Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

39 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (one slot is open), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL and one player has been DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT (DFA)   

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

Last updated 4-24-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Hector Neris 
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Pete Crow-Armstrong 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 8 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2
* Cody Bellinger, OF  
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 3
Kyle Hendricks, P 
* Drew Smyly, P 
* Justin Steele, P   

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

DFA: 1 
Garrett Cooper, 1B 
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Post-2019 Draft-Excluded Players

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

So with the Cubs selecting the contract of LHRP Danny Hultzen from AAA Iowa today, Hultzen becomes the Cubs first 2019 Draft-Excluded Player.  

In addition to being a Draft-Excluded Player (which limits what the Cubs can do with him in the off-season, especially after the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft), Hultzen is also out of minor league options (so he can't be optioned to Iowa if he doesn't make the Cubs 2020 Opening Day 25-man roster), and he can elect free-agency if he is outrighted (because he has been outrighted previously in his career).

MLB RULE 6: DRAFT -EXCLUDED PLAYER

A "Draft-Excluded Player" is any minor league player who has accrued less than three years of MLB Service Time and who is eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 5 Draft, whose contract is selected, and who is added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) between August 15th and the Rule 5 Draft.

1. A Draft-Excluded Player can be non-tendered on 12/2, released, or traded at any time, but he cannot be sent to the minors by Optional Assignment beginning with the conclusion of the MLB regular season up until 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day.

2. A Draft-Excluded Player can be sent outright to the minors only if Outright Assignment Waivers are requested no later than 2 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the final game of the World Series, and if a Draft-Excluded Player is not outrighted to the minors prior to the Rule 5 Draft, the player cannot be Designated for Assignment or sent outright to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to the start of the MLB regular season.

CUBS PLAYERS WITH POST-2019 RULE 6 DRAFT-EXCLUDED STATUS: (last updated 9-7-2019)
Danny Hultzen, LHP  

Tags
Draft-Excluded Player
Danny Huiltzen

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 09/07/2019 - 09:17 pm

OF Mark Zagunis made it through waivers and he has been sent outright to AAA Iowa; 

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 09/07/2019 - 09:20 pm

Two good things about outrighting Zagunis are that he cannot elect free-agency if outrighted - AND - he is not eligible to be a minor leaue 6YFA until post-2020, so the Cubs will have him under control through next season (presuming he isn't selected in the Rule 5 Draft).

However, it is unlikely that Zagunis will get selected in the Rule 5 Draft in December since he wasn't claimed off waivers in September. ($100K Rule 5 Draft price vs $50K waiver claim price). 

Submitted by Mike Wellman on Sat, 09/07/2019 - 09:32 pm

Machado’s injury most unfortunate - he hurt it legging out an IF hit in the 1st inning AFTER the I-Cubs clinched their division last weeken. If he’d been enjoying a day off as other regs were that day he’d b in line for his just reward for a fine season - he’s a smooth ss & a patient hitter w/ some pop...

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 09/07/2019 - 09:41 pm

Nico Hoerner will be playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the AFL starting in about a week, so if he lights it up there he conceivably could get called-up to MLB in the post-season.

Note that if Hoerner were to be called-up this season (either in September or during the post-season), he would get - FOUR - minor league options (2020-23) instead of the normal three, which would make a 2019 Hoerner call-up a bit less problematic for the Cubs.   

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 09/08/2019 - 09:51 pm

Russell hit in head by fastball to start 3rd. Looked ugly But replay shows glancing off some of helmet. Nosebleed but seems alert.  They let him stay in game. We shall see...then steals 2nd base!

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 09/08/2019 - 09:56 pm

and we’re tied on a Bote single then bad throw by Yelich. Then Lester doubles, 2-1 Lead! Zobrist doubles, 3-1.

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Sun, 09/08/2019 - 09:09 pm

Not only are we letting Milwaukee have life again, we’re letting the shitbirds extend the near insurmountable lead.

Gonna have to go at least 5-2 in last 7 vs StL.

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Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Mon, 09/09/2019 - 09:26 am

I think 4th option is based on how many years since first entering professional baseball. I defer to AZP on that of course.

Excited to see what Hoerner can do, but I think this def costs someone who may have been protected from upcoming rule 5 draft their 40 man spot this November, as Hoerner wasn’t yet eligible for draft in that yet. Desperate times, though...

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 09/09/2019 - 09:46 pm

Presuming Nico Hoerner is added to the 40 this year, he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2023.

It's somewhat similar to when the Cubs added Kris Bryant to the 40 in April 2015 or Ian Happ to the 40 in May 2017, in both cases two years before they were Rule 5 Draft eligible. Both had four minor league options available when they were added to the 40, but the projected 4th minor league option went away once Bryant and Happ spent a season on the 40 without being optioned. 

