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

Cubs Battle Wyverns to 2-2 Tie at Fitch Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 10/02/2013 - 10:41 pm

Tyler Skulina and five relievers combined to toss a four-hitter, and Carlos Penalver tripled, singled, walked, and scored both Cub runs, as the Cubs and the SK Wyverns (KBO) played to a 2-2 tie in Arizona Instructional League action this afternoon at Fitch Park Field #4 in Mesa. 


Two Korean (KBO) teams sent developmental squads to the Arizona Instructional League this year, witb the SK Wyverns prospects playing in the AZIL East with the Cubs, A's, Angels, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Giants, Rockies, and Las Aguilas de Mexicali (LMP), while the NC Dinos youngsters are assigned to the AZIL West with the Dodgers, Indians, Mariners, Reds, Rangers, Royals, and White Sox. (The Padres are not fielding a team in the AZIL this year, instead opting to send all of their kids to the Dominican Instructional League that begins after the conclusion of the AZIL). 

In addition to the traditional AZ Instructional League, there is also an AZ Advanced Instructional League (AZAIL) operating now, too. This league is designed for older and more experienced players than those normally assigned to the AZIL, and consists of squads from the Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Rangers, Reds, Royals, a Mariners/Brewers co-op team, and Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo and Los Yaquis de Obregon from the Mexican Pacific League.

Six Cubs players who have been assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League (AFL) saw game action in today's AZIL game at Fitch Park, to prep for AFL Opening Day next Tuesday. .

2012 #1 draft pick Albert Almora played CF and batted second in the order, going 0-3 with a 1-3 comebacker to the mound, a P-2 foul out to the catcher, and a strike out (swinging). He caught one fly ball (basket catch, 'natch).

Jorge Soler played RF and batted third, getting three Plate Appearances and reaching base twice on a walk and a line single to left-center. But he was also picked-off 1st base (and he was totally frozen on the play, too, didn't even move, almost like he was distracted or not paying attention).

2013 #1 draft pick Kris Bryant played 3rd base, hit clean-up, and and batted three times, hitting into a 6-4 FC to end the bottom of the 1st, before striking out (swinging) in each of his final two AB (both times on breaking balls on a 1-2 count). He also commited one error in the field (an easy one-hop bouncer hit right at him, that bounced in & out of his glove before dribbling into foul territory).

In addition, Wes Darvill (who is assigned to the Solar Sox "taxi squad," meaning he can play only on Wednesdays and Saturdays) got the start at 2nd base and went 0-2 with a walk, and RHRPs Armando Rivero and Lendy Castillo threw one shutout inning a piece.

The defensive gem of the day was turned-in by 2B Gioskar Amaya, who ranged behind 2nd base with no outs in the top of the 6th to make a diving stop of a grounder headed for CF, and then (from his knees) threw out the Wyverns baserunner trying to advance from 1st to 2nd. 

Here is the abridged box score from today's game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Trey Martin, LF: 1-2 (1-3, 2B, F-9 SF, RBI)
1b. Shawon Dunston Jr, LF: 0-1 (4-6 FC, RBI)
2a. Albert Almora, CF: 0-3 (1-3, P-2, K)
2b. Rashad Crawford, CF: 0-1 (4-6 FC)
3a. Jorge Soler, RF: 1-2 (BB, 1B, L-5, PO)
3b. Jose Dore, RF: 0-1 (4-3)
4a. Kris Bryant, 3B: 0-3 (6-4 FC, K, K)
4b. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-1 (P-5)
5a. Wes Darvill, 2B: 0-2 (4-3, F-7, BB)
5b. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 0-1 (F-9)
6. Yasiel Balaguert, DH: 1-4 (P-5, F-8, F-7, 1B)
7. Carlos Penalver, SS: 2-3 (1B, 3B, BB, 1-4 FC, 2 R)
8a. Ben Carhart, 1B: 0-1 (5-3, BB)
8b. Kelvin Freeman, 1B: 0-2 (K, 6-4-3 DP)
9a. Wilfredo Petit, C: 0-1 (K, BB)
9b. Erick Castillo, C: 1-1 (1B)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Tyler Skulina: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 2/1 GO/FO, 33 pitches (19 strikes)
2. Rob Zastryzny: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 33 pitches (19 strikes)
3. Armando Rivero: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 13 pitches (8 strikes)
4. Lendy Castillo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 3/0 GO/FO, 9 pitches (5 strikes)
5. Johermyn Chavez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 1/4 GO/FO, 38 pitches (18 strikes)
6. Sam Wilson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 17 pitches (11 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 2
1. C Wilfredo Petit - E-2 (overthrow on SB attempt at 2nd base allowed baserunner to advance to 3rd)
2. 3B Kris Bryant - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
 
CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Wilfredo Petit: 0-3 CS, 1 E (see above)
2. Erick Castillo: 0-1 CS

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSIST:
LF Trey Martin - Batter thrown out 7-2-4 trying to advance to 2nd base after a play at the plate on an RBI single.

