Cubs MLB Roster

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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 Trade for La Stella

The Cubs have acquired 2b Tommy La Stella from the Braves and their #4 international bonus slot for former Brave RHP Arodys Vizcaino and Cubs international bonus slots #2, #3 and #4. The Braves end up with about $832K more in international bonus money. So with the Braves getting more cash, the silent agreement between the two clubs is that La Stella was the better bet going forward as a player, certainly in the Cubs' collective minds.

La Stella came into 2014 as high as the #2 Braves prospect according to John Sickels (B grade), a left-handed hitting second basemen with good contact abilities. He put up some nice numbers in the minors (322/407/474 in just under 1200 career minor league plate appearances). The numbers weren't great in AAA to start the season, but he got the call-up when the Braves cut bait on Dan Uggla and put up a 251/328/317 line in 360 PA's with the big league team. Nothing too exciting for a 25 year old, but just the beginning.

I guess we'll find out what the Cubs intend to do here, La Stella is very capable of being a high contact, high OBP with a minor league walk rate over 11% and K rate just over 8%. Anytime you can walk more than you K, there's a lot of potential there. Now the tools and ceiling aren't Hall of Fame projectable, but I certainly think La Stella may get a chance to start and that means either Baez is moving to shortstop next year, another team or starting the year in the minors. A lot of moving pieces for the Cubs...gonna be an interesting offseason.

Comments

from Baseball America at end of May last year...

http://www.baseballamerica.com/fantasy/what-to-expect-braves-2b-tommy-l…

La Stella is one of the best pure hitting prospects in the minors. He has a career .322 average in the minors, consistently has posted .400-plus on-base percentages and has walked more than he has struck out throughout. He uses the whole field, and is a pest to pitchers because of his hand-eye coordination that allows him to work deep counts. La Stella needs to hit, because that’s his only plus tool.

As a defender, scouts see La Stella as adequate at best. He has limited range and an average arm, but he does make the routine play consistently. He is a good baserunner but he has below-average speed.

it doesn't sting losing a high-end pen arm as much as it does a good job shoring up a capable guy for a rare position...that said, 2nd is pretty much all he can play...maybe some 3rd/1st...maybe. still, both guys have enough value that it's hard to call anyone a clear winner or clear loser in this trade. it really doesn't look good for one of castro or baez unless one of baez/lastella start the season in AAA depending on how things work out...or if lastella is only here temporarily, anyway. it sure as hell opens up trade opportunities in the middle-IF that would otherwise not be worth considering (assuming there's a near 0% chance of a.russell being a consideration).

Speaking of high floors and low ceilings. Dusty must be consulting with Jedstein... "I remember 2004-5 when we had the likes of Todd Walker, Neifi Perez, Ronny Cedeno, Alex Gonzalez, Mark Gruidzielanek, Money (Ramon) Martinez, Rey Ordonez , Nomar, Jose Macias, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot and Enrique Wilson and I would play them anywhere in the infield or outfield."

It's just some weird ass shit. We are LOADED in middle infield. I'm bummed to see Arodys go ... but Cubs must have made their evaluation. That said it seems: 1.) Cubs are getting drunk on the offensive coolaid 2.) a trade is imminent with regard to Castro or Baez (meaning by opening day). 3.) they really are trying to fill subtle weaknesses like contact/OBP 4.) they think La Stella has a future and Vizcaino doesn't and they'll figure it out later. or some combination of the above.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Again the bizarre thing about Olt was they devalued him. If they wanted to trade him their modus operandi has been to play the person in question. Captain History putting him behind Valaika who no longer exists didn't really help his trade value.

someone joked on twitter replies to that Rosenthal tweet that Maddon will turn anyone into a utiity player, so there's that...

Baez at 3b? With valbuena and Watkins as backups. They keep Bryant down for a month or two and then see who is performing well and not injured at that point.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

they gotta do something with valbuena if they decide to commit to baez at 3rd...or play baez as a 3rd/SS/2nd giving guys days off (wussup j.maddon) valbuena gets crapped on by some, but as far as 3rd basemen go with the bat + glove he's got some really nice skills and realized production even if it's not all-star stuff. he would probably fetch something interesting in trade if that issue gets pushed.

