Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

42 players are at MLB Spring Training 

31 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE at MLB Spring Training, and nine players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 
11 players are MLB Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 17
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

NRI PITCHERS: 5 
Colten Brewer 
Carl Edwards Jr 
* Edwin Escobar 
* Richard Lovelady 
* Thomas Pannone 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
Jorge Alfaro 
Joe Hudson 

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

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
David Bote 
Garrett Cooper
* Dominic Smith

OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 1 
* David Peralta

OPTIONED:
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, RHP 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, RHP 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs 2020 Club Player Pool

9/27 UPDATE

The Cubs have selected the contract of LHP Brailyn Marquez, and to make room for Marquez on the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and the MLB 28-man Active List roster, 1B-3B Patrick Wisdom has been Designated for Assignment.  

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 58 (two slots are open).


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9/25 UPDATE


The Cubs have selected the contract of 1B-3B Patrick Wisdom, and to make room for Wisdom on the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) RHP Manuel Rodriguez was added to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool, recalled from his Optional Assignment, and then placed on the MLB 45-day IL. (Rodriguez had previously been the only player on Optional Assignment who was not assigned to the MLB Club Player Pool).  

Wisdom will have Draft-Excluded Stutus post-2020 if he remains on the MLB 40--man roster.  

So Rodriguez will accrue three days of MLB Service Time (three days are actually eight days pro-rated in 2020) and be paid at the MLB rate (instead of at the minor league split rate) for the last three days of the MLB regular season (the difference between about $250 per day minor league money and about $3,000 per day MLB salary, not to mention MLB meal money for three days). 

Since players on the MLB 45-day IL do not count against the MLB Club Player Pool roster limit, the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool remains at 59 (one slot is open).  

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9/10 UPDATE

The Cubs added minor league INF Pedro Martinez to their MLB Club Player Pool and then sent him to the Tampa Bay Rays as a PTBNL in an 8/30 trade in which the Cubs acquired 1B-OF Jose Martinez from the Rays for two PTBNL. (P. Martinez had to be added to the Club Player Pool before he could be traded).  

The Cubs also signed veteran RHRP Joe Wieland to a minor league contract and assigned him to their MLB Club Player Pool and to their Practice Squad at the Alternate Training Site in South Bend. 

In addition, the Cubs released OF Ryan LaMarre (he was signed to a minor league contract on 7/23 and had been assigned to the Club Player Pool).  

So after all that, the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool remains at 59 (one slot is open). 

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9/9 UPDATE


Waivers have been secured and the Cubs have sent LHRP Matt Dermody (Designated for Assignment on Monday) outright to the AAA Iowa reserve list. He also has been returned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and to their Practice Squad at the Alternate Training Site in South Bend. So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 59 (one slot is open). 

Dermody has Article XX-D rights (he has been outrighted previously in his career), so he has the right to elect free-agency immediately or else defer his election until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (he has 48 hours to decide). 

If he elects free-agency immediately (within the next couple of days) his contract is terminated with no termination pay, but if he waits to elect free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season he will continue to be paid at his minor league split contract salary rate. 

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9/8 UPDATE


The Cubs have released OF Steven Souza Jr. He was Designated for Assignment between games last Saturday. 

The Cubs have also released minor league RHRP Juan Gamez from the MLB Practice Squad.  

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 58 (two slots are open). 

Because he has Article XIX-A status (he has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time), Souza has the right to decline an optional or outright assignment to the minors and receive his unconditional release, with the Cubs on the hook for 100% of his remaining salary (which would be offset by the pro-rated MLB minimum salary if he were to sign an MLB contract with another club prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season). 

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9/7 UPDATE


The Cubs have claimed veteran OF Billy Hamilton off waivers from the New York Mets and INF Ildemaro Vargas (claimed off waivers by the Cubs from the Minnesota Twins on Saturday) has reported and has been placed on the Cubs MLB 28-man Active List roster, and to make room for Hamilton on the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and for Vargas on the MLB Active List roster, LHRP Matt Dermody (whose contract was selected yesterday and who made his Cubs debut last night) has been Designated for Assignment. The Cubs will need to make another 28-man Active List roster move when Hamilton reports to the club. 

As I mentioned yesterday, Dermody has Article XX-D status (he has been outrighted previously in his career), so he can elect free-agency if he is not claimed off waivers by another club and is outrighted to the minors. If he were to be outrighted and elect free-agency immediately he would forfeit the balance of his 2020 salary, so he would probably opt to defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (unless he is added back to the 40 in the meantime).  

In addition, minor league RHSP Duncan Robinson (June 2019 TJS) has been added to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool, and veteran catcher Jose Lobaton (who has been with the Cubs as their Taxi Squad & bullpen catcher since MLB Opening Day) has been released. Lobaton will be replaced on the Taxi Squad by recently outrighted catcher Josh Phegley.   

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool remains at 59 (one slot is open). 

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9/6 UPDATE


The Cubs have selected the contract of LHRP Matt Dermody from the AAA Iowa roster, and RHP Tyson Miller has been optioned back to the Practice Squad. 

The Cubs will need to make another Active List roster move when INF Ildemaro Vargas (claimed off waivers on Saturday) reports to the club.  

So the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) is now full.  

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9/5 UPDATE


The Cubs have claimed 29 year old switch-hitting utility INF Ildemaro Vargas off waivers from the Minnesota Twins, and RHRP Casey Sadler (Designated for Assignment by the Cubs last Tuesday) was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners. Vargas is out of minor league options so he will have to be added to the Cubs MLB 28-man Active List roster once he reports to the club on Sunday or Monday. 

In addition, the Cubs have signed veteran (and ex-Cub) RHRP Pedro Strop to a minor league contract, and he has been assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and to the Cubs Practice Squad at their Alternate Training Site in South Bend. To make room for Strop in the Club Player Pool, RHP Jharel Cotton was released.  

Then later in the day, OF Steven Souza Jr was Designated for Assignment (between games of Saturday's doubleheader!). The move was made to open up a slot on the Active List roster for RHP Tyson Miller, but the Souza DFA also opened up a slot on both the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and in their MLB Club Player Pool. And since he threw three innings in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, T. Miller will very likely be optioned back to the Cubs Practice Squad prior to Sunday night's game.     