ATTENDANCE: 12 (mostly scouts)

WEATHER: Sunny, cloudless, and breezy, with temperatures in the 90's 
 

Tags
AZ Instructional League
Jorge Soler
SK Wyverns
Albert Almora
Tyler Skulina
Rob Zastryzny
Kris Bryant
Carlos Penalver

Comments

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 10/02/2013 - 10:51 pm

what's gerardo concepcion up to, btw? injured? not injured? still in ARZ? expected to play this fall/winter?

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 10/02/2013 - 10:50 pm

anyone else watching the game on TBS get the audio of the bat crack before the video...yet everything else seems to be synched? weird stuff. ...nevermind...just checked twitter...it does seem to be a "thing"

Submitted by John Beasley on Wed, 10/02/2013 - 10:08 pm

If the Tribe gets knocked out, maybe TheoCo can give the manager's job to Giambi. I think he's just the right guy to give the offense a little juice. Also, Jeremy can chip in with how to turn the most important run of your life into an out.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 10/02/2013 - 10:14 pm

lulz twitter... pre-game...fan confidence from indians fans after the d.young HR...a few "why is salazar starting?" during the 4th inning TB run..."why the hell is salazar starting? wtf? this was stupid!" lulz.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 10/02/2013 - 10:26 pm

i've never cared who managed the yanks, nor wished them as much luck in their wants as this girardi thing. i think he's an awesome manager...nothing wrong with him aside from his occasionally weird pen use, really...and some of his weird double/triple switches for a guy that manages an AL team. still, i don't want to see a $3m+ manager before i want about 1/2 dozen other things involving money to happen to this team. btw, i keep throwing $3m+ around conservatively, but ultimately girardi is most likely going to command $4m+...especially with 2 of the richest teams in the game supposedly wanting his services.

[ ]

Submitted by Old and Blue on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:00 am

I seriously doubt that if the Cubs spent even $5 million on a manager they would turn around and say about Free Agent X, "oh no, we can't afford him now, because we just paid the ghost of Ron Santo 5 million!!!" The managerial salary has no impact on what they'll spend on players, I am pretty sure.

Submitted by Blou on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:16 am

Looks like Girardi stays in NY. Which to be honest, I'm fine with. AJ Hinch, Eric Wedge, Torey Lovullo, maybe Mike Maddux, maybe Bud Black...all prospective candidates that interest me. We've been burned in the past by the insistence of hiring a "big name"...see Dusty Baker...see Lou Piniella. Girardi is a great manager and I would love to have him, but if it's not meant to be then it isn't the end of the world.

[ ]

Submitted by Blou on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:02 am

Why not AJ Hinch? A lot of outstanding managers had failed stops elsewhere before things came together. Terry Francona is shining example of this...he spent 4 lousy seasons managing in Philly before he was fired, then regrouped and evenually Theo hired him in Boston where he presided over 2 World Series Championships. I don't need a "winning pedigree" in a manager. What did that ever get us with Dusty Baker or Lou Piniella? A big fat nothing is the answer. Girardi would be great, but it doesn't appear he is interested in leaving the Yankees. And I can hardly blame him. AJ Hinch, Sandy Alomar Jr., Eric Wedge, Torey Lovullo, Tony Pena, maybe Davey Martinez, maybe Bud Black, maybe Mike Maddux...a lot of intriguing names.

[ ]

Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:57 am

Again, Mike Maddux is not a candidate unless his grade school and high school-age children moved out of his house and took jobs to support themselves. Or - he changed his mind from his last interview with Theo from two years ago and decided he doesn't care as much about "spending time with his family".

[ ]

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:20 am

"Looks like Girardi stays in NY." Defeatism, thy name is fan-Cubbery (Cub-fannery?)! Girardi has never turned down an offer from the Cubs. They could have signed him after the 2006 season, but Hendry had never watched him play high-school ball, so he signed the home-town guy instead. After the 2010 season, Hendry said Quade had earned the job; otherwise it would probably have gone to Sandberg. Ricketts romanced Epstein and signed him, he can do the same with Girardi; and there are indications that he would like to try.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:56 am

IIRC..Hinch was not liked by his players, and was not a good communicator in Arizona. Why let Sveum go...for someone like that? For all of Dusty and Lou's foibles...there were some playoff teams under their tenures, right?

