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, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* 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
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

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




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

2018 Arizona Fall League Schedule Released

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

UPDATED 9/10 


The 2018 Arizona Fall League schedule has been released. Rosters will probably be announced later this month. 

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an MLB developmental league (approximately equivalent to "AA") that operates in the Phoenix metropolitan area for six weeks after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. It was founded in 1992 (it was the "brain-child" of long-time MLB executive Roland Hemond) and has operated continuously for 27 seasons. Games are played in MLB Spring Training stadiums.

In its present format, the AFL schedule features a 30-game "regular season," plus the "Bowman Hitting Challenge" held at Sloan Park in Mesa on the Saturday at the end of the first week, an All-Star Game (formerly called the "Rising Stars Game," but now known as the "Fall Stars Game") played at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on the Saturday at the end of the fourth week, and the AFL Championship Game (pitting the winner of the East Division against the winner of the West Division) played at Scottsdale Stadium on the Saturday at the end of the sixth week. There are no games played on Sundays or on the day of the Bowman Hitting Challenge and on the day of the Fall Stars Game, but otherwise there are usually three games scheduled every day Monday through Saturday, beginning with AFL Opening Day on the second Tuesday after the conclusion of the MLB regular season and extending up through the Thursday of the sixth week.  

The Cubs (as well as the other 29 MLB clubs) usually assign some of their better prospects to the Arizona Fall League, and sometimes minor leaguers who are eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 5 Draft might be sent to the AFL to give them a chance to play their way onto the MLB 40-man roster. Depending on what positions they are asked to fill on the Mesa squad, I would not be surprised to see the Cubs assign some combination of position players and pitchers such as catchers Miguel Amaya or Jhonny Pereda, C-INF P. J. Higgins, SS Aramis Ademan, INF Trent Giambrone, INF Vimael Machin, SS Zack Short, INF Jared Young, OF Eddy Julio Martinez, D. J. Wilson, and/or Zach Davis, starting pitchers Justin Steele, Adbert Alzolay, Erling Moreno, Ryan Williams, and/or Bailey Clark (SP assigned to the AFL are usually pitchers who didn't throw a whole lot of innings in the minor league regular season either because of injury, rehab, or because they spent part of the season working out of the bullpen), and relief pitchers Dakota Mekkes, Craig Brooks, Wyatt Short, Jordan Minch, Tyler Peyton, Scott Effross, and/or Brian Glowicki (Higgins, Pereda, Steele, Moreno, Williams, Brooks, Effross, and Minch are Rule 5 Draft-eligible post-2018). Cubs 2018 1st round draft pick SS Nico Hoerner was a candidate to go to the AFL post-2018 prior to suffering what appears to be a season-ending left elbow UCL injury (incurred while diving for a ball in the infield on July 15th). NOTE: Post-2018 Cubs minor league free-agents like OF Jeffrey Baez, RHP Erick Leal, RHP Daury Torrez, C-1B Taylor Davis, OF Bijan Rademacher, and CF Trey Martin can be assigned to the AFL - ONLY - if  the player signs a 2019 Minor League successor contract or is added to an MLB 40-man roster.prior to becoming a free-agent.  (RHP Pedro Araujo was eligible to be a minor league 6YFA post-2017, but he signed a 2018 minor league successor and was assigned to the AFL, and then after performing well in the AFL, he was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in last December's Rule 5 Draft).    

Here are the current AFL eligibility rules & restrictions. NOTE: Some of the original eligibility rules & restrictions have been changed (relaxed) over the past few years...

1. There are six AFL teams, and each AFL team is affiliated with five MLB clubs. SEA & SD (Peoria Javelinas), KC & TEX (Surprise Saguaros), LAD & CHW (Glendale Desert Dogs), AZ & COL (Salt River Rafters), CUBS (Mesa Solar Sox), and SF (Scottsdale Scorpions) are the "host organizations" for the six AFL teams, but the affiliations of the other twenty MLB clubs can vary from year-to-year. NOTE: Besides the Cubs, BOS, DET, LAA, and OAK will be affiliated with the Mesa Solar Sox in 2018. (DET, HOU, OAK, and WAS were the other four MLB organizations affiliated with the Mesa Solar Sox in 2017, and BAL, CLE, MIA, and OAK were the other four MLB organizations affiliated with the Solar Sox in 2016).