David O'Brien from the Atlanta/AJC added this info...
After batting .297 with a .371 OBP and 21 RBIs his first 46 games through July 20, La Stella hit .201 with a .281 OBP and 10 RBIs in 47 games the rest of the season, and in late August manager Fredi Gonzalez began using the left-handed hitter in a second-base platoon with Gosselin.
He's streaky or just faded. still, he had a nice start. http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-trade-la-stella-to-cubs-…

@Ken_Rosenthal

Executives involved in bidding for Russell Martin believe #Cubs are clear front-runner. Deal expected to be in four-year, $64M range.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

he's still playing the game like a starter, though...and the $17m thing over the next 2 seasons. that said, if the cubs are going to trade for hammels then i'd rather them try to get ruiz and welly switching places rather than throwing 15-17m a year at r.martin for the next 4 years.

Here's the cool thing: With La Stella coming in, and Martin looking more and more likely - it looks like the Cubs are putting together a 'team' to compete next year as opposed to just accumulating talent. If indeed this is the case and they are able to get a Hamels or Lester it means they are actually going for it ... Regardless if whether anyone agrees with the talent, it becomes exciting AND means the Cubs will start showing their cards in how they feel about Baez, Castro, Olt, Valbuena etc. it's all terribly exciting compared to the foundational rebuild. More on the line for Theo/Jed as well. The tough decisions start now. They get to say who they believe in and who they don't.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Regardless if whether anyone agrees with the talent, it becomes exciting AND means the Cubs will start showing their cards in how they feel about Baez, Castro, Olt, Valbuena etc. How can you surmise a player who got his first taste of the bigs, and faded pretty badly at the later part of the year, denotes "it becomes exciting"? Unless you are saying that by trading for a player who controls the zone instead of a "K or HR" type player like Baez? That is a lot of conjecture considering they traded a player who had TWO arm surgeries in the last 4 years and became past by with other internal players? I think they dumped the very high risk of Vizcaino for the reward of a potential bench player, or player under their control that could actually be useful off the bench or platoon. But power he sin't got at all... We'll see soon enough, I guess...

anyone know how many options La Stella has left? I would guess 2, but he's a bit old for a rookie, so maybe just 1. Something else to consider...not like they have to find a spot for him immediately.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

and Keith Law with his usual forecast of rain (from about a year ago)

It’s not so much that anything was wrong with La Stella but that you’re banking on one tool here, the hit tool. He’s a fringy defender at best and a below-average runner, and I don’t foresee much power with a no-load swing and a flat finish.

He can hit, though — his hand-eye coordination is very good, and the swing is simple and hard, like a quick hack at the ball that could produce line drives and hard ground balls, but few hits likely to leave the park. That might be enough for Atlanta fans sick of the Dan Uggla Show — just two more years, folks! — but it’s more average regular than star.

ultimately I don't think this means there is any impending move involving Castro or Baez or even Alcantara, just gives the Cubs another option. There's a lot of ways this can play out and some involved no one getting moved, jus that some of these guys don't pan out or get sent to minors until they flame out or force themselves upon the majors. I agree with Carlito, there obviously making moves to shore up weaknesses and try and win games next year, so that should be fun worth watching for awhile.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I came to the same general line of thinking after pondering the trade for a bit. Cubs don't have to move anybody at the moment, but have more options if they get an offer they find too good to pass up for Castro or Baez. I'm starting to see 2015 as a shakedown cruise...Theo, Jed, and Maddon learn more about guys they hope to be part of the long-term core, add pieces if they are good value, and if somewhere through the season things fall so that the Cubs are contenders make a move focused on 2015 then. The full-court press comes in 2016.

[ ]

In reply to by Jackstraw

I hope you're right. I'm not crazy about this whole trading a bunch of prospects for veterans thing after all this effort to cobble them together. I can wait one more year for a real run as long as next year is interesting, which it looks to be. And it's baseball, you just never know who may come up and snatch a title. By waiting, some players lose value, some gain value, but I think it's a better strategy overall.

I think we dodged a big bullet with Martin. In a couple of years we'll look back and be happy. On Heyward, I found this ESPN article funny: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11892064/atlanta-braves-trade-jason-h… First, is Heyward for Shelby Miller in a 4 player deal really a "blockbuster"? The definition is: "one that is notably expensive, effective, successful, large, or extravagant" but now anytime there is a trade of any size that involves a regular player it becomes a blockbuster. Second, I find it interesting that the article seems to suggest the Braves are getting rid of him because he has sucked. The guy has a 24.5 career war and he just turned 25. None of his individual stats really jump out, but the guy does basically everything well on the field. Had to be the Cardinals that got him.