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:39 pm

sure, I'm saying the Cubs could go after him, I highly doubt the Rays are that attached if the Cubs are willing to part with some decent but non-superstar players. He's certainly fits the job description of one with experience and good player development track record.

obviously pie in the sky type stuff and I don't expect it to happen, but no one thought Epstein was coming to the Cubs either.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:02 pm

Cubs claim Mat Gamel off waivers...glad they read me :)

$20 virtual bucks says he goes back on waivers at some point this offseason.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:04 pm

JOHN B: The current waiver claim priority (starting on the day after the conclusion of the 2013 MLB regular season and continuing through the 30th day of the 2014 MLB regular season) is based on the standings of all MLB clubs (regardless of league except for tie-breaker) from the 2013 season (worst record gets #1 priority onward to best record gets 30th priority), with the tie-breaker being the club in the player's own league gets the claim if the tie is with a club from the other league, but otherwise the tie-breaker is the standings from two seasons ago, and if there is still a tie, you go back three seasons, four seasons ago, etc, until the tie is broken.  

POST-2013 WAIVER CLAIM PRIORITY:  

1. HOU
2. MIA
3. CHW

IF N. L. PLAYER:
4. CUBS 
5. MIN 

IF A. L. PLAYER:
4. MIN
5. CUBS

6. SEA
7. PHI

IF N. L. PLAYER:
8. COL
9. NYM 
10. MIL 
11. TOR 

IF A. L. PLAYER:
8. TOR
9. COL
10. NYM
11. MIL

12. SD
13. SF
14. LAA
15. AZ
16. BAL
17. NYY

IF N. L. PLAYER:
18. WAS
19. KC

IF A. L. PLAYER:
18. KC
19. WAS

20. CIN
21. TEX
22. TB

IF N. L. PLAYER:
23. LAD
24. CLE

IF A, L. PLAYER:
23. CLE
24. LAD

25. DET 
26. PIT

IF N. L. PLAYER:
27. ATL
28. OAK

IF A. L. PLAYER:
27. OAK
28. ATL

IF N. L. PLAYER:
29. STL
30. BOS

IF A. L PLAYER:  
29. BOS
30. STL

Also regarding Mat Gamel: 

1. He is out of minor league options;
2. He can elect free-agency if he is outrighted because he has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time;
3. He is eligible for salary arbitration post-2013.  

So while I doubt that the Cubs will try to outright him, they very well could non-tender him on 12/2 and then (presuming he agrees) re-sign him to a non-guaranteed 2014 minor league contract (albeit for "big league money" - probably around $750K) and an NRI to Spring Training.

Also, when a club whose 40-man roster is full is awarded a waiver claim, the club must immediately remove a player from its 40-man roster to make room for the new player, and the club cannot DFA the player they just claimed even if they intend to immediately place him back onto Outright Assignment Waivers. During the season this might involve transferring a player from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL, but that is not an option once the MLB regular season has concluded. So look for the Cubs to DFA J. C. Boscan, and then outright him to the minors once waivers have been secured. And then Boscan will elect free-agency (because he has been outrighted previously in his career), although that would not preclude the Cubs from signing him to a 2014 minor league contract with an NRI to Spring Training (if there is mutual interest).  
. 

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:47 pm

Just as a point of information, there are four types of waivers (Outright Assignment, Optional Assignment, Trade Assignment, and Outright Release), and of those four types, the only type of waiver where the player has to be "waived out of his own league" before a club from the other league can be awarded a claim is Trade Assignment Waivers (needed to make trades involving players on an MLB 40-man roster after the July 31st trade deadline up through the conclusion of the MLB regular season).  

For example, if an American League player is placed on Trade Assignment Waivers, and five clubs from the National League make a claim and only one club from the American League makes a claim, the A. L. club is awarded the claim, even if all five N. L. clubs making claims have a worse record than the A. L. club. But that particular waiver priority ONLY applies to Trade Waivers. Otherwise, there is no distinction made between leagues as far as waiver claim priority is concerned, unless the two clubs making claims are tied in the MLB aggregated standings (like the Cubs & Twins are right now, for instance).

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:57 pm

between s.baker + k.gregg + d.navarro + mcnutt + boscan + mcdonald + sweeney they should be able to find some room when it's time to take him off the 60-day DL. i imagine h.rondon's slot is safe given how he finished the season...amazingly. dunno what they plan on doing with d.bard.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:52 pm

Bernstein Bear saying Cubs offer will be 5/30M for Girardi.

links are always in the twitter sidebox now, so I rarely bother repeating them here.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:44 pm

I'm rooting for an A's vs. Pirates series, but I'm guessing

LCS:

Tigers vs. Red Sox

Cardinals vs. Braves

Series:

Cardinals vs. Red Sox

Cardinals in 7

sure hope I'm wrong...