2. Each MLB organization must assign a minimum of seven players under its control to its AFL affiliate (free-agents are not permitted to participate), including a minimum of four pitchers (preferably one pitcher capable of starting plus three relievers) and a minimum of three position players (specific positions needed to be filled by each organization TBD by a conference call "position draft" between the Player Development Directors of the five MLB organizations affiliated with that particular AFL team). NOTE: RHSP Adbert Alzolay, RHRP Pedro Araujo, INF David Bote, OF Charcer Burks, RHSP Alec Mills, C-1B Ian Rice, RHRP Jake Stinnett, and 3B-1B Jason Vosler were the Cubs players assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox in 2017 (RHSP Oscar de las Cruz was removed from the Mesa Solar Sox roster on 9/18 due to injury and was replaced Alzolay), and C-1B Victor Caratini, RHRP James Farris, 2B-OF Ian Happ, LF Eloy Jimenez, RHRP Ryan McNeil, RHRP Steve Perakslis, and RHSP Duane Underwood Jr were the Cubs players assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox in 2016.

3. An MLB organization can assign additional position-players to its AFL team's "Taxi Squad." Players assigned to an AFL team's "Taxi Squad" can play in no more than two games per week (it used to be Wednesday and Saturday games only, but now it's just no more than two games per week regardless of the day), but a player can be transferred from the Taxi Squad to the 35-man Active Roster to replace an injured or inactive player. NOTE: C-1B Ian Rice was assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox Taxi Squad in 2017 and he replaced David Bote on the MSS Active Roster with about two weeks left in the AFL season after Bote left the team to attend to a personal matter, and while the Cubs initially did not assign any players to the Solar Sox Taxi Squad in 2016, OF-DH Kyle Schwarber was briefly assigned to the MSS Taxi Squad 10/22-10/25 while preparing to play in the World Series. 

4. A player can be selected to play in the AFL more than once, as long as the player continues to meet eligibility for selection.

5. MLB players (including players selected in a preceding Rule 5 Draft) with less than one year (1+000) MLB Service Time accrued (not including time spent on a Disabled list) as of September 1st are eligible.

6. Any player on an Advanced Class-A (A+), AA, or AAA Active Roster or Disabled List on August 15th is eligible.

7. Two players on the Active List or Disabled List of a minor league affiliate below Advanced Class-A on August 15th can be assigned to the AFL.

8. International players from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and/or Australia are eligible only if the player is not on the reserve list of a Winter League club from the player's home country. Otherwise, there is no maximum limit on the number of international players an MLB organization can assign to its AFL team.

9. A player on the Restricted List, Military List, Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Voluntary Retired List is not eligible to participate in the AFL.

10. A player who was on a minor league or MLB DL at the close of the regular season is eligible to play in the AFL as long as the player has been reinstated, but there can be no special limits or restrictions placed on the player's playing time (other than the automatic restrictions imposed on a player assigned to an AFL team's "Taxi Squad").

11. A player cannot be assigned to the AFL on an Article XIX-C Minor League Injury Rehabilitation Assignment by a club participating in an MLB post-season series (LDS, LCS, and World Series). NOTE: OF-DH Kyle Schwarber was added to the 2016 Mesa Solar Sox Taxi Squad on 10/22 after being reinstated from the Cubs MLB 60-day DL (so it was NOT considered a "rehab assignment"), and he played in two AFL games before re-joining the Cubs for the World Series on 10/25.  

12. Players assigned to the AFL do not accrue MLB or minor league service time, each player receives the same salary, and the salaries are paid out of a special fund managed by MLB.

13. Only players who are under control of an MLB organization are eligible to play in the AFL. A free-agent (unsigned player) is not eligible to play in the AFL.

Each MLB organization provides either the manager, a pitching coach, or a hitting coach to its affiliated AFL club (assignments rotate every year). The Cubs are responsible for providing one of the hitting coaches to their affiliated AFL club in 2018. NOTE: AA Tennessee Hitting Coach Jesus Feliciano will serve as a hitting coach for the Mesa Solar Sox in 2018. 

CUBS ASSIGNED TO 2018 MESA SOLAR SOX (updated 9-10-2018)
Bailey Clark, RHP 
Trent Giambrone, IF-OF (taxi squad) 
P. J. Higgins, C-1B-3B 
Nico Hoerner, SS 
Erick Leal, RHP 
Jhonny Pereda, C (taxi squad)
Manuel Rondon, LHP 
Justin Steele, LHP 
D. J. Wilson, CF 
  
Jesus Feliciano (Hitting Coach)

Tags
Arizona Fall League

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/08/2018 - 08:44 pm

It was mentioned when Cubs top pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay went on the Iowa DL in May with a lat strain that he could possibly make-up 2018 innings lost while on the DL (at least in part) by assigning him to the AFL post-2018.

The problem with assigning Alzolay to the AFL is that his slot on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster might be needed in September for Chris Gimenez or Drew Smyly, and if Alzolay is recalled from his Optional Assignment on 9/1 and then is placed on the Cubs MLB 60-day DL, he would not be eligible to pitch in the AFL until he is reinstated from the 60-day DL (which could be no earlier than 10/31, which is about 2/3 of the way through the AFL regular season).

