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

Projected Cubs Post-2019 World Series Roster

As things stand right now.... 

POST-2019 DEADLINES

Any player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who is released during the period of time beginning on September 1st up until the first day of Spring Training cannot be re-signed by the same club to a major league contract and cannot be placed back on that club's MLB 40-man roster until May 15th.  

Any 2019 outrighted Article XX-D minor league player who elected to defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season and who was not subsequently added back to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season or who did not sign a 2020 minor league successor contract can file for free-agency beginning at 9 AM on the day after the final game of the MLB regular season up through October 15th. 1B-OF Jim Adduci was the only Cubs 2019 Article XX-D outrighted player, and he filed for free-agency at his first opportunity (9/30). Once he becomes a free-agent, the player can sign a major league or minor league contract with any club (including the player's former organzation), and the player's former club receives no compensation if the player signs elsewhere.  

An unsigned Article XX-D player who is sent outright to the minors after the conclusion of the MLB regular season and prior to being tendered a major league contract or prior to signing a tendered major league contract can elect free-agency immediately. 

Any unsigned Article XX-B player on an MLB 40-man roster is automatically declared a free-agent at 9 AM on the day after the final game of World Series. The player does not have to file. It's automatic.  

Over the five days after the final game of the World Series, 2020 club and/or player contract options for MLB players with Article XX-B rights must be exercised and/or declined by the deadline as stated in the contract, but all contract options must be decided by 5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series.   

MLB clubs must decide by 5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series whether to extend a Qualifying Offer to an MLB Article XX-B free-agent who is eligible to receive a QO. Any player who received a QO previously in his career and/or any player who did not spend the entire previous season with that MLB organization (including the MLB club and/or a minor league affiliate or affiliates) cannot be extended a QO. Players who are extended a QO have ten days to decide whether to accept or decline the QO. 

Any Article XX-B MLB free-agent who signs a major league contract after 11:59 PM on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series receives an automatic "no trade" right through June 15th. 

Any minor leaguer eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 second-contract free-agent or 6YFA who is not added to an MLB 40-man roster or who has not signed a 2020 minor league successor contract will be automatically declared a free-agent at 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series. Once declared a free-agent, the player can sign a major league or minor league contract with any club (including the player's former organization). 

Minor league players eligible for selection in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft must be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) no later than November 20th to be draft-excluded. Any Rule 5 Draft-eligible free-agent who signs a minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft is eligible for selection. 

2020 contracts must be tendered to unsigned MLB players under club control no later than December 2nd (the deadline was November 30th last year only because 12/2 fell on a Sunday). If an unsigned MLB player under club control is not tendered a contract, the player becomes a free-agent and is free to sign a major league or minor league contract with any club (including the club that non-tendered the player). Non-tendering a player allows a club to cut a player's salary more than the maximum allowable 20% and eliminates a player's right to request salary arbitration, although once non-tendered the player can sign with any club without restriction and the player's former club receives no compensation if the player signs elsewhere. A non-tender also allows a club to remove a Draft-Excluded or unsigned Rule 55 player from its MLB 40-man roster who otherwise cannot be removed by Outright Assignment during the off-season, and to avoid the possibility that a player on the 40 that the club wishes to retain in the minor leagues could be claimed off waivers.     


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 


PROJECTED CUBS POST-2019 WORLD SERIES MLB RESERVE LIST:  

32 players (plus probably at least four minor league 6YFA and/or Rule 5 Draft eligible players -- see below) 

* bats or throws left 
# bats both

PITCHERS: 17

Adbert Alzolay (auto-renewal...  Alzolay will have one minor league option left in 2020)
NOTE: Alzolay is a Rule 55 player so he cannot be sent outright to minors after 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series or until he signs 2020 contract 

Tyler Chatwood
($13M in 2020 then free-agent post-2020) 
NOTE: Chatwood cannot be sent to minors without his consent

Yu Darvish ($84M 2020-23 but can opt-out with no termination pay after 2019 World Series, but Cubs will almost certainly extend an Article XX-B Qualifying Offer if Darvish opts-out)
NOTE: Darvish full "no trade" expires after 2019 World Series and then he has partial "no trade" (must designate 12 clubs to which he cannot be traded) until he becomes a 10/5 player and gets a full "no trade" rights post-2022 7/31 MLB trade deadline... also, salary escalates $2M in all subsequent seasons if he wins a Cy Young Award or $1M in all subsequent seasons anytime he finishes #2-5 in Cy Young

Kendall Graveman
($3M 2020 club option with no buy-out required if option is declined... Graveman will have one minor league option left in 2020)
NOTE: Graveman has a clause in his contract that requires Cubs to either release or non-tender him if 2020 club option is declined... can elect free-agency if he is outrighted to minors

Kyle Hendricks ($54M 2020-23 plus $16M vesting option in 2024 if Top 3 Cy Young in 2020 or else $16M 2024 club option with $1.5M buy-out)
NOTE: Hendricks also has $3M per season salary escalator if he finished Top 10 Cy Young in any season prior to 2024  

* Danny Hultzen (Draft-Excluded Player... auto-renewal... Hultzen is out of minor league options)
NOTE: If Outright Assignment Waivers are not requested by the 5th day after the final game of the World Series a Draft-Excluded player cannot be outrighted until 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day, plus Hultzen also has right to elect free-agency if outrighted because he has been outrighted previously in his career