So once the dust settled, the Cubs still had 39 players on their MLB Reserve List (one slot is open) and 59 players in their Club Player Pool (one slot is open), just as they did when the day began.  

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9/3 UPDATE

Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured and OF Ian Miller and C Josh Phegley (both Designated for Assignment earlier in the week) have been assigned outright to the AAA Iowa Reserve List, and they also have been returned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and assigned to the Practice Squad at the Cubs Alternate Training Site in South Bend. 

To make room for I. Miller and Phegley in the MLB Club Player Pool, the Cubs have released veteran RHRPs Cody Allen and A. J. Ramos. (Allen was signed to a minor league contract on 7/31, and Ramos was signed to a minor league contract on 8/31). So the Cubs MLB Club Pool Player Pool now stands at 59 (one slot is open), with one player still on the Designated List (Casey Sadler was Designated for Assignment on Tuesday), and if waivers can be secured, he will likely be sent outright to the minors and be returned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool. 

As is the case with Hernan Perez (who was sent outright to the minors on Wednesday), both I. Miller and Phegley have the right to elect free-agency after being outrighted (they have two days to decide). If they accept the outright assignment, they can elect free-agency during a period of time beginning on the day after the conclusion iof the MLB regular season extending through October 15th (presuming they are not added back to the MLB 40-man roster in the meantime). If they opt not to elect free-agency now or during the window that begins on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season and presuming they are not added back to the MLB 40-man roster in the meantime, they will be automatically declared MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agents (6YFA) at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series.  

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9/2 UPDATE

Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured and INF-OF Hernan Perez (Designated for Assignment on Monday) has been sent outright to the AAA Iowa roster and has been returned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and to the Practice Squad at the Cubs Alternate Training Site in South Bend. 

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 59 (one slot is open). 

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9/1 UPDATE

RHRP Casey Sadler has been Designated for Assignment. He can elect free-agency if he is outrighted.  

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 58 (two slots are open) and the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) now stands at 39 (one slot is open). 

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8/31 UPDATE


The Cubs added INF Zack Short to their MLB Club Player Pool, and then traded him to the Detroit Tigers for OF Cameron Maybin. (Z. Short had to be added to the Club Player Pool before he could be traded).

Maybin is eligible to be an Article XX-B MLB free-agent after the season. 

The Cubs also acquired LHRP Josh Osich from the Boston Red Sox for a Player to Be Named Later (PTBNL) and acquired LHRP Andrew Chafin from the Arizona Diamondbacks for either a PTBNL or cash.

Osich is eligible for salary arbitration post-2020 and (unless he is non-tendered or released) will be under club control through the 2022 season, and (like Maybin) Chafin is eligible to be an Article XX-B MLB free-agent post-2020. 

To make room for Osich and Chafin on the MLB 40-man roster (and the MLB Club Player Pool), INF-OF Hernan Perez and OF Ian Miller have been Designated for Assignment.

H. Perez has Article XIX-A rights so he must give his consent before he can be sent outright to the minors (otherwise he would have to be released, and if he is released he gets 100% of his remaining salary as termination pay).

I. Miller is an Article XX-D player (he has been outrighted previously in his career), so he has the right to elect free-agency if he is outrighted (he can elect free-agency immediately or he can defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, but if he were to elect free-agency immediately, he would forfeit the balance of his 2020 salary).   

The Cubs also have signed veteran RHRP A. J. Ramos to a minor league contract and he has been assigned to the MLB Club Player Pool and to the Practice Squad in South Bend. 

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 59 (one slot is open).  

The Cubs will need to make two additional moves on their MLB 28-man Active List roster once the four recently acquired players report to the club. (Two slots were opened with the DFA of Josh Phegley and Hernan Perez). RHSP Tyler Chatwood (who exited Sunday's game with "right elbow discomfort") is a candidate to be placed on the 10--day IL, and probably either Dan Winkler or Colin Rea will be optioned to the ATS in South Bend. 

Additional 28-man Active List roster moves will need to be made if & when Kris Bryant and.or Steven Souza Jr are reinstated from the 10--day IL. 

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8/30 UPDATE


The Cubs have acquired 1B-OF Jose Martinez from the Tampa Bay Rays for two players to be named later (PTBNL), and catcher Josh Phegley has been Designated for Assignment (DFA). 

J. Martinez became arbitration-eligible post-2019 and he has two-plus years of club control remaining.  

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool remains at 57 (three slots are open), although it would go up to 58 if Phegley clears waivers and accepts an Outright Assignment to the minors (He is an Article XIX-A player so he must give his consent before he can be outrighted, otherwise he would have to be traded or released, and if released he gets 100% of his remaining salary as termination pay).    

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8/26 UPDATE


The Cubs have released RHRP Kelvin Herrera.

He was signed to a minor league contract and assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and the Practice Squad on 8/5 after being released by the White Sox on 8/2.  

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 57 (three slots are open).  

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8/23 UPDATE


The Cubs have selected the contract of OF Ian Miller, and to make room for I. Miller on the 40 the Cubs transferred RHRP James Norwood from the MLB 10-day IL to the 45-day IL. Miller relaces Kris Bryant on the Cubs MLB 28-man Active List afrer Bryant was placed on the 10-day IL with a sprained left ring finger prior to Saturday night's game. Miller has three minor league options left, so there won't be any problem moving him back & forth between the MLB squad and the Practice Squad. Miller does have the right to elect free-agency if he is outrighted, however.  

Also, the Cubs have signed free-agent 1B-3B Patrick Wisdom to a minor league contract and he has been assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and to their MLB Practice Squad in South Bend. Wisdom was released by the Seattle Mariners on 8/14 after being Designated for Assignment on 8/10.  

So with Norwood being transferred to the MLB 45-day IL (players on the 45-day IL do not count against the MLB Club Player Pool) and with the addition of Wisdom, the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool remains at 58 (two slots are open).

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8/20 UPDATE


Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured and RHSP Jharel Cotton has been assigned outright to the AAA Iowa Reserve List and will return to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and report back to the Cubs Alternate Training Site in South Bend (where he was prior to being Designated for Assignment last Sunday).  

