impressive in the field, committing three careless errors at SS that resulted in three unearned runs scoring. While he made one nifty "no-look" back-handed stop & throw worthy of the Harlem Globetrotters in the top of the 2nd, and started a key 6-4-3 DP to help protect the Cubs one-run lead in the top of the 9th, he also bobbled two easy bouncers (one in the 6th and another in the 8th) allowing batters to reach base (both eventually scored), and then on one of the fielding errors he blew his cool, launching a totally unnecessary throw over the 1st baseman's head (the batter had already crossed 1st base) allowing the batter-runner to advance to 2nd base.

The 18-year old Baez is kind of cocky and a bit of a "hot dog" (like holding the ball an extra beat and then firing a rocket to 1st base, or trying to turn a routine play into an ESPN Sports Center highlight), and he is a bit chippy with the umpires, too. He does run OK and he is an aggressive base-runner, and while he looks like he enjoys playing SS, he probably does not have the range to stay there. He could eventually end up at 3B, or maybe even a corner OF spot (he appears to have the arm strength needed to play RF). However, the Cubs will probably leave him at SS for a while to help ease his adjustment to pro ball, since he obviously feels comfortable playing the position.

Cubs 2011 2nd round pick Dan Vogelbach played 1B and batted 3rd today, and handled himself well around the bag at 1st base. He also (once again) took an outside fastball and hammered it to the opposite field (into the LF corner) for an RBI double, driving in Baez for the Cubs 1st run in the bottom of the 8th.

DH Rock Shoulders--who struck out in each of his first three AB, looking totally lost trying to hit breaking balls and off-speed pitches--then put a hurt on a first-pitch fastball, pulling it down the RF line for a double to score Vogelbach from 2nd base.

2B Gioskar Amaya followed, lining a single to drive-in Shoulders from 2nd (the hot-hitting Amaya had two singles and a double today, as he went 17-32 over his final eight AZL games), before AZL Cubs supersub Gregori Gonzalez sliced a triple over the right-fielder's head to knock-in Amaya with the tying run.

And then with Carlos Romero squaring for a suicide squeeze bunt, G. Gonzalez scored the go-ahead run (what was the eventual winning run) on (technically) a steal of home, when the Diamondbacks pitcher threw the ball into the dirt and past the catcher. 

Cubs 2011 18th round draft pick RHP James Pugliese pitched the 8th inning and struggled to throw strikes (20 pitches - only nine strikes), and despite allowing two walks and an unearned run, picked-up the win, and RHP Rafael Diplan threw a shutout 9th for the save (as the Diamondbacks left the potential tying run stranded at 3rd base).

Comments

Besides the AZL Cubs failing to qualify for the AZL playoffs as the Wild Card team, DSL Cubs #1 did not qualify for the DSL playoffs, DSL Cubs #2 did qualify but got swept 3-0 by the DSL Mariners in the first round, Boise has not yet been eliminated from the NWL post-season but the Hawks are seemingly headed in that direction, Peoria will not qualify for the MWL playoffs, and Iowa will not qualify for the PCL post-season. However! Both Tennessee (Southern League) and Daytona (FSL) have qualified for their respective league playoffs, so baseball will continue for those two Cubs farm clubs past Labor Day.

milb.com hasn't posted today's AZL box scores yet, so until they do, here is the unofficial abridged box score (Cubs players only): LINEUP: 1. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 1-4 (K, P-6, 1B, 3-6-3 GIDP) 2. Javier Baez, SS: 2-4 (2B, F-8, F-7, 2B, R, SB) 3. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-3 (HBP, F-8, 4-3, 2B, R, RBI, SB) 4. Rock Shoulders,DH: 1-4 (K, K, K, 2B, R, RBI) 5. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 3-4 (F-9, 1B, 2B, 1B, R, RBI, SB) 6. Brian Inoa, RF: 1-4 (K, 1B, 3-2 FC, 6-3) 7. Gregori Gonzalez, 3B: 1-4 (5-3, 6-4 FC, 5-4 FC, 3B, R, RBI, SB) 8. Carlos Romero, C: 2-4 (K, 6-3, 1B, 1B, PO) 9. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 0-3 (L-7, BB, 4-6 FC, F-8) PITCHERS: 1. Michael Jensen: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 4/0 GO/FO, 23 pitches (17 strikes) 2. Tayler Scott: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 5/0 GO/FO, 21 pitches (15 strikes) 3. Jin-Young Kim: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 2/4 GO/FO, 39 pitches (31 strikes) 4. James Pugliese: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 20 pitches (9 strikes) 5. Rafael Diplan: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 1 PO, 3/0 GO/FO, 14 pitches (6 strikes) ERRORS (4): SS Javier Baez: 3 (fielding, fielding, throw) 3B Gregori Gonzalez: 1 (missed tag) WP: Pugliese (2-2) SV: Diplan (1)