Craig Kimbrel ($16M 2020-21 and $16M vesting option or else club option in 2022)
NOTE: Kimbrel 2022 vesting option activates if at least 110 GF 2020-21 and at least 55 GF in 2021, otherwise $16M 2022 club option with $1M buy-out or $2M buy-out if at least 53 GF in 2021 or $3M buy-out if at least 53 GF in both 2020-21, plus full "no trade" expires on 10-30-2019 and then Kimbrel must designate eight clubs to which he will not accept a trade

* Jon Lester ($15M salary in 2020 plus $2.5M signing bonus payment due on 12-31-2019 and $10M final signing bonus payment due next 9/15, and a $25M 2021 vesting option if 200 IP in 2020 (possible, although he hasn't thrown 200 IP since 2016) or 400 IP 2019-20 (which won't happen) or else a $25M 2021 mutual option with a $10M buy-out if 2021 club option is declined
NOTE: Lester has 10/5 full "no trade" rights

Dillon Maples
(auto-renewal... Maples will have one minor league option left in 2020)
NOTE: Maples is a Rule 55 player so he cannot be outrighted to minors after 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series or until he signs a 2020 contract

Alec Mills
(auto-renewal - Mills will have no minor league options left in 2020)
NOTE: Mills is a Rule 55 player so he cannot be outrighted to minors after 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series or until he signs a 2020 contract

James Norwood
(auto-renewal... Norwood will have one minor league option left in 2020)

* Kyle Ryan (will be eligible for salary arbitration as a "Super Two"... K. Ryan will have one minor league option left in 2020)
NOTE: K. Ryan has Article XX-D rights because he has been outrighted previously in his career and so he can elect free-agency if outrighted

* Justin Steele (auto-renewal... Steele will have two minor league options left in 2020)
NOTE: Because Steele did not accrue any MLB Service Time in 2019, he can be outrighted to minors even if he is injured up until 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day

Duane Underwood Jr (auto-renewal....Underwood will have no minor league options left in 2020
NOTE: Underwood is a Rule 55 player so he cannot be outrighted to minors after 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series or until he signs a 2020 contract

Allen Webster
(auto-renewal... Webster has no minor league options left)
NOTE: Webster is a Rule 55 player so he cannot be outrighted to minors after 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series or until he signs a 2020 contract... Webster is a likely 12/2 non-tender candidate and if he is non-tendered Cubs will probably try and re-sign him to a 2020 minor league contract after Rule 5 Draft 

Rowan Wick
(auto-renewal.... R. Wick will have one minor league option left in 2020)
NOTE: R. Wick has Article XX-D rights because he has been outrighted previously in his career and so he can elect free-agency if outrighted 

* Brad Wieck (auto-renewal... B. Wieck will have one minor league option left in 2020)


CATCHERS: 2  

# Victor Caratini (auto-renewal... Caratini will have two minor league options left in 2020... under club control through 2023) 
NOTE: Caratini is a Rule 55 player so he cannot be outrighted to minors after 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series or until he signs a 2020 contract 

Willson Contreras (1st time eligible for salary arbitration... under club control through 2022)

INFIELDERS: 9 

Javier Baez (2nd time eligible for salary arbitration... under club control through 2021 

David Bote ($13.5M through 2024 and $7M club option or $1M buy-out in 2025 and $7.6M club option or $1M buy-out in 2026... Bote will have two minor league options left in 2020)

Kris Bryant
(2nd time eligible for salary arbitration... under club control through 2021) 

* Daniel Descalso ($2.5M in 2020 and then $3.5M club option or else $1M buy-out in 2021) 
NOTE: Descalso will just get released and Cubs will eat balance of his contract if his 40-man roster slot is needed

# Robel Garcia (auto-renewal... R. Garcia will have two minor league options left in 2020)
NOTE: R. Garcia is a Rule 55 player so he cannot be outrighted to minors after 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series or until he signs a 2020 contract

Nico Hoerner
, INF (auto-renewal... Hoerner has four minor league options left because he will get a 4th minor league option in 2023)

* Tony Kemp (auto-renewal... Kemp has no minor league options left)
NOTE: Kemp is a Rule 55 player so he cannot be outrighted to minors after 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series or until he signs a 2020 contract

* Anthony Rizzo ($16.5M club option in both 2020 and 2021 or else $2M buy-out) 
NOTE: Rizzo may void 2021 club option if traded

Addison Russell
(2nd time eligible for salary arbitration... under club control through 2021... Russell will have two minor league options left in 2020
NOTE: Russell can elect free-agency if he is outrighted to minors... he is likely to be non-tendered if he isn't traded before 12/2


OUTFIELDERS: 4

Albert Almora (1st time eligible for salary arbitration... under club control through 2022... Almora will have two minor league options left in 2020
NOTE: Almora can elect free-agency if outrighted to minors

# Ian Happ (auto-renewal... Happ will have two minor league option left in 2020)

* Jason Heyward (gets $86M 2020-23... Heyward can opt-out after 2019 World Series and if he does his $20M deferred signing bonus must be paid in full on 4-1-2020  
NOTE: Heyward has partial "no trade" (must designate 12 clubs to which he cannot be traded) through 2020 MLB trade deadline then will have "10/5" full no trade rights beginning post-2020 

* Kyle Schwarber (2nd time eligible for salary arbitration... under club control through 2021... Schwarber will have three minor league options left in 2020
NOTE: Schwarber can elect free-agency if outrighted to minors