Cotton has the right to elect free-agency after being outrighted (he has 48 hours to decide) albeit with with no termination pay if he elects free-agency. If he declines to elect free-agency now, he will automatically be declared an MLB Rule 55 minor league 6YFA after the World Series, unless he is added back to the 40 or signs a 2021 minor league sucessor contract in the interim.  

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 58 (two slots are open). 

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8/18 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have placed OF Steven Souza (right hamstring strain) on the 10-day IL retro to 8/17 and selected the contract of INF-OF Hernan Perez, and LHRP Brad Wieck (on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain since 7/26) has been transferred from the 10-day IL to the 45-day IL (so he does not count against the Cubs MLB 40-man roster or against the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool). With time already served on the 10-day IL counting toward the minimum 45 days he must spend on the 45-day IL, Wieck will be eligible to be reinstated from the IL beginning on 9/9. 

Also, because H. Perez has no minor league options left and has Article XIX-A rights (so he cannot be outrighted to the minors without his consent), it might be a bit difficult to remove him from the 40 if that should become necessary later in the season. If he were to refuse to be outrighted at some point over the next couple of months, the Cubs would have to either keep him on the 40 (and on their MLB 28-man Active List), trade him, or release him. 

And RHSP Tyson Miller (called up as the 29th man for yesterday's doubleheader) has been optioned back to AAA Iowa (South Bends ATS). His parting gifts are MLB prorated pay for one day and one day of credited MLB Service Time. 

So with Wieck being transferred from the 10-day IL to the 45-day IL and with RHSP Jharel Cotton having been Designated for Assignment on Sunday, the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 57 (three slots are open).  

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8/16 UPDATE

The Cubs have placed RHSP Tyler Chatwood (mid-back strain) on the 10-day IL retro to 8/13 and selected the contract of RHRP Jason Adam, and RHSP Jharel Cotton has been Designated for Assignment to make room for Adam on the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster).
NOTE: Cotton has Article XX-D rights, which means he can elect free-agency if outrighted to the minors (he can elect free-agency immediately or the decision can be deferred until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, but if he defers the choice and is subsequently added back to the MLB 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season, he would not be eligible to be a free-agent post-2020 as long as he remains on the 40). 

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8/8 UPDATE:

The Cubs have released minor league INF-OF Derek Dietrich, so the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 59 (one slot is open). 

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8/6 UPDATE:
 

The Cubs have signed veteran RHRP Kelvin Herrera to a minor league contract and he has been assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and the MLB Practice Squad. 

Herrera was released by the White Sox last Sunday. 

So the Cubs 60-man MLB Club Player Pool is now full. 

Also, to get down to the 28-man MLB Active List roster limit effective as of the 15th day of the 2020 MLB regular season (today 8/6), the Cubs have optioned LHP Rex Brothers and LHP Justin Steele to their South Bend Alternate Training Site.  

Steele was up for only four days and did not pitch in a game, and Brothers had not pitched in a game in over a week.

Some roster rules changes were made and approved by MLB owners last night and are effective today:

1. The 28-man MLB Active List roster limit will remain in effect beginning today (Thursday 8/6) and extending through the post-season. There will NOT be a further cut to 26 on the 29th day of the MLB regular season as was originally planned.   

2. Clubs will be able to add a 29th player for doubleheaders. (The "extra man" rule for doubleheaderrs was only supposed to go into effect once rosters were cut to 26 on 8/20). 

3. The MLB Taxi Squad roster limit has been expanded from three to five. 

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8/2 UPDATE

It won't affect the number of players still in the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool (59 with one slot open), but RHP James Norwod (right shoulder inflammation) has been placed on the MLB 10-day IL and LHP Justin Steele has been recalled from his Optional Assignment. 

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8/1 UPDATE

The Cubs have purchased the contract of LHRP Matt Dermody from the Sugar Land Skeeters (Atlantic League) and he been assiogned to the AAA Iowa Reserve List and to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and to the MLB Practice Squad. 

So the Cubs MLB Player Pool now stands at 59 (one slot is open). 

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7/31 UPDATE:

The Cubs have signed free-agent RHRP Cody Allen to a 2020 minor league contract and he has been added to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and to the MLB Practice Squad. 

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 58 (two slots are open). 

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7/30 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have recalled RHP Colin Rea from his Optional Assignment and RHP Dillon Maples has been optioned to the AAA Iowa roster and has been assigned to the Cubs MLB Practice Squad in South Bend.  

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7/26 UPDATE


It won't affect the number of players still in the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool (57 with three slots open), but LHP Brad Wieck (right hamstring strain) has been placed on the MLB 10-day IL and RHP Ryan Tepera has been recalled from his Optional Assignment. 

Also INF-OF Robel Garcia (Designated for Assignment last Wednesday) has been claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. 

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7/24 UPDATE:

The Cubs have signed free-agent INF-OF Derek Dietrich and OF Ryan LaMarre to 2020 minor league contracts, and they have been added to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and to the Cubs MLB Practice Squad. 

Also, LHRP Burl Carraway (Cubs 2020 2nd round draft pick - Dallas Baptist University) has been added to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and to the Cubs Practice Squad. 

So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 57 (three slots are open).

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7/23 UPDATE

The Cubs have selected the contracts of LHP Rex Brothers and C Josh Phegley from AAA Iowa, INF Robel Garcia has been Designated for Assignment, INF Daniel Descalso (left ankle sprain) has been placed on the 60-day IL (45-day IL in 2020), LHP Jose Quintana (left thumb laceration/surgery) has been placed on the 10-day IL, RHP Jharel Cotton and RHP Ryan Tepera have been optioned to AAA Iowa, RHP Dillon Maples and RHP James Norwood have been recalled from AAA Iowa, and minor league OF Mark Zagunis has opted-out of playing in the 2020 season and so he has been placed on the AAA Iowa Restricted List. 

Phegley has no minor league options left and he has Article XIX-A rights so he cannot be outrighted to the minors without his consent, Brothers has one minor league option left and has Article XX-D rights so he cannot refuse an optional assignment but he can elect free-agency if he is sent outright to the minors, and R. Garcia does not have the right to elect free-agency if he is outrighted although he would be eligible to be a minor league second contract FA post-World Series if he is not added back to the 40 in the meantime. 

