Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Soto Shuts Up Talking Stick at Salt River Fields

Elliot Soto belted a bases-loaded triple in the 2nd, walked in the 4th, and singled and scored in the 6th, Varonex Cuevas drilled three singles and scored two runs, Rashad Crawford drove-in three runs with a two-run single and a sacrifice fly, and Jeffrey Baez singled and tripled and scored a run, leading the Cubs to a 7-3 victory over the Rockies in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.   

The 24-yeart old Soto is at Extended Spring Traning while serving a 50-game Drug of Abuse suspension received last November. While Soto is on the Restricted List and cannot play in an "official" minor league game, he is permitted ti participate in Extended Spring Training and play in EXST games. Soto is a flashy defensive whiz at SS but has struggled to hit throughout his minor league career (hitting a combined 248/311/301 in 342 career minor league games), but he brought the whippin' stick with him today. Once he has completed his suspension (after AA Tennessee has played 50 games) he will likely rejoin the Smokies.    

RHP Dallas Beeler got the start for the Cubs and threw five innings (68 pitches), allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits (five singles and a triple) and a walk, while striking out two. Although he allowed six hits and only struck out two, he did induce quite a few ground balls (9/2 GO/FO, plus most of the hits he allowed were grounders, too). After he left the game Beeler threw another 15 pitches in the bullpen, so he could be close to returning to the AAA Iowa Cubs starting rotation (he has been on the I-Cubs 7-day DL since Opening Day, after missing the second half of Spring Training with a "dead arm"). 

Today's game was orginally scheduled as a nine-inning contest, but was cut-back to only seven innings by mutual agreement between the two teams after the Cubs arrived almost 90 minutes late for the game. The Cubs team bus was stuck in traffic on the Pima Freeway (AKA "Loop 101") for over an hour after Arizona DPS (Highway Patrol) suddenly closed the freeway as the result of a person threatening to commit suicide by jumping off a freeway overpass.  

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

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Rashad Crawford, CF: 1-3 (K, F-8 SF, F-7, 1B, 3 RBI)
2. Kevin Brown, 1B: 0-4 (4-3, K, 4-3, 4-3)
3. Jeffrey Baez, DH: 2-4 (1B, 1-3, 3B, K, R)
4a. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 0-2 (F-9, P-3)
4b. Arnaldo Calero, RF: 1-2 (1B, K, RBI)
5. Antonio Valerio, C: 0-3 (HBP, 5-3, 6-3, 6-3, R)
6. Shamil Ubiera, LF: 1-3 (1B, 5-3, L-8, R)
7. Varonex Cuevas, 3B: 3-3 (1B, 1B, 1B, 2 R)
8. Elliot Soto, SS: 2-2 (3B, BB, 1B, 2 R, 3 RBI)
9. Dalfis Ortiz, 2B: 0-3 (4-3, 4-3, K)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Dallas Beeler: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 PO, 9/2 GO/FO, 68 pitches (45 strikes)
2. Erick Leal: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 2 WP, 0/2 GO/FO, 29 pitches (20 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 2
1. 1B Kevin Brown - E-3 (overthrow at 3rd base after successful sacrifice bunt allowed runner to score from 3rd)  
2. 3B Varonex Cuevas - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
CF Rashad Crawford - threw out baserunner 8-4 after runner overran 2nd base on single to CF

ATTENDANCE: 9

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 90's

 

 

 

 



 

Comments

"Jose Veras is unavailable for Friday's game against the Brewers due to a sore left oblique." well that...well...that's actually cool...i'm fine with that.

n.ramirez debut... 1ip 0h 1bb 1k threw a lot of 94-96mph heat

jake "how f'n many rehab starts does this guy need" arrieta going for his 5th rehab start tonight in AA (4th in AA). supposedly this is his last tuneup and he's due up next week. he threw 94 pitches in his last start.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

that's a short last outing...and a weird amount of non-strikes thrown to only have 1 bb against his total. also, k.bryant stole his 5th base (5/0 sb/cs) and hit his 5th HR...CUBS GONNA HAVE A 40/40 GUY IN 2015! =P in AAA news...baez 1-7 with 2Ks. a.alcantara 5-7 (1 triple, 4 singles) continuing his hot streak of hitting (though he's not walking...only 2 this season after showing a lot of improvement in AA last year in that area).

yow...segura hit in the head by a teammate swinging a bat w/ donut on it in the dugout. accidental, but enough to take him out of the game.

t.wood just walked the pitcher...to load the bases...with 0 outs. i knew this was going to be a sunk season, but sitting through 162 games of this kind of crap is going to be nearly f'n impossible. a few times a week this team amazes me with how many different ways they can combine to suck without having the means to make up for those mistakes elsewhere. it's a well oiled train wreck.

Is it safe to assume the mega platoon system is a failure if everyone involved is hitting around .200? (I also realize it's possible they all suck)

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

i think your second point might be more apt. quite honestly, i just want kids to get work. it's not wins i'm looking for...it's experience. if they can get some wins out of it, good for them. even if there were some that bought into there being a chance of a playoff run (because anything is possible) it's getting increasingly clear (already in april, even) that 2014 isn't the the time for this team to come out of the cellar.