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

ARTICLE XX-B MLB FREE-AGENT (at 9 AM Eastern on day after final game of World Series): 13 

Tony Barnette, P (presently on Restricted List but 2020 $3M club option will be declined - no buy-out required

Nicholas Castellanos
, OF (not eligible to receive an Article XX-B Qualifying Offer)

* Xavier Cedeno, P 

Steve Cishek, P 

* Cole Hamels, p (given the way his season ended Cubs will almost certainly - NOT - extend an Article XX-B Qualifying Offer to Hamels

* Derek Holland, P ($6.5M 2020 club option will definitely not be exercised - no buy-out required)

Brandon Kintzler, P 

Jonathan Lucroy
, C 

Brandon Morrow, P ($12M vesting option will not apply & $12M club option will certainly be declined so $3M buy-out

* Jose Quintana, P ($10.5M club option will - PROBABLY - be declined after World Series so it will - PROBABLY - be a $1M buy-out if he isn't traded) 

David Phelps
, P ($5M 2020 club option plus $3M+ in potential performance bonuses will probably not be exercised - no buy-out required)

Pedro Strop, P 

# Ben Zobrist, INF  

NOTE
: The only free-agent the Cubs will likely attempt to re-sign is Nicholas Castellanos (and signing Castellanos would make it a lot easier for the Cubs to trade Kris Bryant), although the Cubs might offer a "first-come/first-served - take-it-or-leave-it" one-year contract with a low base salary plus modest performance bonuses to one or maybe two of their veteran FA relievers (Strop, Kintzler, Phelps, and/or Cishek).  



MINOR LEAGUERS LIKELY TO BE ADDED TO CUBS MLB 40-MAN ROSTER: 3-4 (possibly more) 
NOTE: Any of the following players who are added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster would (like Danny Hultzen) have Draft-Excluded status and thus could not be sent (outrighted or optioned) to the minors until 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day, so the Cubs will need to estimate approximately how many roster slots they believe will be needed during the off-season for free-agents and waiver claims before they start adding any of the "on the bubble" guys to the 40. (It's better to lose a player in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft for $100,000 with the chance you might get him back because the claiming club can't keep the player on its MLB active list for an entire season than to lose a player off waivers for $50,000 with the claiming club able -- in most cases -- to option the claimed player to the minors)

LOCK

Miguel Amaya
, C (Rule 5 Draft eligible)
NOTE: Cubs #1 prospect, a Top 100 MLB prospect, and one of the top catching prospects in baseball

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

VERY LIKELY

P. J. Higgins
, C-INF (Rule 5 Draft eligible)
NOTE: Above-average defensive catcher who also plays 1B-2B-3B and so he could be an ideal "26th man" on the expanded MLB active list

Colin Rea
, P (2019 PCL Pitcher of the Year... eligible to be minor league 6YFA at 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series if he isn't added to the 40)
NOTERea will have two minor league options left if added to the 40 making him potentially a very useful Des Moines - Chicago shuttle-rider in 2020-21 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LIKELY

Tyson Miller
, P (Rule 5 Draft eligible)
NOTE: Mostly-dominated in AA but then got hammered after mid-season promotion to AAA 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"ON THE BUBBLE" TO GET ADDED TO 40 (depending on how many 40-man roster slots are expected to remain open): ???  

Jhonny Pereda
, C (eligible to be minor league 6YFA at 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series)
NOTE: Won Gold Glove Award as the top defensive catcher in minor leagues in 2019... Projected as an MLB back-up catcher, Pereda could get added to the 40 even if he signs 2020 minor league successor contract, but his chances to get added to the 40 actually improve if he does NOT sign a successor contract

Zack Short
, SS (Rule 5 Draft eligible)
NOTE: Legit SS who is MLB-ready defensively but he will have to show improved bat in AFL to be considered for the 40 this year

Trent Giambrone
, INF-OF (Rule 5 Draft eligible)
NOTE: Legit MLB 2B or bat-first INF-OF utility prospect but might not be MLB-ready... Giambrone's chances to get added to the 40 improve considerably if Pereda and Z. Short are not added

Oscar de la Cruz
, P (eligible to be minor league 6YFA at 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series)
NOTE: Cubs want to keep de la Cruz in the organization but not on the 40... so while he's already a long-shot to get added back to 40, ODLC will - NOT - get added back to 40 if he signs 2020 minor league successor contract

Trevor Clifton
, P (eligible to be minor league 6YFA at 5 PM Eastern on 5th day after final game of World Series)
NOTE: Like de la Cruz Clifton is a long-shot to get added to the 40... while the Cubs really don't want to use up a 40-man roster slot on Clifton they also would prefer not to lose him to minor league free-agency just yet, so (like de la Cruz) Clifton will - NOT - get added to 40 if he signs a 2020 minor league successor contract

* Jordan Minch, P (Rule 5 Draft eligible)
NOTE: Minch will have to pitch "lights out" in AFL to be considered for the 40 (and so far he has looked good but not great), and even then he might not get added

Matt Swarmer
, P (Rule 5 Draft-eligible)
NOTE: Swarmer is a default candidate to get added, meaning only if there's room on the 40 and most of the others "on the bubble" are passed over, and maybe not even then

Dakota Mekkes
, P (Rule 5 Draft eligible)
NOTE: Same as Swarmer only moreso

Comments

Presuming the Quintana and the veteran relievers club options are declined, the Rizzo and Graveman club options are exercised, no free-agents are signed (very unlikely), Heyward and Darvish don't opt-out (Heyward won't but Darvish might if he knew he wouldn't get a QO), and arbitration-eligibles Bryant, Baez, Contreras, Schwarber, Almora, and K. Ryan ("Super Two") are tendered contracts but Russell is non-tendered (which should be about $55M aggregate AAV for arbitration-eligibles in 2020), the Cubs will be about $5M-$10M AAV under the 2020 CBT threshhold ($208M AAV) going into Spring Training.