So R. Garcia, Zagunis, and Descalso no longer count against the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool limit (so the Cubs have six CPP slots open), although R. Garcia would count against the CPP limit again if he is not claimed off waivers and is sent outright to the minors, and Descalso will count against the CPP limit again if and when he is reinstated from the 45-day IL.    

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7/17 UPDATE

The Cubs have selected the contract of minor league INF Jason Kipnis from AAA Iowa, and RHP Trevor Megill (selected by the Cubs in the Major League Phase of the December 2019 Rule 5 Draft from the San Diego Padres AAA El Paso affiliate) has been sent outright to AAA Iowa after Outright Assignment Waivers were secured and the Padres declined to re-claim him. (The Cubs sent a cash payment above & beyond the $100K Rule 5 Draft price they paid the Padres last December -- probably somewhere in the vicinity of $50,000 -- prior to the Padres declining the opportunity to re-claim Megill). 

Both Kipnis and Megill were already assigned to the Cubs Club Player Pool, and so nothing changed with respect to the Cubs CPP . 

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7/16 UPDATE

The Cubs have added two more players to their Club Player Pool:

RHSP Cory Abbott 
RHSP Tyson Miller   

Abbott is eligible for selection in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft if he isn't added to the MLB 40-man roster  by 11/20, while T. Miller is already on the 40. 

As was the case with Justin Steele, Keegan Thompson, and Jack Patterson (who were added to the CPP earlier this week), both Abbott and T. Miller have been developed as starting pitchers by the Cubs, and so they are in the mix as potential MLB SP candidates for the Cubs this season. 

So the Cubs Club Player Pool now stands at 57 (three slots are open). 

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7/14 UPDATE

The Cubs have signed catcher Jose Lobaton to a minor league contract and he has been assigned to the Club Player Pool and will report to the Cubs Summer Camp. 

So the Cubs Club Player Pool now stands at 55 (five slots are open).  

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7/13 UPDATE


The Cubs have added three more players to their Club Player Pool (Summer Camp): 

LHSP Jack Patterson 
LHSP Justin Steele  
RHSP Keegan Thompson 

Steele is on the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), K. Thompson is Rule 5 Draft-eligible post-2020, and Patterson will not be Rule 5 Draft eligible until post-2021. 

So the Cubs Club Player Pool now stands at 54 (six slots are open).  

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7/8 UPDATE

The Cubs have added INF-OF Hernan Perez to their Club Player Pool.

H. Perez was an NRI at MLB Spring Training with the Cubs this past February-March but was (surprisingly) not intially placed on the Cubs CPP when it was submitted to MLB on June 28th.  

So the Cubs Club Player Pool roster now stands at 51 (nine slots are open). 

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6/29 ORIGINAL POST

A club's MLB Active List roster limit will be 30 for the first 14 days of the 2020 MLB regular seson, then 28 for the next 14 days, and then 26 for the balance of the MLB regular season and the post-season.

Beginning at 4 PM (Eastern) on June 28th, each MLB club may assign up to 60 players to its 2020 MLB Club Player Pool (CPP).

Only players on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and players signed to minor league contracts are eligible to be assigned to a Club Player Pool and attend the club's MLB Summer Camp in July, and once the 2020 MLB regular season begins, only players assigned to a Club Player Pool who are not on the club's MLB Active List roster can be assigned to the club's MLB Practice Squad. 

Players on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who are on Optional Assignment to the minors do not have to be assigned to the club's MLB Club Player Pool.

Before a player on a club's MLB Practice Squad can be added to the club's MLB Active List roster, the player must first be either recalled from his Optional Assignment or reinstated from an MLB Injured List (if he is already on the club's MLB Reseve List) or added to the club's MLB Reserve List (if he is not already on the club's MLB Reserve List).

If a minor league player is dropped from a Club Player Pool, he cannot return to the list at a later date in 2020, although he can be assigned to the Club Player Pool of another MLB club after being traded or released. 

A player on Optional Assignment to the minors who is dropped from a Club Player Pool must be removed from the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster).     

The "27th player" rule will be in effect for doubleheaders in 2020 once the Active List roster limit has been reduced to 26 on the 29th day of the 2020 MLB regular season. No extra players may be added for doubleheaders during the first four weeks of the 2020 regular season.    

There will be a special MLB "CoViD-19 Related Injured List" in 2020 for players who are diagnosed with CoViD-19 during the MLB regular season, as well as for players who exhibit symptoms and/or have been exposed to the virus, or who are in a CoViD-19 "high risk" group. There is no minimum or maximum number of days a player must spend on this list, but a player may not be reinstated until he tests negative for the virus twice where the tests are administered at least 24 hours apart. A player can only be placed on the CoViD-19 Related IL per the approval of the Joint CoViD-19 Health & Safety Committee. A player on the CoViD-19 Related Injured List does not count against his club's Reserve List, Active List, or Club Player Pool roster limits. Also, the 15 day Injured List (for pitchers) is suspended (there will be a 10-day Injured List for both pitchers and position players), and the minimum number of days a player must spend on the 60-day Injured List ("Emergency Injured List") will be reduced from 60 days to 45 days. Also, after August 31st a club's MLB Reserve List must be full before a player can be placed on the 45-day IL, but there is no restriction on placing a player on the 45-day IL prior to that time.    

The minimum number of days a player generally must remain on Optional Assignment to the minors in 2020 will be ten days for both position players and for pitchers in 2020 (see EXCEPTIONS), and a player who was optioned to the minors during 2020 Spring Training (prior to March 29) can be recalled without restriction.
EXCEPTIONS: The only exceptions to the "ten day rule" are if the player is traded or claimed off waivers, recalled as the "27th man" for a doubleheader (second game of the doubleheader only if two games were scheduled after a postponed or suspended game from the previous day), or is recalled to replace a player on the MLB Active List (26-man roster) who is traded, claimed off waivers, or placed on the MLB Injured List, Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, or Paternity Leave List, or the Restricted List (but only pursuant to a suspension or administrative leave resulting from a violation or possible violation of the joint MLB-MLBPA JDV policy or a suspension resulting from a violation of the joint MLB-MLBPA JDPTP policy). 

