Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 





Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Release Three, But Not So Fast...

The Cubs released LHRP Manny Parra, INF Munenori Kawasaki, and OF Shane Victorino today, but hope to re-sign all three players. The trio were signed to minor league contracts during the off-season and were in big league camp as NRI (Non-Roster Invitees). 

Here's why this happened today... 

If an Article XX-B MLB free-agent (like Parra, Kawasaki, and Victorino) signs a minor league contract at least ten days prior to MLB Opening Day, and then is either not released by 12 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day prior to MLB Opening Day or added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or MLB Disabled List by 3 PM (Eastern) on MLB Opening Day, the player automatically receives a $100,000 retention bonus, and the player can unilaterally opt-out of the minor league contract on June 1st if he has not been added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or an MLB Disabled List by that date.

CUBS ARTICLE XX-B MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS SPRING TRAINING 2016
: (last updated 2-26-2016)
Munenori Kawasaki, INF 
Manny Parra, LHP 
Shane Victorino, OF 

So the Cubs can avoid paying the $100K retention bonus and having to deal with an automatic 6/1 opt-out by releasng the Article XX-B player now and then re-signing him to a new minor league contract that does not include the retention bonus and/or the 6/1 opt-out. 

The Cubs did the exact same thing with LHSP Tsuyoshi Wada two years ago, releasing him before the retention bonus and opt-out kicked-in, and then re-signing him to a new pre-arranged minor league contract the very next day. 

It's a bit like when a player is non-tendered on 12/2 and then is subsequently re-signed to a minor league contract for a lot less money (as happened with TJS rehabber LHRP Jack Leathersich last December after the Cubs claimed him off waivers from the Mets) than what the club could (by rule) offer the player if he was tendered and remained on the club's MLB 40-man roster. 

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

the kawasaki one seems a bit of a gamble, but at the same time his talent is redundant over the long haul with baez around...plus it seems like he's had a blast in cubs camp and might want to hang around for a chance to reconnect with the group. given how much he's played and how well he's done, he's a strong candidate for the cubs ST MVP (not that it actually means a lot, though it's something). -edit- and it seems that worked itself out already. neat.

Who had Javy for DL contest? Bruce Levine ‏@MLBBruceLevine 1m1 minute ago Cuba Javier Baez starting on DL with thumb contusion

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

The first player DL'd after the season starts--or, "in-season DL" as it reads. Credit WISCGRAD for that clarification/qualification. He anticipated this very thing. By the way, have your guesses in by Sunday at noon.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

no? no. why? because it's a 25th man. it doesn't matter that much. also, he's probably doomed once baez gets back. slot him for 400+PA and then you'll hear some complaining. even the guy(s) i'd pick over him for the long haul don't matter much because they're single-season rentals or 4th/5th OF options for an assumed ceiling anyway. they just seem to really like szcuzrurzurzcr for a bench OF callup role in the front office. they're gonna give him every chance to make that work.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

JOHN B: Clayton Richard and Trevor Cahill have minor league options left but both can decline to be optioned to the minors because they have accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time. I wrote a post here a couple of days ago explaining how Richard might agree to be optioned even though he can refuse.  

link 

Justin Grimm and Adam Warren can elect to be a free-agent if they are sent outright to the minors, but they cannot refuse an Optional Assignment until they reach five years of MLB Service Time. However, Optional Assignment Waivers must be secured before Grimm and/or Warren can be optioned, but Optional Assignment Waivers are revocable the first time they are requested in a given waiver period, so opposing clubs almost never make claims on this type of waivers (although it is possible). 

So it really wouldn't be too difficult for the Cubs to option Grimm or Warren to the minors, if they were so inclined. 

So the Cubs are going to carry 8 relievers: Who's the odd man out? - Cahill, Rondon, Richard, Warren, Grimm, Ramirez, Wood, Strop or Brooks (assuming Dallas Beeler is on DL). Also is Beeler's a 60 day or 15 and same question with Villanueva? I would assume 60 for Villanueva being as it was a broken fibula.

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

it's hard to say based on performance seeing as almost everyone's been in a race to be awful this spring, but at least their velocity/stuff is seemingly on pace for where it should be. that said, barring a trade for one of the "excess" lefties, i assume brooks would be the odd man out.

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

CUBBIES 4 EVER: The MLB 60-day DL is only used if a club's 40-man roster is fuil and a roster slot is needed for another player, but since the Cubs have one slot open on the 40 right now (after Rex Brothers was released) with no apprarent plan to add anybody new anytime soon, Villanueva and Beeler will be placed on the 15-day DL initially, although either (most likely Villanueva, since he will miss considerable time) could get transferred to the 60 at some point later on if the Cubs 40-man roster is full and another slot is needed.

But as I said, the Cubs presently have one slot open on the 40 with no obvious additional candidates to be added, and there would need to be two players added before for the Cubs would have to move a player from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. 

the sloan park crowd is ALL about some kawasaki...chanting like crazy. hahaha...and he hits a 3-run homer. ...and he's getting a curtain call. biggest pop of the day, easy.

...another cruddy h.rondon performance. 1ip 3h 0bb 0k, 2r/er (couple sac flies) yeesh. hope he leaves this in arizona.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

it's the 16 hits in 7.2ip that's a bit more concerning, and arguably much more that it's all being spread out over most of his outings than a couple bad outings. most of his work is coming vs guys that are late game replacement players due for the minors, too. at least he's not walking guys. hopefully he'll leave it in arizona. his stuff seems to be there.

Az Phil, what do you think the Iowa Roster will end up being with Victorino, Parra and Kawasaki having re-signed?

CHILDERS: Take a look at the up-to-the-minute Spring Training Depth Chart, and it's pretty clear that Iowa is fairly loaded with players right now. The final cuts will be made on Friday or Saturday, and I would expect at least a dozen players to get released from Minor League Camp (mostly from the Iowa squad) at that time.   

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

  • crunch (view)

    booooooooooo

    also, wisdom and taillon are both in chicago.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Tonight’s game postponed. Split games on Saturday.

  • crunch (view)

    cubs getting crazy good at not having player moves leak.

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  • Bill (view)

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  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!