And if Bryant is traded and only young MLB players and prospects are the return, that should reduce the Cubs 2020 payroll AAV by about an additional $15M-$18M, which would leave about $20M AAV available to spend on MLB additions (via trade or free-agency) in 2020 before the Cubs reach the CBT threshold. And that's how Nicholas Castellanos would get a multi-year deal. The Cubs trade Bryant for young MLB players (including at least one MLB-ready SP) and/or prospects and Castellanos gets what would have been Bryant's 2020 AAV salary plus a bit more (and not just for the one season but over several years). 

I talked to a couple of people in the know about a possible post-2019 Bryant trade, and figuring that the Diamondbacks return from STL in the Paul Goldschmidt trade (MLB-ready RHSP Luke Weaver, MLB-ready C Carson Kelly, and minor league prospect 2B Andy Young) would be a template for any potential Bryant trade (Bryant is two years away from free-agency which he will almost-certainly value & pursue as long as he remains a Boras client, while Goldschmidt was only one year away from free-agency but the Cards thought they could sign him to an extension before he hit free-agency, which they did), something like RHSP Dinelson Lamet (arbitration-eligible as a "Super Two" post-2019 but under club control through 2023), 2B-SS Luis Urias (under club control through 2025), and minor league RHSP Luis Patino (ready for AA in 2020 with a likely 2021 MLB ETA) from the Padres would be a possible return (Bryant would play corner OF for SD). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

i dunno if the cubs are up to dumping Q for $1m vs giving him $10.5m more to stick around for a single season.  there's already a lot riding on graveman/alzolay/mills/chatwood to fill ham's slot + pen long man without searching out someone to slot in.  if darvish opts out, that will be interesting.

that rough september didn't help Q's cause for sticking around, though...that was just awful.

also, colin rea...meh.  this is the kind of decision you hope a playoff contending team doesn't have to make for their roster because hopefully there's better things around to make it unneccesary.  i'm hoping they pass on him and look for another AAAA-type they can put off 40-man decisions on until 2020 gets underway. 

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

CRUNCH: The idea in the Cubs declining Quintana's 2020 $10.5M  club option ($1M buy-out) and thus saving $9.5M is the presumption that the Cubs will trade Kris Bryant this coming off-season for a package that includes a legit young MLB SP who would directly replace Quintana (I used the example of Dinelson Lamet if Bryant were to be traded to SD, but there are other possibilities on other clubs), and then apply the payroll saved from dumping Quintana ($9.5M payroll offset) and trading Bryant (who would be expected to get around $18M in 2020 via the arbitration process) to sign a FA RH-hitting lineup replacement for Bryant. 

The other way the Cubs could acquire a young SP would be to do what the Arizona Diamondbacks did at the trade deadline, which was to trade their #1 position-player prospect (SS Jazz Chisholm) to Miami for a young MLB SP (RHSP Zac Gallen).

So dumping Quintana would not occur in vacuum. It would also involve the Cubs acquiring a young MLB SP in a trade, either as part of the package the Cubs get back for Bryant, or in a trade where the Cubs exchange one of their top position player prospects (Miguel Amaya, Brennen Davis, or Nico Hoerner).for a young MLB SP like Zac Gallen (obviously not Gallen, but somebody like him).     

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

none of that would surprise me.  coming off a season where you don't make the playoffs is the perfect time to do it, too.  fans may hate the initial trade of bryant or some other popular core player, but almost all fans would agree that a shakeup (while retaining most of the core) is needed.

there seems to be a low-key "bryant or contreras" thing going with trade rumors early on.  either way, there's a lot pointing to the front office looking to do a high-end tallent exchange.

"Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that Joe Maddon's interview with the Angels "went well" on Monday."

joe wants this (he spent decades in their organization coaching/managing/etc) and the angels want this.  unless SD decides to throw a bunch of money around for a manager this one is pretty much a done deal.

[ ]

In reply to by Craig A.

ouch.

also, i wonder if tony kemp has a future with the team.

all that aside, i liked maddon's lineup management on whole...especially how he wasn't afraid to go with power in the 2/3/4 slot rather than avoiding putting top power in the 2 slot.  this is something some managers still avoid for some reason.

you can only go so far with his loved "let the slumping guy get some ABs up top" before you should bail on it, though...especially when you don't have wins/losses to spare.

via a p.mooney headline...

"As Cubs go ‘full speed ahead’ in search to replace Joe Maddon, Joe Espada is another name on the list"

HOU bench coach...so we may not hear about this for a few weeks if things go HOU's way...which they are not tonight...

Quintana at $10.5 MM is a valuable asset. He may not be a Cub next year but his option will,likely be exercised.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

I took azbobbop's comment as a statement on the $cost compared to Quintana's overall performance.