Beginning at 4 PM (Eastern) on June 28, 2020, and extending through the conclusion of the 2020 MLB regular season, a player acquired as the result of a waiver claim or a trade must be assigned to the club's MLB Club Player Pool.  

The "trade deadline" has been extended from July 31st to August 31st in 2020, and only players assigned to a club's MLB Club Player Pool may be traded.   

Beginning on June 28th and extending up through the first 20 days of the 2020 MLB regular season, the previous season's MLB standings will be used to determine waiver claim priority. Then beginning on the 21st day of the 2020 MLB regular season, the MLB standings as of the date the player clears waivers are used to determine waiver claim priority, with the previous season's MLB standings only used to break ties. 

If a player selected in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft spends at least 50 days on an MLB Active List during the 2020 MLB regular season, the player ceases to be a "Selected Player" at the conclusion of the 2020 MLB regular season. If time spent on an MLB Active List in 2020 is less than 50 days, the player remains a Selected Player into the next season.

The MLB regular season will be only 67 days in 2020, so MLB Service Time accrued in 2020 will be pro-rated (multiplied) based upon the ratio of 67 days to 186 days. (Each day accrued in 2020 will be worth approximately 2.78 days of MLB Service Time). 

Clubs must establish their Post_Season Eligibity List by September 15th. 

Up to three players on a club's MLB Practice Squad may be assigned indefinitely to a club's Taxi Squad. (If three players are added, at least one must be a catcher). These players may travel with the club on road trips. A catcher on the Taxi Squad may serve as a bullpen catcher at both home & road games. While Taxi Squad players do need to be assigned to the Club Player Pool, they do not need to be on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) 

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

40 players are on MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus 18 players are NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) and are assigned to the MLB CLUB PLAYER POOL and to the MLB PRACTICE SQUAD  

28 players are on MLB ACTIVE LIST, plus three players are on the MLB 10-DAY IL, and nine players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to the minors and are assigned to the MLB CLUB PLAYER POOL and to the MLB PRACTICE SQUAD). 

Four players are on the MLB 60-DAY IL (45-day IL in 2020) and one player as been DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT (DFA).  

There are two slots open in the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool. 

Last updated 9-27-2020
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

2020 CUBS CLUB PLAYER POOL 

PITCHERS: 35 

ACTIVE: 15
Jason Adam
Adbert Alzolay 
* Andrew Chafin 
Yu Darvish
Kyle Hendricks 
Jeremy Jeffress
Craig Kimbrel
* Jon Lester
* Brailyn Marquez
Alec Mills
* Jose Qunitana 
* Kyle Ryan
Ryan Tepera
Duane Underwood Jr 
Dan Winkler

10-DAY IL:  2 
Tyler Chatwood  
Rowan Wick

PRACTICE SQUAD: 18
OPTIONED:  
* Rex Brothers
Dillon Maples
Tyson Miller
* Josh Osich
Colin Rea 
* Justin Steele
NRI
Cory Abbott
* Burl Carraway 
* Matt Dermody 
* Danny Hultzen
Trevor Megill
Dakota Mekkes 
* Jack Patterson 
Duncan Robinson
Michael Rucker
Pedro Strop 
Keegan Thompson 
Joe Wieland

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

CATCHERS: 5 

ACTIVE: 2
# Victor Caratini
Willson Contreras

PRACTICE SQUAD: 3 
OPTIONED  
Miguel Amaya 
NRI 
P. J. Higgins 
Josh Phegley

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

INFIELDERS: 9 

ACTIVE: 7
Javy Baez  
David Bote
Kris Bryant
Nico Hoerner
* Jason Kipnis
* Anthony Rizzo 

10-DAY IL: 1
# Ildemaro Vargas

PRACTICE SQUAD: 2 
NRI
Christopher Morel 
Hernan Perez

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

OUTFIELDERS: 9 

ACTIVE: 5
# Billy Hamilton
# Ian Happ
* Jason Heyward
Cameron Maybin
* Kyle Schwarber 

PRACTICE SQUAD: 4 
OPTIONED:
Albert Almora 
Jose Martinez
NRI
:  
Brennen Davis
* Ian Miller

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


DO NOT COUNT AGAINST CUBS MLB PLAYER POOL

60-DAY IL (is 45-DAY IL in 2020): 4 
* Daniel Descalso, INF 
James Norwood, P 
Manuel Rodriguez, P 
* Brad Wieck, P 

DFA: 1 
Patrick Wisdom, 1B-3B 

Comments

d.ross says k.bryant will hit leadoff, and it was the plan since Spring Training 1.0

i imagine we're gonna see a lot of bryant / rizzo / baez / schwarber going 1-4.

per NBC sports: 

"Two Cubs staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and are expected to miss the beginning of camp, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer announced Monday.

No players have yet tested positive.

Both staff members who tested positive are considered Tier 1 individuals, Hoyer said. According to the 2020 Operations Manual, Tier 1 can include coaches, team physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists and strength and conditioning coaches.

The two positive tests were administered at home, not during the intake process, according to Hoyer. One staff member took the test because of a positive contact with someone. The other took the test out of an abundance of caution. Hoyer said

Hoyer described both staff members’ symptoms as “mild.” 

The Cubs began intake screening on Saturday, but Hoyer said he has not heard the results of the first wave of intake tests. Most players are scheduled to travel to Chicago on Monday and Tuesday, and then on Wednesday go through intake screening – which includes both diagnostic and antibody COVID-19 tests.

Cubs manager David Ross said he went through intake screening on Monday."

I am afraid that as teams report and are tested, we will find out that this virus isn't a hoax that will be going away.

How many coachs, managers, and other "tier 1" individuals around the league are in higher risk groups? 

cubs pitching coach tommy hottovy was diagnosed with covid-19 earlier this spring, but he is currently assumed fully recovered.

he had a 100+ degree temperature for 6 days, lost 18 pounds, and it took 30 days for him to test negative.

he's 38 years old, btw.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

"In yet another reminder of how insidious this particular disease can be, Hottovy says he had acted quite cautiously in public before coming down with it. Fortunately, he was able to self-isolate and avoid transmitting it to his family."