So having Alzolay pitch in the Venezuelan winter league (Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional) would probably be a better option. 

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 08/08/2018 - 08:07 pm

Phil (or our NW League followers): can you please give a scouting report on the Emeralds pitcher, Brailyn Marquez? Supposedly he's getting some scout positive reviews (and a mention in BA's MiLB system ranking, Cubs were 28/30 but ahead of Boston/Seattle). They did rank Miguel Amaya at 91/100. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/08/2018 - 08:06 pm

CUBSTER: I saw Brailyn Marquez a lot at Extended Spring Training where he was clearly the EXST Cubs #1 pitching prospect. He was featuring a 91-93 MPH FB, a plus-CV, and a CH that was still a work-in progress (but was improving) at that time, and he displayed solid command of all of his pitches in most of his starts. 

So when he left for Eugene in June, I wrote here at TCR that I believed Marquez was one of the Cubs Top 20 prospects (overall), and one of the Cubs top 10 pitching prospects and definitely the Cubs best SP prospect at Eugene.

But since arriving in Eugene, Marquez's FB velo has reportedly spiked to 94-96 T-97, and if true, he should probably be considered one of the Cubs Top 10 prospects and one of their top two or three pitching prospects.   

BTW, I have not personally seen TrackMan FB velo readings on Marquez at Eugene (as I did at EXST) so I can't confirm the reported uptick in velocity that supposedly appeared on NWL stadium guns, but even if his FB is now sitting at 94-95, that would be a significant upgrade. If it's 96-97, that would be amazing.   

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 08/30/2018 - 08:38 pm

The Cubs have assigned four position players to the AFL Mesa Solar Sox: IF-OF Trent Giambrone, C-1B-3B P. J. Higgins, SS Nico Hoerner (Cubs 2018 1st round draft pick), and CF D. J. Wilson. One of the four will need to be assigned to the MSS "Taxi Squad" (player can play only two games per week) because only three position players per organization can be assigned to the unrestricted Active Roster. The Cubs have not yet assigned any pitchers to the AFL, but there will be four (including at least one SP).

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 08/31/2018 - 08:24 am

This is why D. J. Wilson and Nico Hoerner can play in the AFL and why two more Cubs players who were on minor league rosters below AA on 8/15 could play in the AFL as well: 

7. Two players on an organization's Advanced Class-A (A+) affiliate's Active Roster (or Disabled List) on August 15th can be assigned to the AFL.
EXAMPLE: D. J. Wilson and ???? (perhaps Justin Steele)

8. Two additional players who were on the Active Roster or Disabled List of a minor league affiliate below AA (A+, A, SS-A, R) on August 15th can be assigned to the AFL.
EXAMPLE: Nico Hoerner and ???? (perhaps Erling Moreno)

There are some sites that have not updated the AFL roster rules. The roster rules I listed in the post above are the current ones and they have been the rules for the last three or four years.

It used to be that no more than two players who were on an Active List or DL of an MLB organization's minor league affiliate below AA on 8/15 could be on an AFL roster, but as you can see, it can be as many as four -- of which at least two must be from Advanced "A" (Myrtle Beach in the case of the Cubs) -- but two more players who were on the Cubs Myrtle Beach, South Bend, Eugene, AZL Cubs #1, AZL Cubs #2, DSL Cubs #1, and/or DSL Cubs #2 can also be assigned (club option).     

Also, it used to be that no more than one "international" player from any one organization could be assigned to that club's AFL team, but there is no limit now other than that an "international" player who is on the reserve list of a Latin winter league club cannot play in the AFL. 

It also used to be that a player who was on a DL on August 1st was ineligible to play in the AFL, but that rule was changed a few years ago as well. 

Essentially, MLB relaxed a number of AFL roster rules a few years ago because that's what MLB clubs wanted, and the AFL exists primarily to assist clubs in player development. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 09/05/2018 - 09:42 pm

AA Tennessee hitting coach Jesus Feliciano will serve as a hitting coach with the Mesa Solar Sox (AFL), replacing South Bend manager Jimmy Gonzalez (who had been named an MSS hitting coach last month). 

Still no word on which four Cubs pitchers will be assigned to the AFL, but as long as Cubs top pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay is not recalled and placed on the MLB 60-day DL this month, he would be a strong candidate to pitch in the AFL to make up innings lost to injury (lat strain) in 2018. (He would not be eligible to pitch in the AFL if he is on the 60-day DL).    