Edit: Follow-up, because it piqued my curiousity. Here are some pitchers sorted by annual pay in 2020 with some 2019 numbers:

  • $10M: Adam Wainwright: 171.2 IP, 4.19 ERA, 4.36 FIP
  • $10M: Tanner Roark: 165.1 IP, 4.35 ERA, 4.67 FIP
  • $10M: Anibal Sanchez: 166 IP, 3.85 ERA, 4.44 FIP
  • $10.5M: Jose Quintana: 171 IP, 4.68 ERA, 3.80 FIP
  • $11.16: Julio Teheran: 174.2 IP, 3.81 ERA, 4.66 FIP
  • $12M: Madison Bumgarner: 207.2 IP, 3.90 ERA, 3.90 FIP
  • $12.9M: Patrick Corbin: 202 IP, 3.25 ERA, 3.49 FIP
  • $13M: Trevor Bauer: 213 IP, 4.48 ERA, 4.34 FIP
  • $13.5M: Gerrit Cole: 212.1 IP, 2.50 ERA, 2.64 FIP
  • $14M: Alex Cobb: 12.1 IP 2019, ... so in 2018, 152.1 IP, 4.90 ERA, 4.80 FIP

Overall, I think I agree with azbobbop's assessment. 10.5 looks like roughly market value for Quintana's 2019 performance, and somebody will think he can return to the better performance of some years past. If they were looking to trade him, it seem like they should be able to pick up a non-negligible prospect without pitching in a ton of money.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

My presumption in the Cubs declining Jose Quintana's 2020 club option as well as declining the club options on the veteran relievers who have one and non-tendering Addison Russell (and this also applies to Joe Maddon not returning as manager in 2020) is that after the monumental late-September collapse of 2019 on the heels of the 2018 Game #163 and Wild Card game defeats Ricketts will no longer accept the Cubs payroll going over the CBT threshold ($208M AAV in 2020) or extending a manager making $5M a year.   

The same thing is reportedly happening in Boston with respect to getting under the 2020 AAV payroll threshold. And I don't thnk it would be happening with the Cubs (or with the Red Sox) if they had at least made the playoffs in 2019, even as Wild Card #2.

It's fine to talk about "process" and the value of planning, practice, and preparation in the process, and how injuries probably adversely affected the Cubs in September, but the ultimate bottom line (especially when the 2019 payroll was pushing $245M AAV and the manager was making $5M) is performance and success on the field. From the owner's POV, there are really no valid excuses when so much money was spent basically for nothing.  

So if Epstein-Hoyer need to get under $208M AAV in 2020 payroll, part of that process would involve declining the club options on Quintana and the older veteran relievers who have club options (Morrow, Phelps, Holland, and Barnette), non-tendering Russell, and then trading Kris Bryant for a package that would include a young MLB SP to replace Quintana and using the money saved from trading Bryant to sign (or trade for) a proven MLB RH bat to replace Bryant in the lineup (preferably a 3B but it could be a corner OF or even a 2B). 

Again, if Ricketts has no problem with the Cubs sailing past the 2020 $208M AAV payroll threshold then they could keep Quintana (and Russell and Phelps) and even not trade Bryant and just keep him until he hits free-agency post-2021. But I don't thnk that's what will happen.  

While I certainly believe that the Cubs would much prefer to trade Quintana rather than decline his 2020 $10.5M option ($1M buy-out) or trade Russell rather than non-tender him (likely $4.5M salary via the arbitration process in 2020), it might not be possible to do that because the Cubs have to make their decision on declining Quintana's option right after the World Series and whether to tender (and risk losing in arbitration) or non-tender Russell by 12/2. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

PHIL: Thanks for that Boston context--I hadn't realized the trend there. If the Cubs did decide to pick up Quintana's option and then trade him (assuming the Cubs would not agree to pay part of the contract as part of the trade), do they have to do that by a certain date in order for Quintana's contract not to count against them for the CBT? I haven't been able to find any dates attached to the CBT in a quick internet search.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

CHARLIE: If the Cubs trade Quintana and his new club pays 100% of his 2020 salary his new club assumes 100% of his salary AAV liability, but if the Cubs agree to pay a portion of Quintana's 2020 salary as part of the trade, whatever portion of Quintana's 2020 salary that is paid by the Cubs would count against the Cubs 2020 AAV. 

FWIW, the Cubs are just about exactly at the $208M CBT threshold right now (they would be at about $213M if they exercise Quintana's club option, or at about $203M if they decline Quintana's option), presuming they non-tender Russell and decline the club options on the veteran relievers.  

CUBS 2020 AAV

SIGNED
Jon Lester: $24.25M (full no trade)
Jason Heyward: $23M (or $20M if player opt-out because entire $20M deferred bonus must be paid in 2020)
Yu Darvish: $21M ($0 if opt-out although Cubs would likely extend a QO which if accepted would be around $20M) 
Anthony Rizzo: $14.5M (club option)
Craig Kimbrel: $14M 
Tyler Chatwood: $12.67M 
Kyle Hendricks: $10.5M 
Jose Quintana: $10.5M ($1M buy-out goes toward AAV if club option declined)
Brandon Morrow: $3M (club option buy-out) 
Kendall Graveman: $3M (club option) 
David Bote: $2.6M 
Daniel Descalso: $2.5M 
Brad Brach: $2M (legacy 2020 AAV after release) 
NOTE: My presumption is that Quintana ($10.5M with $1M buy-out), Morrow ($12M with $3M buy-out), Holland ($6.5M with no buy-out), Phelps ($5M with no buy-out), and Barnette ($3M with no buy-out) will have their 2020 club options declined, Rizzo's club option will be exercised, and Darvish and Heyward will not opt-out (or Darvish will opt out only if he believes he will not get hung with a QO if he opts-out).  
SUB-TOTAL: $134M (approximately)


