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

Trey McNutt Takes Mound in Game for First Time in Two Years

Miguel Mercedes slugged a two-run triple in the top of the 1st inning and Robert Mullen smacked a two-run triple in the 6th, Rangel Ravelo singled, doubled, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, and Brett Siddall drilled a two-run double to cap a five-run 8th, as the AZL Athletics rallied to defeat the AZL Cubs 9-6 in Arizona League action Thursday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  


Wladimir Galindo belted a two-run triple and a double for the AZL Cubs in a losing cause. The 18-year old man-child also did his best "Bull in a China Shop" impression, doing a "header" while sliding head-first into third base on the triple, and crashing his face into the 3rd base bag and almost knocking himself out in the process.

Cubs 2015 24th round draft pick Sutton Whiting got the start in LF and he probably did knock himself out (albeit briefly) after he crashed at full speed into the LF fence while attempting to corral Mullen's two-run triple in the 6th. The speedy Whiting played SS at the U. of Louisville, but the Cubs have been working him out at 2B and now LF (probably with an eye toward using him as an IF-OF "super-sub" as he moves up through the system). But somebody better tell him that the LF fence (which he may never have met up-close-and-personal previously) doesn't have a lot of "give" to it, and that he might want to show just a wee bit more caution before he tries running through it again.

25-year old RHP Trey McNutt (2014 shoulder surgery) saw his first game action in more than two years, getting the start for the AZL Cubs and facing five batters (17 pitches - only 5 strikes). He walked the first man he faced on four pitches (runner was then CS) and retired the second batter on an F-8 FO, before allowing a single, an HBP, and the Mercedes two-run triple. McNutt's fastball lacked velocity or movement, and he couldn't throw his breaking ball for strikes.

There was a time not that long ago (well OK, five years ago) when McNutt and RHP Chris Archer were considered to be the Cubs top two pitching prospects, and when the Cubs acquired RHP Matt Garza from the Tampa Bay Ray in January 2011, the pitching prospect going back to Tampa Bay was to be either McNutt or Archer (Cubs choice supposedly), and Cubs GM Jim Hendry opted to keep McNutt over Archer. McNutt did feature a 94-96 MPH fastball and an explosive slider at the time and Archer had command issues throughout his minor league career up to that point in time, but however it went down, it would appear that the Cubs ended up with the "short stick."

McNutt is eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 six-year minor league free-agent (6YFA) after this season, so this may be his last chance to make a favorable impression with the current Cubs regime. And from what I saw last night, he is nowhere close to the Trey McNutt I remember from 2010 or even from before the shoulder injury. 21-year old 6'2 220+ Dominican RHP Pedro Silverio followed McNutt to the mound and retired 13 of the first 15 men he faced (both of the batters reached base on an HBP), and he did not allow his first hit until his fifth inning of work (when he clearly was tiring). Silverio has a similar repertoire as that of Panamanian RHSP Erling Moreno (89-91 MPH fastball that touches 92, a plus-curve, and a decent change-up), but he doesn't have Moreno's "ceiling" (Moreno is three years younger). Still, Silverio was the ace of the 2015 DSL Cubs prior to getting moved-up to the AZL Cubs last month, and he was impressive last night (his second strong outing in a row). Silverio was signed as an 18-year old by the Cubs post-2012, but his pro debut was delayed for almost a year after he was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a PED in April 2013.  

RHP Trey Masek (Cubs 2013 5th round pick - Texas Tech) continued his rehab (2014 right shoulder surgery), but had major control issues, surrendering a single and walking three (the last one to force-in a run) in just a third of an inning as the A's rallied for five runs in the 8th.

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

AZL CUBS LINEUP:
1. Robert Garcia, RF: 1-4 (K+WP, 1B, K, F-8, BB, R, CS)
2. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 1-5 (1B, K, K, 6-3, K)
3. Wladmir Galindo, 3B: 2-4 (E2-CI, 3B, 2B, L-5, F-9, R, 2 RBI)
4. Joey Martarano, DH: 1-5 (5-4-3 DP, 1B, F-9, K, 6-4 FC, R, RBI)
5. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 2-3 (BB, 1B, 1B, K, R)
6. Jhonny Pereda, C: 0-4 (L-8, E-5, 4-6-3 DP, F-8, R)
7. Roberto Caro, CF: 1-4 (2-U, 1B, 4-3, F-8, RBI)
8. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-4 (5-3, F-9, K, 2B)
9a. Sutton Whiting, LF: 0-2 (E-4, F-7, R)
9b. Alex Bautista, LF: 1-2 (1B, 1-3)

AZL CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Trey McNutt: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 0/1 GO/FO, 17 pitches (5 strikes)
2. Pedro Silverio: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HBP, 1 WP, 7/4 GO/FO, 74 pitches (45 strikes)
3. Tanner Griggs: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 17 pitches (12 strikes)
4. Trey Masek: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches (9 strikes)
5. Santiago Rodriguez: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 41 pitches (27 strikes)

AZL CUBS ERRORS: 2
1. LF Sutton Whiting: E-7 (throwing error allowed batter to advance an extra base on a single)
2. LF Alex Bautista: E-7 (fielding error allowed batter and runner to advance an extra base on single)

AZL CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Jhonny Pereda: 1-1 CS:

OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
CF Roberto Caro - runner thrown out 8-6-5 trying to stretch double into triple

Comments

Q-MAN: I actually have seen Manuel Rondon pitch, both in Extended Spring Training and then a week ago against the Cubs in an AZL game. He didn't show much when I saw him. Actually, he got clobbered (allowing six runs and nine hits in 3.1 IP, including a double and two triples).  

But he was the Angels top pitching prospect with the DSL Angels last season, and he was also the AZL Angels Opening Day starter this season and he threw a really good game in his first start versus the AZL Athletics, before getting bombed by the Cubs. 

Rondon throws a 87-89 MPH two-seamer with movement that touches 90-91 and a plus change-up (his "swing & miss" pitch), but he has difficulty commanding his slider. 

I would expect Rondon to get a start for the AZL Cubs very soon, maybe even this weekend (he hasn't pitched since a week ago Thursday). He was supposed to get his next start for the AZL Angels this past Thursday, but he did not pitch as scheduled (probably because of the pending trade).

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).