This is an important example of a younger person getting COVID. The impact may not be lethal but it's still devastating to even an athlete. Losing 18 lbs (and Hottovy is pretty slim) can take a year to fully recover. Plus, other organ system involvements are not well defined as yet. Some comparison might be Valley Fever or Mononucleosis.  Florida, Texas, AZ and California hot spots appear different than NY because it's now affecting even younger people.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

though he went to the hospital for treatment he was never admitted, so he's yet another person who got dragged hard by Covid, but who's case isn't showing up in the hospital admission, ICU bed, or death numbers most of us are looking at.

there's a whole slew of people who have had to shut down their lives for 2-4-6-etc weeks to get over this that are falling outside of the numbers we're tracking most closely.

most people subjeted to it won't show anything, a huge amount will only have mild managable symptoms, but the danger isn't because it's some ebola-like mass killer...it's that it's soooooo easy to pass around that the odds for a community are poor even if the odds for the individual aren't that bad.

it'll be interesting to see how things go down when people have to start playing games in AZ.  they're damn close to being "early NYC level" screwed with a lack of planning and action.

with the early plan of playing games in AZ/FL, they could have been huge economic winners with 15+ teams playing all their games in AZ (and spring training 2.0).  now it's looking like some teams may not even want to fly into AZ for a few dozen "away" games.

Is Zack Short's official designation still "on optional assignment" even though he's not on the Pool? If so, he can't just be recalled even though he's on the 40-man roster, right?

And someone like Alec Mills who's on the Pool and out of options... he's virtually locked onto the active roster because he can't get taken off (via an outright) and remain eligible to be re-added. Seems like the kind of player you'd prefer to leave off the initial Pool.

[ ]

In reply to by jdrnym

jdrnym: Zack Short is still on Optional Assignment to the minors (as are Alzolay, M. Amaya, R. Garcia, Maples, T. Miller, Norwood, Rea, M. Rodriguez, and Steele), but he can be recalled at any time without restriction (no "ten-day rule") because he was optioned to the minors prior to the transaction freeze in March. 

Although Z. Short (and T. Miller, M. Rodriguez, and Steele) were left off the initial Club Player Pool list, they could still be added. It's only players who have been removed from the CPP list after being on it who are ineligible to return to the CPP list (of the same club) again later in the season. (A player on the MLB 40-man roster who is dropped from the Club Player Pool must be removed from the 40, and an NRI minor league player who is dropped from the Club Player Pool after being on it must be released if not traded).

But in order for Z. Short to participate in the July training camp (which I think would be kind of important in order to get into playing shape) and then be assigned to the Practice Squad (to stay in playing shape and be eligible to be recalled to the MLB Active List roster at some point) he must be assigned to the Club Player Pool. Players on the 40 who are not assigned to the Club Player Pool cannot be recalled from an Optional Assignment without first being placed on the CPP, and they also cannot be traded until they are added to the CPP. 

If Mills, Sadler, and Underwood (who are out of minor league options) do not make the Cubs MLB Opening Day Active List roster (or begin the season on an MLB IL), they would have to be placed on waivers and (if not claimed) they could be outrighted to the minors, just like in any other season. So not assigning Mills, Sadler, and Underwood to the Club Player Pool right now would mean they can't participate in the July training camp (and because they are pitchers, they really need to participate in July pre-season camp). And whether or not they are presently assigned to the Club Player Pool does not change the fact that they are out of minor league options and must make the Opening Day MLB Active List roster (or be placed on an MLB inactive list like an IL or the Restricted List) to avoid being exposed to Outright Assignment Waivers (which are irrevocable), or released, or traded. 

So the only way Mills, Sadler, and/or Underwood end up on the practive squad is if they get outrighted off the 40 (without getting claimed), and the only way they can get removed from the Club Player Pool is by being outrighted to the minors or traded. If they are outrighted to the minors and are not kept on the CPP, they would remain under club control but could not be added back to the Cubs CPP this season (and Sadler can elect to be a free-agent immediately if he is outrighted, and if outrighted, both Mills and Underwood would be a minor league 6YFA after the World Series).  

Also keep in mind that players who are placed on the 60-day IL (which will be the 45-day IL in 2020) or on the CoViD-19 Related IL (which has no minimum or maximum number of days requirement) will not count against the club's MLB 40-man roster or the 60-man CPP limits. 

Players on the MLB 40-man roster who opt-out of playing in 2020 because of the threat of CoVoD-19 will be placed on the Restricted List and will not count against the club's MLB 40-man roster or 60-man CPP. They will not be allowed to change their mind once they make their decision known (in writing), and they also will not accrue MLB Service Time or get paid (which will reduce a club's CBT payroll liability).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

All makes sense, but I think there is one important point of clarification in there -- are you using "practice squad" and "Club Player Pool" interchangeably? If so, I understood the first sentence of your third-to-last paragraph above to mean that Mills/Sadler/Underwood could be outrighted and still be in the Pool, therefore retaining their eligibility to re-selected to the major league active roster later in the season. I was under the impression that once outrighted, under any circumstance, the player is removed from the Pool (in addition, of course, to the 40-man roster) and cannot come back on. 

[ ]

In reply to by jdrnym

jdrnym: Once the MLB regular season starts, the "Practice Squad" will be a sub-group of the Club Player Pool, as will be the MLB Active List roster and the various MLB injured lists. 

If Mills, Sadler, and/or Underwood are outrighted off the MLB 40-man roster because they did not make the Cubs Opening Day MLB Active List roster and were not placed on an MLB IL, they can remain in the Club Player Pool and be assigned to the Practice Squad (as a minor league player), and would be eligible to be added back to the 40 (and the MLB Active List roster) sometime later in the season, just as would be the case for the other minor leaguers assigned to the Practice Squad. (Sadler is eligible to elect free-agency if he is outrighted, however). 

If a minor league player (that is, a player signed to a 2020 minor league contract who is on a minor league affiliate's reserve list) who is assigned to the Club Player Pool (and to the Practice Squad once the MLB regular season starts) is removed from the CPP, he must be either released or traded.

And a player on the MLB 40-man roster who is assigned to the Club Player Pool but is on Optional Assignment to the minors (and thus assigned to the Practice Squad once the MLB regular season starts) can be removed from the CPP only by an Outright Asssignment to the minors (presuming he isn't claimed off waivers), a trade, or Outright Release. And if a player on the 40 is outrighted to the minors and is also removed from the Club Player Pool, he would be ineligible to return to the Club Player Pool again later in the regular season (and post-season), although he would remain under club control through the 2020 season and post-season (and even beyond that, unless he is eligible to be a minor league FA after the 2020 season).