Even funnier was that the original headline on ESPN said Craig Heyward.....

I hate to see the Cardinals get a player of Heyward's caliber. He could easily be haunting the Cubs for the next 10 years, unless he cashes in somewhere else in his free agent year. The Cardinals just put TheoCorp on notice, methinks.

Stanton deal allegedly done, 13 for 325m hope he likes hitting home runs into empty seats because he's going to be doing it for a while

Avila, Montero, Castro could all be on the radar...or just stick with Beefy.

glad Cubs chose not to overpay on Martin.

"@CSNMooney Source says #Cubs stretched beyond a 4-year, $65 million concept and were willing to give Russell Martin a 5th year in certain scenarios." christ...thank god that toy got put into someone else's toybox.

Things that make me say hmmmm.... per Roto/Olney, Blue Jays supposedly not interested in Melky Cabrera now that they signed R. Martin. Cubs might need a leadoff type OBP CF but he'a also attached to a draft choice after turning down a QO.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

don't think Melky is CF material anymore unfortunately...

his steroid suspension was pretty ugly too with the fake website and all that goofiness, but they did forgive Manny, so not sure if that'll weigh in on it.

I'd wait on Melky and see if anyone bites, he seems like a guy that could be still around in February and hardly a need.

I know it's far more complicated than this, but I'm having these ambivalent pangs regarding the fact that we traded one of our higher ranked pitching prospects for a low ceiling middle infield prospect. For this team it just seems absurd. I hope we don't miss Arodys down the road.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

I think they pegged Vizcaino as a bullpen arm at this point and he seemed to fall pretty far from most the prospect lists with his AAA performance. Still a lively arm as far as I know, but easily replaceable on the open market. If Braves convert him into Kimbrel 2.0 or a decent starter, then good on them I guess.

I liked La Stella a lot before the trade so I'm probably bias.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I'm glad to hear you like La Stella a lot. I really don't know much about him - I don't have the baseball knowledge a lot of you guys do - so that's pretty encouraging cuz you have a pretty keen eye for that kind of stuff. So that's a yay. TheoCorp has been after this guy for awhile so it doesn't sound like he's a fringy or low ceiling guy.

Our pal Arizona Phil cannot access the site via his home PC, he seems to be able to connect to other sites though and can connect from other computers.


He's tried the normal stuff (new browser, delete cache, restart router, etc, etc). Anyone have any ideas? He gets a 503 error whenever he accesses the site. I've gotten it here or there but usually fixes itself. Seeing if the hive mind can help, further description below

-----

 

6. I continually receive the "ERROR 503" auto-message whenever I attempt to access TCR. 
7. The only way I can get to TCR from my PC is by using Google Cache, at which point I can see the TCR home page (at least as it was the last time the Google crawler recorded TCR). However, if I try to access a post or view a comment, I get the "Error 503" message. I can click on the Log-In prompt, and while it does give me the Log-in screen, when I fill in my user name (Arizona Phil) and password, I get the following two error messages: "AJAX HTTP request terminated abnormally" and "Path: /system/ajax"
8. I talked to our I. T. guy at work, and he is totally puzzled. He says an "Error 503" can relate to various issues (usually that a web site is actually temporarily down, or possibly some type of router problem), but the only possible explanation he can provide in this case-- given that I am able to connect to all other sites on the web from my PC except TCR-- is that TCR is blocking my IP for some unknown reason (and it would have started suddenly out-of-the-blue Tuesday night, after I was able to access TCR normally once, and then a few minutes later when I came back to TCR, I started getting the Error 503 message, and have ever since). 
-- Phil

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Ask Phil to clear his cookies and browser cache. Sounds like a session management issue. It could be he tried to access the site when it was down. A cookie may still have been written to the browser, with a session ID. Then, next time he accessed the site, he may have been accessing that same cookie and if your Drupal installation has any kind of a cache server associated with it (I assume you're still on Drupal) then it *may* be serving up the 503. If you do have a web guy still, and you have any kind of cache server, tell him to change the configuration so that it doesn't have such a long TTL (time to live) - this being a site with lots of posts etc you don't want such a heavy handed caching mechanism.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I have also been receiving the "ERROR 503" message when I try to go to the TCR home page on an Apple computer at home. This started happening roughly a week ago -- before that, I had no problems accessing it from that computer. I can still access the site from work, so I hadn't thought to complain about it.