Vin Scully just told me that "in the hole" is wrong. It's "in the hold". That makes so much sense, but I'd never heard that before. My mind is blown.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

i think he's also getting tired of trying to figure out positive things to say about brian wilson's performance...though he's yet to be mean or complain. 2 guys faced, 2 walks, 0 outs...pulled...$10m this year, $9m player option for 2015. crazy loot for a guy who's barely worked a month and 1/2 combined the past 2 years.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

i love the dude...he'll read you the media guide, tell personal stories from his 10,000 years around the game, and still call every ball/strike/play as it happens. no partner, all alone...no net. but yeah, i can see how some people wouldn't want to hear him being a random fact machine for 3 hours. for a lot of these late/west coast games so far i'm taking away 2 things... 1- i miss mark grace calling games for ARZ (even though he's a weird acquired taste) 2- i miss bob in the booth for the cubs, but it's nice to hear him call games for ARZ.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I'm sure he'd be a great grandpa to have, but during a broadcast, I find the lack of interaction unsettling. I feel like civilization has ended and he's talking to himself over a long dead ballgame. I would watch every game if Scully and Brenly worked together. Re Hawk: Can't I dislike both?

HAGSAG: Just like there is a Reserve List limit for MLB clubs (the so-called "40-man roster"), there is also a Reserve List limit for minor league clubs, too:

IOWA (AAA): 38 (25-man Active List) 
TENNESSEE (AA): 37 (25-man Active List)
DAYTONA: 35 (25-man Active List)
KANE COUNTY: 35 (25-man Active List)
BOISE: 35 (30-man Active List - 25 designated "active" for any given game of which at least 10 must be pitchers)
AZL CUBS: 35 (35-man Active List - 30 players designated "active" for any given game of which at least 10 must be pitchers)
DSL CUBS: 35 (35-man Active List - 30 players designated "active" for any given game of which at least 10 must be pitchers)
VSL CUBS: 35 (35-man Active List - 30 players designated "active" for any given game of which at least 10 must be pitchers)

So the 60-day DL is essentially used the same way in the minors as it is in the big leagues, to create additional slots on a minor league affiliate's Reserve List during the season if the affiliate's Reserve List is full. (The one difference is that an MLB player can be placed on a club's 60-day DL beginning with the start of Spring Training as long as the MLB club's 40-man roster is full, but minor league players cannot be placed on a 60-day DL until Opening Day). 

When players are signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (AKA "First Year Player Draft") and the player signs a contract for that season, the player must be placed on a minor league affiliate's Active List or Disabled List within 20 days after the contract is signed, but the player does not count against the minor league club's Reserve List until the Reserve List rosters are filed in November. 

And players who are "Signed for Future Service" (player signed after July 1st and first contract is for the following season) cannot be placed on a minor league affiliate's Active List and do not have to be placed on the minor league affiliate's Reserve List until Opening Day of the following season, even though the player can participate in a post-season Instructional League, Minor League Camp, and Extended Spring Training. So for example, Gleyber Torres was "Signed for Future Service" last July and so he is not presently on a minor league Reserve List. but he will have to be added to the Reserve List AND Active List (or DL) of whatever affiliate he is eventually assigned beginning on Opening Day of that affiliate (whether it be Boise, AZL Cubs, or VSL Cubs). Same goes for Eloy Jimenez, Johan Matos, Erling Moreno, et al.

Because players selected in the June draft who are not Signed for Future Service (which are almost all of the drafted players who sign) must be added to a minor league affiliate's Active List or DL within 20 days of signing, the roster crunch for Boise and the AZL Cubs during the season relates to the affiliate's Active List, not its Reserve List. So (for instance) when the AZL Cubs place a player on its 60-day DL during the AZL season, its because the AZL Cubs 35-man Actve List is full, not because its Reserve List is full.    

Also, even though the Iowa Active List presently includes about a dozen players who are on the Cubs MLB Reserve List (Chris Rusin, Matt Szczur, Josh Vitters, Arismenmdy Alcantara, et al), the AAA Iowa Reserve List is usually full or nearly-full because of the number of players who were assigned to the Iowa roster the previous November (prior to the Rule 5 Draft) to exempt the player from selection in the minor league phases of the Rule 5 draft (there are no roster restrictions or right to re-claim players lost in a minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft, so if there isn't room for a prospect on the MLB 40-man roster in November, the next-best thing is to place the player on the AAA affiliate's Reserve List--its "38-man roster"-- so that he will only be eligible for selection in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft), even though the player might presently be on the Tennessee, Daytona, or KC Active List.  

 

"The Cubs team bus was stuck in traffic on the Pima Freeway (AKA "Loop 101") for over an hour after Arizona DPS (Highway Patrol) suddenly closed the freeway as the result of a person threatening to commit suicide by jumping off a freeway overpass." My only advice to my fellow long suffering Cubs fans is this: Remember, it's only a game.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022.