Submitted by The Joe on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:00 pm

I'm nearly certain this is a stupid question, but can a manager can still play - or would he have to be added to the 25-man roster?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:11 pm

THE JOE: For a manager (or coach) to be activated as a player, the manager or coach would have to sign a valid Uniform Player Contract (UPC) and then be added to the club's MLB 40-man roster and 25-man roster. Also, a manager or coach could not be activated as a player for the post-season unless the manager or coach was signed to a major league or minor league UPC as of midnight August 31st (and being signed to a minor league UPC on 8/31 would only matter if the manager or coach was replacing an injured player on the post-season roster). 

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:19 pm

walk, single, homer, double, HBP, walk, walk, single + fielding error... 7 runs in...0 outs... ...and now they're removing aj burnett. hell of a leash there.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:42 pm

Rangers GM says they'll make a qualifying offer to Cruz in case anyone is interested in him for the Cubs. Cubs 1st round pick is protected.

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:16 pm

didn't know dave mckay was fired (1st base coach)... so that's c.bosio (pitching coach), r.deer (asst hitting coach), and mckay...along with dale. this from ESPN... "He, along with manager Dale Sveum and the rest of the Cubs coaches, were let go on Monday, though McKay does have a chance at returning when the Cubs hire a new manager." ...did they clean house? are ALL the coaches gone? rowson? bell? quirk? strode?

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:05 pm

all coaches were allowed to explore other opportunities, said new manager could bring them back if they wanted

Submitted by fullykräusened on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:37 pm

But this brought me right back. Dear Lord, bring us the 2017 World Champion Cubs with Almora, Baez, Bryant, Villanueva, Vogelbach (DH), Soler, and whoever can pitch.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 10/03/2013 - 10:44 pm

he's our very own matt adams-lite. it'll be interesting to see if they let him play 3rd in spring...or if he's going to be a 1st/LF/PH guy. i can't imagine they're counting on gamel to play 3rd after not being good at it to begin with...along with having his knee ripped up earlier this year. either way...awesome freebie on the cheap even if the plan is power off the bench + rizzo backup.

Submitted by jacos on Fri, 10/04/2013 - 10:23 am

This pretty much sums up Cubbery- "I just remember going out and [Cubs pitching coach] Larry [Rothschild] said, "We're scheduled to be on time." So I go out and play long toss, and it's looking dark. It's cloudy. It looks like it's going to rain again. So I say, "Larry, you sure we're on time?" and he said, "Yep, we're on time." So I started warming up, and I look over, and Maddux was just kind of staring at me. I'm thinking, "What does he know that I don't know? He's not warming up. The game's in 10 minutes." And then sure enough, here come the groundskeepers to roll out the tarp." Visiting team knows more about the situation then the home team.

Submitted by The E-Man on Fri, 10/04/2013 - 10:42 am

DUSTY FIRED. Does Theo interview a minority candidate?

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 10/04/2013 - 10:32 am

Competition:

Nats asking Yanks for permission to speak to Girardi

And as mentioned, Reds now in the mix looking for managers along with Mariners, Cubs, Nats and possibly Yankees

Submitted by jacos on Fri, 10/04/2013 - 10:18 pm

From Heyman article(see tweet)about Dusty-- It wasn't all about one conversation, of course. Baker quite likely started to sense that maybe his time was up in Cincinnati. Maybe that's why he said what he said. "The last couple weeks, I've been getting a rash of hate mail, racial mail,'' he said. "Maybe it is time to go." "This is really ugly," he said. "There are all sorts of references to Barack Obama. So now I know where they are coming from. I don't know, maybe people are mad at him, so they don't like the idea of blacks in authority." /scratched record

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 10/04/2013 - 10:19 pm

dear everything that is right and just in the world, let the dodgers sweep so i can quit hearing the "tommy hawk chawp." sincerely, crunch

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 10/04/2013 - 10:47 pm

using b.wilson + k.jansen last night with a 5 run lead is suddenly looking not-so-wise.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 10/04/2013 - 10:27 pm

b.wilson pitches anyway and goes 1ip 0h 0bb 2k. good for him. wonder how much he's going to demand next year...and who's going to pay it. i doubt he will be looking at the cubs or any cold-area teams...dunno, though.

Recent comments

  • crunch 09/27/2023 - 09:38 pm (view)

    "here's a helmet that fits." - cubs staff

    "naw." - PCA

  • crunch 09/27/2023 - 09:01 pm (view)

    cubs out here forgetting how to play D again...

  • 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. 

Click HERE for the last 50 comments