ESTIMATED ARBITRATION SALARIES (if player is tendered)  
Kris Bryant: $18.5M 
Javier Baez: $12M 
Kyle Schwarber: $8M 
Willson Contreras: $6M 
Addison Russell: $4.5M (N/A because he will be either traded or else non-tendered on12/2)
Albert Almora: $2M 
Kyle Ryan: ("super two"): $1.5M 
SUB-TOTAL: $48M (estimated - not counting Russell) 

AUTO-RENEWAL (including minor league split salaries): $7M (estimated, although this amount is fairly constant every year)  

2020 MLB PLAYER BENEFIT COSTS (counts against AAV): $14M (minimum estimated, but could be a million or two more)

TOTAL: $203M if Quintana club option declined, or $213M if Qunitana club option is extercised

Since the 2020 CBT AAV threshold is $208M, exercising or declining Quintana's 2020 club option would essentially be the difference between the Cubs being over the 2020 CBT AAV threshold by $5M or being under the 2020 CBT AAV threshold by about $5M (and that's presuming the Cubs sign no free-agents during the off-season). 

Obviously other players could be traded and that would further affect the Cubs projected 2020 CBT AAV, with Kris Bryant ($18.5M projected salary via arb process) and Kyle Schwarber ($8M projected salary via arb process) being the most-likely ones to get moved, but if Javier Baez and/or Willson Contreras sign(s) a long-term contract extension with a substantial AAV during the off-season, that would increase the Cubs 2020 AAV. 

Again, I am making a presumption that Epstein-Hoyer have been given a mandate by Ricketts to get under the 2020 CBT threshold ($208M). If that is not the case, then Epstein-Hoyer can go merrily along and keep Quintana and not trade Bryant or Schwarber and probably sign one or more free-agents as well (like maybe a veteran SP, a couple of veteran relievers, a 2B, and maybe a CF).  

Time will tell. 

I might have missed something and it's been talked about regarding a KB trade rumor from about 10-9-19. 

https://apple.news/AJUMyEWodQ2GX1cj1gE4ENQ 

Braves receive: 3B Kris Bryant 

Cubs receive: OF Cristian Pache, RHP Kyle Wright, LHP Kyle Muller and OF/UTL Austin Riley. Seems to be 3 of 5 top Brave prospects (BA). Pache (11), CF was in futures game. Wright (42), sits 93-96. Muller (57), AA and now reaching 98. Austin Riley, LF/3B and played some for Braves when Donaldson was not available. Right power bat. There is much on all of these in Baseball America but I'd like to see some discussion (unless I missed it, and can be led to it). Thanks. 

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Except for the headline, the linked post reads more like a trade hypothetical than a trade rumor. I like the idea of looking at this package as a discussion point for expected return for Bryant. I would say it feels a little light to me. It's deep, with two decent outfield prospects with upside and two OK pitching prospects. But Riley doesn't help the team solve the CF problem right now, so he's either redundant to Bote or sort of a Schwarber replacement. Muller's inflated BB% at AA this year worries me a bit too. Muller alternatives, like Chad Sobotka or Touki Toussaint, are probably a sidegrade, and Mike Soroka is out of reach. Not sure how to sweeten this pot.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

CHARLIE: Austin Riley is actually a third-baseman but he had to play LF for the Braves in 2019 because he was blocked by Josh Donaldson, and Cristian Pache is considered to be the best defensive centerfielder in the minors and his bat has improved enough over the past year or two to where he is now rated in or just outside the top ten overall prospects in MLB.

So a package that includes Riley and Pache and one of the Braves young MLB or MLB-ready SP would probably be more than enough to get the Cubs to bite.

The only question from the Braves POV would be if two years of Kris Bryant is worth giving up Riley and Pache - AND - a young SP (Anderson, Wright, Wilson, or whoever), because the Cubs must get at least one legit young MLB or near MLB-ready SP prospect back in the deal for it to happen.    

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Pache, Wright, Muller and Riley feels light to you, Charlie? I respect your opinion, but I would jump at it. I highly doubt the Braves would do it, though. Were talking 2 years of Bryant at what could be 18 million and 28-30 million in his last year of arbitration. 

The Cubs would be hurting their chances next year and building for 2021 in a deal like that, but that's rebuilding/retooling in one fell swoop. 

I would prefer Ian Anderson and Drew Waters instead of Wright and Pache, but my sense is the Cubs couldn't do much better than the deal speculated in that article. 

[ ]

In reply to by K Dub

Yeah, it seems like I lean more toward overvaluing Bryant than most commenters here. Also, I completely stopped following prospect lists once the Cubs were good again, so I'm out of the loop on Pache especially. I had imagined that the Cubs would be looking more for immediate major league value rather than a projectable prospect, but I guess if you really like Pache you don't mind waiting a couple years.

Big picture, I'm too unsympathetic to the financial plight of billionaires to accept that trading Bryant or otherwise limiting the player payroll makes any sense at its core or is something fans should get on board with. So that will probably continue to skew my perspective.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

The thing about Kris Bryant is that he would probably be traded only to a club that feels that it under-achieved in 2019 and where the owner is exerting pressure from the top and who therefore will over-pay for two years of Kris Bryant. 