Bosox puppet Cafardo just on MLB network saying "he expects" Red Sox to reopen talks with Phils for Hamels.

Re the App page steers - I am having a similar issue that appears prominent more so with Chrome - When I clear the cache , cookies, browsing history - it goes away. Unfortunately I cannot clear cookies all the time as I have important sites with logins I need access to and having to re-enter constantly is a pain. It may have to get there however. On both Safari and Chrome - without any interaction - I get shuttled to iTunes apps typically to buy a game of some sort. Fucking aggrivating as hell.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

if you go to chrome settings and type cookies in the search bar at the top you'll be presented with 2 buttons, click content settings, then all cookies and site data. this will bring up a list of all your cookies so you can delete only the ones giving you a problem. you can also search within them instead of scrolling through the entire list

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

All this is is a guess, and so it has the certainty of a Gordon Wittenmeyer trade rumor, but I'd bet on the advertising service rubiconproject.com, as being the source of the trouble, so if deleting TCR cookies doesn't help, delete those, too. Yardbarker also drops a few cookies but I doubt it's any of those.

thanks for the suggestions, our tech guy has been awol unfortunately and haven't been able to get a hold of him so my apologies for all those having issues.

I did disable all ads for the time being, I imagine that'll solve the being diverted to the App store problems, not sure about the 503 errors which apaprently more than AZ Phil has been suffering through.

Russell Martin gets $20M in 2017,2018, and 2019. I guess the Jays intend on winning it all in the next two years.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I don't know the specifics of TCR's budget, but I wouldn't guess the ad revenue would be that much. If 50 or so regular readers gave say $25 each might that be enough to go, at least mostly, ad free? I would certainly be willing to do that. You can give us a paypal address to send it to and we can see how much our "fundraising" drive can come up with. If it works, we could do it every year leading up to the holidays--would keep the ads down, the site running, and give us all even more of a feeling of having a stake in it. What do others think? If there is enough interest, then I say we try it.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

I'd like to see Rob make at least a few bucks on the site and ads are the only way to get there. When I see comments about needing to see the finances of the site before someone wants to contribute, which neglects the blood and sweat required to just keep this thing going, it just makes me think it is going to be hard to maintain a subscriber base of any kind. The real trick is just getting the ad service to work right. It's a common problem on websites these days, especially news and blogs. No lazy loading of the ads so they hang up the whole site. It's definitely not a problem limited to this site. I see it all over the place, more so now than ever.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

As a writer who rarely ever gets paid for my own writing, I'd love to see Rob G. and others get both recognition and compensation for their work. I'm also broke and can't offer much myself. (Would try to make an occasional contribution--I am on this site way more frequently than is healthy just about everyday.)

Starlin Castro, Dan Straily, cash, and lower-system guy(s) for Alex Cobb, David DeJesus, and Grant Balfour. Rays get a cost-controlled middle infield anchor and very much-needed salary relief. Cubs get a young cost-controlled starter without a ton of arm mileage who under-performed his peripherals, plus some of those veteran-y guys they want. Cubs could also broker James Loney and help find him a new third-party home if need be to seal it.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Rays have publicly stated they need to cut payroll. They have three players clearly being overpaid, all of whom walk after 2015 - DeJesus, Balfour, and Loney. The first two fit much better on the Cubs than Loney, who would have to be traded. Heads-up Castro for Cobb, I doubt the Rays do the trade. But if they get salary relief plus someone like Straily to eat Cobb's innings, I think they would pull the trigger.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

DeJesus get $5 mill...he played 83 games last year, and will be 35 in December. 52 of those games were as the DH. So he's a backup? Balfour is 37 in December, and his WHIP, ERA, K/9, K/BB, and BB/9 were all bad. I like Alex Cobb. DeJesus and Balfour seem to me to be dead weight.

via rotowurld... "Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports the Cubs have shown interest in free agent Jonny Gomes."