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 10/24/2018 - 10:22 pm

Very solid outing for LHSP Justin Steele for Mesa Solar Sox this afternoon at Sloan Park: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 GIDP, 6/1 GO/AO, 62 pitches (41 strikes) - FB: 91-94 (T-95) fairly straight but he moved it up & down to change hitter's eye-level; CV: 78-80 (his off-speed "swing & miss" pitch); and an 87 MPH SL or CT (can't tell which, but it had diagonal movement so it's probably a slider) "chase pitch" that he had difficulty commanding, but otherwise he threw strikes with his FB and CV. I've seen all three of Steele's AFL starts so far and he is improving with each outing. I am beginning to think he is now a "virtual lock" to get added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster by the 11/20 deadline (I already had him the #1 "on the bubble" candidate to get added to the 40). 

RHRP Bailey Clark pitched a scoreless 9th and got the save, although he threw only 50% strikes and walked two. He was mixing a 92-95 MPH FB and an 81-83 MPH SL, neither of which he could throw consistently for strikes (especially the slider).    

Cubs 2018 1st round draft pick Nico Hoerner had two hard-hit singles (including a tie-breaking two-out RBI high-velo line-drive hit to LF in the bottom of the 7th that drove-in what proved to be the game-winning run) and a walk and continues to make all the plays with ease at SS. He is facing advanced pitching in the AFL and has handled himself very well so far, so he could conceivably jump to AA in 2019, especially if Aramis Ademan repeats Myrtle Beach and Zack Short moves-up to AAA. (I can't see either Hoerner or Ademan going back to South Bend, and both need to get regular reps at SS). Hoerner is a legit SS, although probably more steady than spectacular. (He's more like a J. J. Hardy than a Javier Baez).

What's kind of interesting is that when the AFL rosters were first announced Hoerner was on the Mesa Solar Sox "Taxi Squad" (meaning he could play only two games a week), but just prior to AFL Opening Day the Cubs switched Hoerner and Trent Giambrone, moving Giambrone to the Taxi Squad. That should be a pretty good indicator that the Cubs are "fast-tracking" Hoerner. 

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    happ, right hamstring tightness, day-to-day (hopefully 0 days).

    he will be reevaluated tomorrow.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I guess I'm not looking for that type of AB 

    Just a difference of opinion

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I don’t see Tauchman as a weak link in any position. He simply adds his value in a different way.

    I don’t know that we gain much by putting him in the outfield - Happ, Bellinger and Suzuki and Tauchman all field their positions well. If you’re looking for Taucnman’s kind of AB in a particular game I don’t see why it can’t come from DH.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Tauchman gets a pinch hit RBI single with a liner to RF. This is his spot. He's a solid 4th OF. But he isn't a DH. 

    He takes pitches. Useful. I still believe in having good hitters.

    You don't want your DH to be your weak link (other than your C maybe)

  • crunch (view)

    bit of a hot take here, but i'm gonna say it.

    the 2024 marlins don't seem to be good at doing baseballs.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Phil, will the call up for a double header restart that 15 days on assignment for a pitcher? Like will wesneski’s 15 days start yesterday, or if he’s the 27th man, will that mean 15 days from tomorrow?

    I hope that makes sense. It sounds clearer in my head.

  • Charlie (view)

    Tauchman obviously brings value to the roster as a 4th outfielder who can and should play frequently. Him appearing frequently at DH indicated that the team lacks a valuable DH. 

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally onboard with your thoughts concerning today’s lineup. Not sure about your take on Tauchman though.

    The guy typically doesn’t pound the ball out out of the park, and his BA is quite unimpressive. But he brings something unique to the table that the undisciplined batters of the past didn’t. He always provides a quality at bat and he makes the opposing pitcher work because he has a great eye for the zone and protects the plate with two strikes exceptionally well. In addition to making him a base runner more often than it seems through his walks, that kind of at bat wears a pitcher down both mentally and physically so that the other guys who may hit the ball harder are more apt to take advantage of subsequent mistakes and do their damage.

    I can’t remember a time when the Cubs valued this kind of contribution but this year they have a couple of guys doing it, with Happ being the other. It doesn’t make for gaudy stats but it definitely contributes to winning ball games. I do believe that’s why Tauchman has garnered so much playing time.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Miles Mastrobuoni cannot be recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is recalled to replace a position player who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And for a pitcher it's 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled, unless he is replacing a pitcher who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, or Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And a pitcher (or a position player, but almost always it's a pitcher) can be recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader regardless of how many days he has been on optional assignment, but then he must be sent back down again the next day. 

     

    That's why the Cubs had to wait as long as they did to send Jose Cuas down and recall Keegan Thompson. Thompson needed to spend the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he could be recalled (and he spent EXACTLY the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he was recalled). 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.

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