AZ Phil, Which appears to be the better natural SS, Marco Hernandez or Javy Baez? I am guessing that Hernandez is better since every scout of the draft says that Baez is a future 3B. I watched his scouting clips and agreed with much of the 3B switch talk. I am curious about the Hernandez kid. Sounds like he and Amaya made a good tandem (add Zapata before his promotion and those three were the reason to check AZL Cubs' box scores). Phil, enjoy the time off until Instructs start. Always fun to read the detailed updates. I'd like to be able to do them myself someday.

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Submitted by Childersb3 on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 7:05pm. AZ Phil, Which appears to be the better natural SS, Marco Hernandez or Javy Baez? I am guessing that Hernandez is better since every scout of the draft says that Baez is a future 3B. I watched his scouting clips and agreed with much of the 3B switch talk. I am curious about the Hernandez kid. Sounds like he and Amaya made a good tandem (add Zapata before his promotion and those three were the reason to check AZL Cubs' box scores). Phil, enjoy the time off until Instructs start. Always fun to read the detailed updates. I'd like to be able to do them myself someday. =============================================== CHILDERS: I would say both Marco Hernandez and Javier Baez look like natural shortstops (but then so did D. J.LeMahieu), and I would not be surprised if both stay at SS for a while. The problem is trying to project them to where they will play at the higher minor league levels and MLB. In the case of Hernandez, if he becomes an everyday player in the big leagues it will likely be at 2B, He has the range and ball-handling skills to be a middle-infielder, but his arm is not ideal for a SS. If he ends up as more of a utility infielder (and he has played SS-2B-3B this year at AZL Cubs), then he should be able to handle SS when needed, but probably not as an everyday player. Baez is sort of the opposite of Hernandez, in that he has the arm strength to play SS, but but not the range or ball-handling skills. And while arm strength can be improved (somewhat), range cannot. If you ain't got it, you ain't got it. If Baez makes it to the big leagues as a back-up, I would say he would probably be a 3B-LF-RF guy, but if he is the hitter he appears to be, he could be an everyday player at 3B, LF, or RF. All that said, I expect both Hernandez and Baez will play SS next season. Hernandez should start the 2012 season at Peoria (with Amaya and Darvill), while I would expect Baez to be at Extended Spring Training April-May before getting assigned to Boise in June.

saw the first non-MLB/sports network commercial for Moneyball (movie) on TBS...it seems they're going to market it to "normal" people stressing the relationship between beane and his daughter...it made up almost 1/2 the commerical's material. kinda a family baseball movie vibe type appeal...played up the relationship between the suddenly fat as hell paul d. character and beane pretty heavily, too.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I read an article online somewhere about the behind the scenes making of that movie, and how to get it approved again after the famous director dropped out, I forget his name, but the next group that took over decided to expand the tiny role of the daughter/father relationship to a much larger chunk of the movie. The first director and script were going to have David Justice and Scott Hattieberg play themselves, and have interviews with other former players, some of which was already filmed before the other director dropped out and the movie studio tried to kill the film. When it got back on track the real players were all cut from the new script. At one point, the first director also talked to Art Howe about playing himself. The article didn't say what Howe wanted to do. I think Steven Soderburgh was the first director tied to the project.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Soderburgh did The Informant!, right? That was a movie about an incredible and interesting real-life story that was completely ruined in its movie form... partly by poor acting on Matt Damon's part, but also by draining any kind of narrative out of the movie. The thing is, you either make a documentary or you make a movie, you can't ride the fence. If you make a movie, which is what The Informant! was and what Moneyball is, you have to have a story... it can't be all gimmick. Take Frost-Nixon, for example. It's based on the real Frost & Nixon interview, but really it's the protagonist's "fish out of water" story that makes it work so well. The Informant! had an element of that, but really it seemed like they spent way too much time trying to make Matt Damon's character funny.

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).