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

Manfred Cracks Down on Mexican League

Jeff Passan at Yahoo! Sports reports that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred advised MLB clubs last Tuesday that as a result of extensive fraud and corruption, MLB clubs are banned from doing business with Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (Mexican League) clubs until further notice. 

link

This may have something to do with Mexican RHP Florencio Serrano Jr -- one of the top International Free-Agents (IFA) signed by the Cubs in the 2017-18 International Signing Period (ISP) -- being released by the Cubs on Monday (it's possible that Serrano's contract was voided by order of the MLB Commissioner). Also, three other Mexican IFAs signed by the Cubs in the 2017-18 ISP (LHP Alejandro Carrillo, RHP Manuel Espinoza, and INF Juan Mora) were on the Restricted List until just yesterday, so there may have been an on-going investigation in progress by MLB that delayed the reinstatement of those players and perhaps was the impetus for Serrano being released. 

Baseball America rated SS Luis Verdugo and RHP Florencio Serrano Jr (both from Mexico) as the top two IFA prospects signed by the Cubs in the 2017-18 ISP. Serrano's situation was unusual because he was born in the U. S. (Texas) but moved to Mexico to attend HS, which meant he was able to circumvent the MLB First-Year Player Draft and be eligible to sign as an IFA in July 2017 (a year before his U. S. HS class would have graduated). Even though the MLB Commissioner's Office knew what Serrano did, there was no restriction placed on signing him as an IFA last July, but I don't know what might have transpired in the meantime that led to his being released. 

The article specifically mentions los Toros de Tijuana and los Leones de Yucatan as two of the three Mexican League clubs that are the primary offenders, and perhaps not coincidentally, Tijuana and Yucatan happen to be the two Mexican League clubs from whom the Cubs have acquired numerous (more than two dozen) players over the past three years. The Cubs employed a "Mexico Scouting Coordinator" (Sergio Hernandez) who negotiated with the Mexican players and the Mexican League clubs (mainly Yucatan and Tijuana) who controlled the contractual rights to the players that has allowed the Cubs to acquire a number of notable prospects from Mexico like RHSP Jose Albertos, SS Isaac Paredes (traded to Detroit last July in the Justin Wilson/Alex Avila deal), 2B Carlos Sepulveda, RHSP Javier Assad, RHSP Jesus Camargo, LHSP Faustino Carrera, OF Carlos Pacheco, SS Luis Verdugo, 2B Reivaj Garcia, and RHP Florencio Serrano Jr. (NOTE: Sergio Hernandez is no longer listed as the Cubs Mexico Scouting Coordinator -- the position has apparently either been eliminated or is vacant).

But the relationship goes beyond just having a scout in Mexico. The Cubs loaned veteran Mexican League RHRP Mario Meza back to Yucatan the past two seasons after acquiring him from los Leones in December 2016 (although he attended Cubs Minor League Camp in Mesa in both 2017 and 2018, Meza has never actually pitched for a Cubs minor league affiliate). Likewise, RHP Hector Alonso Garcia was loaned back to Yucatan and OF Ruben Reyes was loaned back to Tijuana last season (the Mexican League clubs from whom the Cubs acquired the players) to help ease a minor league roster jam for the Cubs, although Reyes is playing at Eugene and Garcia is pitching for AZL Cubs #1 this season. And Tijuana has Spring Training in Tucson, and (except for this season) the Cubs played them every year during Minor League Camp, sometimes acquiring a player from the Toros after the conclusion of the game (as happened with OF Jose Alonso Gaitan in March 2017). So the relationship between the Cubs and the two Mexican League teams runs (or did run) fairly deep.

I strongly suspect that one or more MLB clubs filed a complaint with the MLB Commissioner regarding the Cubs using (or -- in the eyes of other less-resourceful MLB organizations -- abusing) the Mexican League "loophole" (where only 25% of the signing bonus counts against a club's ISBP as long as the Mexican League club that controls the rights to the player receives the other 75%) to sign numerous high-end prospects from Mexico despite being in the "penalty box" (no signing bonus in excess of $300K allowed in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 ISPs) after exceeding their ISBP in the 2015-16 ISP.