If a player on the 40 is outrighted to the minors but he wasn't assigned to Club Player Pool prior to being outrighted (like Rea, M. Rodriguez, Z. Short and Steele), that player can subsequently be placed on the Club Player Pool (after he is outrighted) because he wasn't on the CPP prior to being outrighted.  

So (for example), if the Cubs wanted to remove Robel Garcia (who is on the MLB 40-man roster) from their Club Player Pool, he would have to be either outrighted to the minors, traded, or released. (And if he is outrighted AND removed from the CPP, he would be ineligible to return to the CPP later in the season).

If the Cubs (for example) wanted to remove Mark Zagunis (who -- unlike R. Garcia -- is not on the 40) from their Club Player Pool, he would have to be either released or traded.

If the Cubs (for example) want to remove Zack Short from the 40, he can be outrighted (presuming he isn't claimed of waivers) and then added to the Club Player Pool anytime later in the season because wasn't assigned to the CPP prior to being outrighted.  

Which is probably why the Cubs initially left ten slots open on their Club Player Pool. It will allow them to make trades and/or waiver claims and/or sign free agents to minor league contracts and assign them to the Practice Squad without having to remove somebody who is already there. 

Also keep in mind that only players who are assigned to the Club Player Pool can be traded (trade deadline is August 31st). A player who is not on the Club Player Pool can be a PTBNL in a trade, however (although the trade cannot be completed and he cannot be assigned to his new club until after the season). 

A player acquired in a trade or claimed off waivers MUST be assigned to his new club's Club Player Pool immediately. But a free-agent who signs a minor league contract does not have to be added to the Club Player Pool, although he would not be able to participate in the July pre-season camp (MLB Summer Camp) or be assigned to the Practice Squad unless and until he is assigned to the CPP.  

Per Sun-Times: Jose Quintana out two weeks after cutting a digital nerve in his pitching  left thumb and requiring microsurgery to repair the nerve, from a kitchen dishwashing accident last week. Hard to say what impact that might have on his repertoire. The sensation can take 2-3 months to return if the repair is successful.

Are ther any FA starting pitchers that would be an addition to take a starting spot?

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

the cubs were searching car seats for coins to sign the scraps they managed to get this offseason.  i imagine doing everything "in house" might be on the table.

the ricketts will need all the money they can spare to dump into GOP elections, too.  priorities.  btw, yes the family has been dumping 100s of thousand (to the tune of millions combined) over the past few months into state elections in areas they don't live in.  wisconsin, nevada, new york, georgia, etc...millions...many millions of dollars all over the country.

if anyone's bored they should check into what the ricketts are doing in nebraska where one of the sons, pete, is governor.  pete and the family are dumping massive loot and resources into all aspects of local elections, even down to a city/county level, in order to build a solid collation of sycophants who are loyal to pete.  there's organized coordination with state GOP leadership of how to put in "approved" candidates and attack other GOP candidates not favored as much...even going as far as putting $$ and resources into primary candidates for negative attack ads.

once again, priorities.

...all that aside, colin rea is probably as decent of an option as anyone viable that's a cheap replacement FA if they need a arm aside from the pool of chatwood - a.mills - j.cotton in those last 2 slots.  a.alzolay also exists and is technically MLB-ready.

danny salazar is still out there as far as guys with potential above-average upside, but no one bit on him this offseason so he may have some risk involved that isn't evident.  he's supposedly healthy, but he has a long history of elbow and shoulder issues.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

With 17 pitchers likely on the 30-man MLB Active List roster for the first two weeks and then probably 15 pitchers on the 28-man Active List for the next two weeks after that, the Cubs should be able to "bullpen" games quite a bit for the first month. They won't really need five starters. 

In fact they probably won't need a full starting rotation (five starters) until the week of 8/23 when rosters cut back to 26, and even then they just need to cover the final five weeks of the regular season. It's not like they'll need a starting rotation to cover six months worth of games. 

It will truly be a "sprint to the finish" beginning on Opening Day.  

rizzo takes another day off (lower back).  ross says the club is "exercising caution."

klye ryan is expected to join the team tomorrow after some mysterious holdup.

buster posey (SF) opting out of 2020...recently adopted twin daughters who were born premature.

WSox Michael Kopech has opted out of 2020. I didn't see a disclosed reason yet but he is recovering from TJ S 

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

I've been wondering how this would proceed. Since teams will have to figure out how existing contracts will be paid, I thought there was a *chance* they would proceed with free agency as usual and plan for payment under potential shortened seasons would just be figured out in negotiations with the MLBPA. But that was probably an overly optimistic thought.

...and so it goes (per Roto): Astros general manager James Click wrote in a statement that a member of the staff "was potentially exposed to a COVID-positive individual outside the organization.” The team is working with MLB and team doctors on testing protocol and cleaning before resuming workouts. 

Does the visiting team bring a Covid positive bio-weapon to the player's parking lot?

rizzo took BP and did some field work today.  also, almora is good to go...he ran into a wall on friday and got a little banged up.

j.hicks (STL) opts out.  he's a T1 diabetic currently rehabbing from TJ.  he was expected to return in august.

5 cubs players + d.ross didn't work out with the team today because their tests were dealyed.  4 players + d.ross later came back negative and 1 test will have to be done again because it was compromised during transport and invalidated.

...turns out the compromised test was not a player, but a non-player/non-ross Tier 1 employee.  neat.

IMPOTUS 45: "ANYBODY WHO WANTS A TEST CAN GET A TEST"

then said quietly by his elves: although it can take up to 1-2 days (or two tanks of gas) to get through test lines and then 7-14 days to get results.

Hopefully Joe West will retire. Unfortunately, he's a crazy conspiracy guy and doesn't believe Coronavirus is killing people.

========

In a move that was all too predictable based on his “Cowboy” Joe West persona, West told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that he doesn’t believe figures that say 130,000 people have died from coronavirus in the U.S.:

“Those statistics aren’t accurate, I don’t care who’s counting them,’’ West said from his Florida home. “When country music [singer] Joe Diffie died, they said he died of the coronavirus. He had Stage 4 lung cancer. The coronavirus may have accelerated his death, but let’s be realistic.”