San Diego Padres: Have the #1 farm system in baseball, and spent big bucks to sign Eric Hosmer post-2017 and Manny Machado post-2018 (Hosmer has an opt-out post-2022 and Machardo has an opt-out post-2023) and still finished only 70-92 in 2019. Have young MLB SP (Chris Paddack, Joey Lucchesi, and "super two" Dinelson Lamet), top pitching prospects (MacKenzie Gore, Luis Patino, and Adrian Morejon), a CF with the same number of years of club control as Albert Almora but with higher upside (Manuel Margot), and a young under-achieving 2B-SS (Luis Urias), plus the Padres might want to jettison four-corner player Wil Myers (owed $61M through 2022 but only a $14M AAV hit because he signed a long-term contract early in his career) in order to fit Bryant into their 2020 and 2021 payrolls while the Cubs would save $4M - $5M in AAV in 2020 and probably $8M in AAV in 2021 by exchanging Bryant's AAV for Myers' AAV.   

Atlanta Braves: Have one of the top three farm systems in baseball, signed their two young stars (Acuna and Albies) to long-term contract extensions, won the division in 2018 and 2019 but couldn't get out of he NLDS in both seasons, and 3B Josh Donaldson is a FA. The Braves have an MLB-ready 3B (Austin Riley), one of the top CF prospects in baseball (Cristian Pache) who should be MLB-ready sometime in 2020, and at least five young MLB or near-MLB ready SP (Ian Anderson, Kyle Wright, Bryse Wilson, Touki Toussaint, and Kyle Muller), and they could have interest in young MLB-ready Cubs bullpen arms like Dillon Maples, James Norwood, and Atlanta-native Duane Underwood.    

Philadelphia Phillies: Despite signing Jake Arrieta post-2017 and Bryce Harper and David Robertson post-2018 and acquiring J. T. Realmuto and Jean Segura in trades Phils finished 81-81 in 2019, and (best of all) the owner likes to meddle. Phillies farm system is middle-of-the-pack but they do have one of the top 3B prospects in baseball (Alec Bohm), a top 100 SP prospect (Spencer Howard), and several useful young MLB SP (Eflin, Pivetta, and Velasquez), and they could have interest in SP Jose Quintana.  
 
Chicago White Sox: Have a Top 10 rated farm system, missed out on Bryce Harper and Manny Machado post-2018, the owner is 83, and the club finished 72-89 in a weak A. L. Central in 2019. Sox have one of the top CF prospects in baseball (Luis Robert) and young SP (like ex-Cubs top pitching prospect Dylan Cease and TJS-rehabbers Michael Kopech and Dane Dunning), and they could have interest in reacquiring SP Jose Quintana to add veteran depth to the rotation in 2020. 

Oof. Hudson leaves the game after giving up five runs on singles and doubles and only getting one out. 

as expected, joe maddon to be the new manager of the angels.

btw, it is unlikely tonight's HOU @ NYY (10/16) will happen because of rain that's going to start 3-4 hours before game time and carry well into the night.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I doubt that Maddon would have taken the job if the Angels aren't fully prepared to sign one or maybe even two FA TOR SP (like Gerrit Cole and/or Stephen Strasburg if he opts out). 

When you have the best player in MLB and now the highest-paid manager, not making the playoffs again in 2020 just can't be acceptable. 

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

BRADSBEARD: Depending on the outcome of the Bryant service time grievance (and BTW why did it take four years for it to be heard?), I could see the Cubs and Angels hooking up on a Kris Bryant trade this off-season, with maybe CF Jo Adell and RHSP Griffin Canning (plus 3B Zack Cozart as a salary offset) the return.  

The Angels might also have interest in Jose Quintana (presuming the Cubs pick-up Quntana's 2020 club option after the conclusion of the World Series). 

Adell was outstanding in the AFL (he played for the Mesa Solar Sox so I saw a lot of him), and he's the closest thing to a young Dexter Fowler you can find in the upper minors. Unfortunately, I doubt that the Angels would be willing to include Adell in a package that only nets them one year of Bryant. They would have to get two years of Bryant in order to include Adell (and even then they might not), so the Bryant service time grievance really needs to be resolved ASAP. 

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

BRADSBEARD: The Angels would almost certainly much prefer to include Brandon Marsh (rather than Jo Adell) in a package for Kris Bryant (especially if Bryant wins his grievance and will be a FA post-2020).

I saw a lot of Brandon Marsh in the AFL, and while he's a good hitter and plays CF, he's just not in the class of Jo Adell. So if the Angels' offer for Bryant is Brandon Marsh and Griffin Canning rather than Jo Adell and Griffin Canning, I suspect the Cubs will be inclined to look elsewhere.  

I would say a good historical ceiling-comp for Brandon Marsh would be somebody like Steve Finley, who was a good player but not really a difference-maker. On the other hand, Jo Adell projects as a legit difference-maker with a higher celing than Marsh. Brennen Davis is at least as good a prospect as Brandon Marsh, although obviously Davis is at least two or maybe three years away while Marsh is AAA ready and could be MLB ready sometime in 2020.    

The thing is, with Joe Maddon signed for three years and with the best player in MLB (Mike Trout) routinely missing the playoffs year-after-year, the Angels might feel that they are in a similar position as the Cubs were in 2016, meaning they might be sufficiently desperate to be willing to trade their #1 prospect (Jo Adell) but only if they can get Kris Bryant for two years. But if it's just for one year, probably not. 