The Mexican League is an "affiliated" minor league (meaning it is part of Minor League Baseball, and has been for sixty years), although the clubs are independent of MLB organizations. (There is no other league like that in affiliated Minor League Baseball). However, MLB organizations are (or at least have been) permitted to "loan" players to Mexican League clubs during the minor league season, and that sometimes is a convenient way to get innings for Mexican pitchers (like Mario Meza) or reps for Mexican position-players who are mired in a deep MLB minor league system while allowing the MLB organization to continue to contractually control the player.

The Mexican League is designated as a "AAA" league, but is in reality more-equivalent to full-season "A" ball (like South Bend or maybe Myrtle Beach) or to an advanced independent league like the Atlantic League. The AAA designation goes back 50 years to when Mexican League players were subject to selection in the Rule 5 Draft. But because the Mexican League had "AAA" status, MLB clubs could select Mexican League players only in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft (higher draft price and right to re-claim), but the designation was not changed even after Mexican League players were exempted from selection in the Rule 5 Draft (which happened many years ago).

I suppose there could be further on this, just like with the Atlanta Braves last off-season. Hopefully not. 

Comments

"Mooooooom. Make him staaaaaaaaaaaahp."

 

Owners to Manfred about Epstein.

 

If you're too good at something, MLB will stop you from doing that thing.

I know it's possible we never get more info on this. On one hand, I hope that the Cubs making effective use of a CBA loophole to spend more money on players is as far as this goes. I don't want the team I root for to be involved in any abuses that involve the exploitation of minor league players. On the other hand, if that's all this is, the commissioner's decision is garbage. Seems unlikely, though I have no real opinion on Manfred.

Here is a Fangraphs article from a few years ago that helps explain how LMB (Mexican League) clubs control players (especially young players who aren't yet ready to play in the Mexican League). 

link 

It appears that sometime in 2015 the Cubs found a way to avoid the difficulties most other MLB clubs have faced over the years in trying to sign Mexican players and in dealing with the Mexican League clubs who control the rights to the players, such that the Cubs were able to sign 25 players out of Mexico (including some very highly-regarded prospects) in just three years, while most other MLB organizations were unable to sign even one. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Per the article linked above: "Parents worried about the situation with the Mexican league and who are consciously aware of their son’s talent potential to play in the majors some day make an economic sacrifice to send their kids to high school or college in the U.S. with the hopes that their sons are selected in the amateur draft." It sounds like Serrano did just the opposite. Makes me wonder if there was some sort of arrangement established before he moved down there.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

"I hear the Rickets family, who own the Chicago Cubs, are secretly spending $'s against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!" - dotard in chief ...but hey, they came around and donated a crapload of money to trump and then one of his kids got an appointment. of course he withdrew his nomination once they started probing his family's finances and the $1m+ they donated during the campaign, but i'm sure it's because he was needed elsewhere, not because of the prospects of the government looking into the family finances. so it's all good. it's all gooooooooooooooood.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

The only conformity I expect from a Cub fan (or a blog, I suppose) is that he/she wear more blue than red, and root for the Cubs. Beyond that, it's a free country, as we used to say, back when it was truer.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Well said. As I posted earlier, I am currently in France on vacation. Just visited Omaha Beach and the D-Day U.S. cemetery. Sobering and humbling. A reminder to speak up when you disagree with what you see, and to stand up for others. Also -- win a few games in LA, whatever it takes, and get us back on the good foot. Ain't nothin' more American than baseball, man.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Good for you, Billybucks. Would love to someday visit Normandy - high on the bucket list. Did see Bastogne while in college and that was memorable.

Recent comments

  • 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. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.