3/30M to Billy Butler from the A's

at least he's young...but 9 HR's last year from your DH

Cards just trolling the Cubs now

rumored interest in Lester

guess Theo wasn't kidding about the gas pedal

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I'm really tired of seeing everyone say how much they respect the St. Louis organization. I want a fracking earthquake to engulf the city of St. Louis and lay waste to Budweiser stadium or whatever the hell they call it these days. It'll be a weekend so everyone with any sense will be out of town and nobody gets hurt.

Zach Duke just parlayed one good year out of the bullpen into a 3-year $15 million contract with the White Sox. Before that he hadn't really had a good full season since 2009 as a starter.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

To be fair, he completely altered his delivery. He's almost a different pitcher. And 3/15 these days is basically just asking him to put up 2.5 WAR on the contract. I don't see that as a bad signing at all, to the extent you choose to pay for any free agent RP at all. It's highway robbery compared to what Robertson will get.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Relievers are just so fickle that I hate the idea of paying too much for anyone or signing them long term. Someone like Wesley Wright is a good investment (1 year, 1.4 million, still in arbitration), otherwise, just bring up your own arms. As evidence of fickleness: Jose Veras with Cubs in 2014--8.10 ERA in 13 IP, released; Jose Veras with Astros in 2014--3.03 ERA in 32 IP, 10.2 SO/9, 1.25 WHIP.

Re: Johnny Gomes

imagine he'd be a decent platoon option for Coghlan? or someone else? Seems like an older Justin Ruggiano, but they want that vet presence and Gomes is very well liked I believe.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Well, like I have been saying ad nauseum, I'm not a fan of 21st century free agency, but I don't see the point of playing that game if they aren't gonna actually be the high bidder for once. I'd honestly be perfectly content if they keep just poking around for second tier guys and hoping they score on a younger, not yet stud. But, since they ARE playing this game, they should be all in and blow everyone else out of the water. Otherwise, just stop the charade.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

The difference between Lester and Scherzer (other than left/right) is the 2nd round draft pick cost (first pick if he goes to StL or Atl). Shields is a step down in quality (and age) but then there is the Maddon tie in. I think the net cost to win the dollar game for Lester ups his price because of no draft pick attached. The cost of Scherzer is increased because of the Boras effect. Also, I'm interested in who the Rays pick as manager. Davey Martinez to the Rays or to Maddon's bench? Seems that the process to get a new Rays manager is almost as slow as it was when Jedstein paraded a few through their grueling quiz show interviews in 2011 with Pete MacKanin, Mike Maddux and Sveum. Here is the video of MacKanin with Theo during one of the quiz sections of that interview... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZXxA6CoEUw

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

free agency is heavily slanted toward overpaying when you're talking no-doubt 3+ year contract market players (and quite often for contracts less years than that). but yeah...i'd rather see lester get 20-22m rather than russell for 16m. neither would be good deals, but that wasn't gonna happen anyway. it's not that russell is trash, it's just the cubs have an extreme need in SP compared to C even if a C upgrade would be nice. i also wouldn't mind scherzer at all. i wouldn't complain about shields...

The other MAJOR issue with Free Agency is that elite hitters automatically go to the AL ... Because the AL can pay heavy for an extra year or two with the DH. I'm hoping the Cubs do bid big $$ on Lester because he is relatively young for a FA pitcher and there is no draft pick lost. He's the best gamble in recent years ... Never a sure thing or smart money BUT all things considered he's as good a gamble to overpay for as I can imagine. Especially for an NL team.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Well, it maybe more likely, but it is certainly not automatic. I can think of a number of big NL contracts in the past decade or so, some in fact where it would have been better if an AL team signed him instead. Soriano and the Cubs would be one example. Delgado signed in the NL. Matt Holliday chose to stay with St Louis. Jim Thome signed with the Phillies. Carlos Beltran and the Mets. Just a few off the top of my head. Of course, maybe teams are learning from those guys, since many ended up injured by the ends of their contracts or traded to the AL. But in the end I think money talks and NL teams know they are competing with AL teams and many will pony up what it takes to get a player even if they know they will perhaps get less value for that player than an AL team because they will have to eat the money and make a trade at the end of the contract. But maybe sometime this winter I will look systematically at free agent contracts for hitters over the past decade and see if there is an AL bias in there and write something up.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s a fantastic deal for SF

  • 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?