And I believe it is practically a given that the Angels will outbid all rivals for Gerrit Cole and/or Stephen Strasburg (presuming Strasburg opts-out of his contract with the Nationals after the World Series). The Angels desperately need to sign one or maybe even two TOR SP, and I doubt that even with his long-term history and pleasant memories in Anaheim that Maddon would have taken the Disneyland gig at this point in his career if the Angels hadn't promised to try very hard to get one. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Steve Finley had several 4 and 5 WAR seasons and hit over 300 career HRs (perhaps with a little chemical help), so I'd take that from Marsh for sure. It might be the beard, but I get a strong Charlie Blackmon vibe from Marsh.

If we could get Adell back for Bryant though, that would be ideal. 

Who are you all rooting for in the World Series? I'm rooting for the Nats to face and defeat Houston, I think, but with very mild interest. Let them get that championship out of the way and then maybe go the way of the post-2016 Cubs.

A possible Cubs waiver claim to watch over the next few days could be RHSP Trevor Oaks, who was Designated for Assignment by KC yesterday (Tuesday 10/29). 

Oaks missed the 2019 season after undergoing surgery last March to repair a torn labrum in his right hip before returning to action in the AFL, but he was a Top 15 prospect with LAD post-2016 and post-2017 before being traded to KC in the Scott Alexander deal in January 2018.

Prior to his hip surgery he was known as a command & control artist who featured a full arsenal of pitches including a power-sinker that consistently induced weak contact (he has allowed only 27 HR in 532 IP in his pro career -- that's one HR per every 18 IP).     

Oaks has two minor league options left and (if healthy) could be another potential Chicago - Des Moines SP shuttle-rider in 2020 (and 2021).

Or the Cubs could try and outright him to the minors themselves (if they are awarded the claim), or he could be non-tendered on 12/2 and then (hopefully) sign a 2020 minor league contract.  

Oaks was a college teammate of Cubs minor league RHSP Tyson Miller at California Baptist.  

Eight Cubs (LHP Xavier Cedeno, OF Nicholas Castellanos, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Cole Hamels, RHP Brandon Kintzler, C Jonathan Lucroy, RHP Pedro Strop, and INF-OF Ben Zobrist) were automatically declared Article XX-B MLB free-agents at 9 AM (Eastern) this morning (Thursday 10/31). 

Six more (RHP Tony Barnette, LHP Derek Holland, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP David Phelps, LHP Jose Quintana, and 1B Anthony Rizzo) have club options for 2020 that the Cubs must decide whether to exercise or decline by 5 PM (Eastern) on Monday 11/4 (in some cases based upon the individual player's contract, the deadline to exercise or decline the club option is earlier than next Monday), and two others (RHP Yu Darvish and OF Jason Heyward) have the right to opt-out of their contracts (and in both cases this will be the last time either can opt-out until their contacts expire after the 2023 season).  

If the Cubs decline Morrow's $12M 2020 option they will have to pay him a $3M buy-out (and the $3M buy-out will count against the Cubs 2020 AAV for the purposes of determining 2020 CBT liability), if they decline Rizzo's $14.5M 2020 option they would have to pay him a $2M buy-out (which would count against the Cubs 2020 AAV), if they decline Quintana's $10.5M 2020 option they will have to pay him a $1M buy-out (which would count against the Cubs 2020 AAV), if they decline Holland's $6.5M 2020 option he gets a $500K buy-out but it will be paid by the Giants (Holland's former club) -- NOT the Cubs -- and so it would count against the Giants 2020 AAV, and there is no buy-out required if the Barnette ($3M) or Phelps ($5M plus another $3M in potential performance bonuses) 2020 club options are declined.  

In the case of Darvish (who is owed 4/$81M 2020-23) and Heyward (who is owed 4/$86M 2020-23), Darvish gets no termination pay if he opts out AND the Cubs would almost certainly extend a 2020 Qualifying Offer ($17.8M) which he would obviously decline but it would serve to depress Yu's market value as a post-2019 free-agent, and Heyward's entire deferred bonus ($20M) must be paid to him next April 1st if he opts out (and the entire $20M bonus payment would count against the Cubs 2020 AAV), although the possibility that Heyward would actually opt-out is both mind-blowing and EXTREMELY unlikely to happen. 

In addition, all players on a club's 60-day Injured List must be reinstated no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on Monday 11/4 or when the player is declared an Article XX-B free-agent (whichever comes first). 

And 5 PM (Eastern) on Monday is also the deadline to add minor league players who are eligible to be a Rule 55 second-contract or 6YFA to the MLB 40-man roster. The most-likely candidates to be added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster to keep them from becoming minor league free-agents on Monday are RHSP Colin Rea (who was named 2019 PCL Pitcher of the Year), C Jhonny Pereda (who won a 2019 Rawlings Gold Glove as the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues), RHRP Oscar de la Cruz (who was outrighted to the minors by the Cubs last July when his slot on the 40 was needed for Nicholas Castellanos), and/or RHSP Trevor Clifton, although in the case of Pereda, de la Cruz, and Clifton, signing a minor league successor contract prior to the Monday deadline would make the possibility of adding the player to the 40 less-likely (Rea will probably get aded no matter what).   

World Series is done.

Hot Stove is getting hotter.

Cubs make money moves.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

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  • Arizona Phil (view)

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  • 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)

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