So Hoerner's 4th minor leaue option is only available in 2023 - IF - he uses three minor league options 2020-22.  

As for how this will impact the 40-man roster right now, the Cubs could just recall LHSP Justin Steele from his Optional Assignment and place him on the 60-day IL. (He has been out since June with an oblique or lat strain). With only three weeks left in the season, adding Steele would cost the Cubs about $60K in additional MLB payroll -- the difference between the MLB minimum salary ($3,000 per day) and Steele's first-year minor league split salary (about $250 per day) over 21 days. Steele would also accrue about 21 days of MLB Service Time (no big deal at this point), but accruing MLB Service Time in 2019 would mean that the Cubs would not be able to outright Steele to the minors during the off-season or during Spring Training if he were to suffer a major injury (again, probably not that big of a deal in the big picture).  

Or LHRP Randy Rosario (who has seemingly been supplanted on the Cubs MLB roster by Brad Wieck and Danny Hultzen and at AAA Iowa by Wyatt Short and Jordan Minch) could get DFA'd, especially since he will be out of minor league options in 2020 and thus will have no value as a Des Moines - Chicago shuttle-rider.  

As for how adding Hoerner to the 40 will impact who the Cubs add (or don't added) to the 40 on 11/20  (pre-Rule 5 Draft), it probably means either SS Zack Short or INF-OF Trent Giambrone will not be added to the 40 (both were 50/50 to get added). 

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 09/09/2019 - 09:03 pm

Calling up Nico Hoerner now probably means that either Zack Short or Aramis Ademan will get Hoerner's slot in the AFL. Both would benefit from playing in the AFL (it would help the Cubs make a 40-man roster decision on Z. Short more easily because they can watch him hit against upper-level pitching for six weeks and Ademan just needs more reps against more-advanced pitchers so that he will be more-ready to advance to AA in 2020). 

Recent comments

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    Incredible moment. Huge part of the fun of working there is when something magic like that happens, and you get to interact with baseball fans. 

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    That bear hug was indeed awesome. Word is that Dansby has become an outstanding clubhouse leader and that moment really demonstrated it. That reaction was one of a proud coach/mentor who’s student just excelled. I’m not even sure who was more overjoyed, Dansby or PCA. A veteran expressing that kind of unabashed support and enthusiasm for a struggling rookie is beyond fantastic to see.

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    BAHAHA! I've actually not seen a single fight, but can't wait to see 70 degrees for sure!

  • crunch (view)

    next time i roll up into wrigley i'll try to start a fist fight and maybe we'll meet.

    be prepared.  i'm gonna make you earn your money.

    seriously, though...that's a cool as hell "retirement" assignment.  i imagine it will be better with warmer nights.

  • Cubster (view)

    I was there for the PCA homer as well. 50 degree baseball is no longer fun when sitting in the shade (knit hats, scarves and gloves are football gear) but I agree it’s one of those really cool moments. I loved the bear hug given by Swanson at home plate and of course the added impact that the PCA homer became a game winner.

     

  • Cubster (view)

    Holy Screaming Bananas

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    In honor of dispatching with the Astros, this painting is titled “The Sweep”. 
    I retired a couple years ago, and took a job at Wrigley as a security guy. SO cool having Wrigley as your office. SO cool being there when PCA got his first hit. 
    “The Sweep” happens at the end of every game - the security staff sweeps through the ballpark making sure it’s empty.
    (Hopefully I’ll be putting this painting up often this year.)
    Lastly, because working for the Cubs, they understandably don’t want you voicing opinions on social, which is why I’m only painting the banners here. 

  • First.Pitch.120 (view)

    Honorable mention to Jim Bullinger via BleedCubbieBlue: 

    Bullinger, a converted shortstop, had pitched in three games before he came to the plate. He had entered the game to relieve starter Shawn Boskie after four innings, and came to the plate to lead off the fifth, and hit Rheal Cormier's first pitch over the left-field wall to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead; they eventually won the game 5-2 in 14 innings. Of the 129players to homer in their first MLB at-bat, Bullinger is one of just 32 to hit that blast on the first big-league pitch he saw (including Contreras) and one of just six pitchers to do so.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Most of this activity will lead nowhere, of course, but it is fantastic that they’re looking for talent in every nook and cranny. You never know where that can lead, and virtually nothing is lost if if leads nowhere, as long as no one of superior talent and potential is losing an opportunity.

  • First.Pitch.120 (view)

    Fun 1st Hit / HR Fact…


    Recent Cubs players to have HR as 1st MLB hit:

    PCA

    Morel

    Happ

    Contreras

    Baez

    Soler

    Castro

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