“Our system is so messed up they have emptied hospitals because there’s no elective surgery. The government has been giving these hospitals extra money if someone dies of the coronavirus. So everybody that dies is because of coronavirus. I don’t care if you get hit by a car, it’s coronavirus.’’

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

if we had less joe west mentality we'd be on our way to being over it.  i'm not going to address those fake ass "facts" that people like him are standing behind in order to keep from doing the bare minimum to sacrifice comfort for country.

him and his kind are the issue keeping this "unfair" thing continuing.

the amount of resources my health/safety committee has had to put into "no seriously, wear a mask dudes!" outreach isn't just insane, it's an American embarrassment given what we're seeing from countries that have high mask compliance.  this issue isn't limited to the US, but wow...the utter childish complaining about this very slight inconvience from those that want this over with asap is mindblowing.  this is the thing that gets us "open" ASAP.  other countries have done this work for us and we have it as a tool to use.  contract tracing isn't useful when you can't lump your outbreaks because they could have come from 20-30 different places.

the 1 thing that works best, the 1 thing that helps other methods like tracking/tracing/control easily work, and some people are putting more effort into trying to get around it rather than doing it.

braves sign puig.

that's a risky signing with so many young kids the braves have still forming their professional lives.  he's a bit toxic and combative.

sergio mitre is under investigation for the rape and murder of a 2 year old in mexico.

wtf...

evidently the child of the 19 year old woman he's been living with for a few months ended up in the hospital where they found damage (most likely from sexual assault) leading to her death.

i'm done with 2020.

Steele, K. Thompson, and Patterson have all been developed (so far) as starting pitchers, so this will give the Cubs potentially three more SP candidates for their Practice Squad. 

The Cubs have signed veteran switch-hitting catcher Jose Lobaton to a minor league contract and he has been assigned to Iowa reserve list and the Cubs Club Player Pool.  

I have a question about the shrinking active rosters, going from 30 to 28 to 26. It seems to me that the "last" four men on the active roster risk being lost on waivers as the rosters shrink. If nobody on the active roster is sick or injured when the rosters shrink, players will have to be sent down and go through waivers. This gives the player a chance to play elsewhere, but they're lost to the Cubs. Are these likely to be "last chance" players who are out of options or eligible for the next Rule 5 draft? Doesn't seem like the team would risk having real prospects in this position. 

[ ]

In reply to by Craig A.

CRAIG: Losing a player off waivers would only be a concern if any of the players cut when the rosters are reduced from 30 to 28 to 26 are out of minor league options or are Rule 5 Draft picks. 

Among the players likely to be "on the bubble" when rosters are gradually reduced, only Mills, Sadler, and Underwood are out of options, and Megill is the lone Rule 5 draft pick.   

There also would be waiver liability, however, if Jason Kipnis, Josh Phegley, Hernan Perez, Jose Lobaton, and/or Mark Zagunis are added to the 40 and then subsequently cut from the MLB Active List. 

With Kipnis likely to make the Cubs MLB Opening Day roster, there will have to be a 40-man roster move made if and when Kipnis is added to the 40. Unless a player currently on the 40 is placed on the roster-exempt MLB 45-day Injured List (cut back from 60 days in 2020 only), somebody will have to be dropped from the 40. (I don't know about you, but I keep waiting for/expecting Daniel Descalso to be released, especially since Kipnis would essentially be a direct depth chart/roster replacement for Descalso). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

And just like that we have some news. Jason Kipnis is added to the 40-man roster. Trevor Megill has officially cleared waivers and has been acquired from the Padres for cash. He has been sent to the South Bend reserve team and can play in the minor leagues next season (assuming he's not taken in the Rule 5 Draft).

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Our star free agent addition!

That said, I do feel kinda bad for him. Grew up a Cubs fan, probably couldn't wait to get to the plate for the first time at Wrigley with the home fans behind him. He gets to play at home at Wrigley but is never going to hear the crowd cheer for him.

bjays denied permission to play in toronto.

will probally play in upstate NY.

evidently the US is winning too much for those commies.   2020 woo.

Phil, what's the cutoff date for holding a player down to gain an extra year of control? Does the "prorated" service time get rounded to the nearest whole number?

The Cubs have selected the contracts of LHP Rex Brothers and C Josh Phegley from AAA Iowa, INF Robel Garcia has been Designated for Assignment, INF Daniel Descalso (left ankle sprain) has been placed on the 60-day IL (45-day IL in 2020), LHP Jose Quintana (left thumb laceration/surgery) has been placed on the 10-day IL, RHP Jharel Cotton and RHP Ryan Tepera have been optioned to AAA Iowa, RHP Dillon Maples and RHP James Norwood have been recalled from AAA Iowa, and minor league OF Mark Zagunis has opted-out of playing in the 2020 season and so he has been placed on the AAA Iowa Restricted List. 

Phegley has no minor league options left and he has Article XIX-A rights so he cannot be outrighted to the minors without his consent, Brothers has one minor league option left and has Article XX-D rights so he cannot refuse an optional assignment but he can elect free-agency if he is sent outright to the minors, and R. Garcia does not have the right to elect free-agency if he is outrighted although he would be eligible to be a minor league second contract FA post-World Series if he is not added back to the 40 in the meantime. 

So R. Garcia, Zagunis, and Descalso no longer count against the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool limit (so the Cubs have six CPP slots open), although R. Garcia would count against the CPP limit again if he is not claimed off waivers and is sent outright to the minors, and Descalso will count against the CPP limit if and when he is reinstated from the 45-day IL.    

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

The only real surprise I see is Tepera not making roster. He looked very good in March, has had MLB experience and legit success.

Phegley is such a waste of roster space. He is going to get what, one start every two weeks? I know they want to use Caratini as a bench bat or DH and this makes that decision easier but Phegley has no business on this team and should go as one of the cuts down to 26, if not 28.

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

DJL: No question Ryan Tepera not making the Cubs Opening Day roster is the one surprise (for me).

Clearly the Cubs prefer Maples, Norwood, and Winkler over Tepera, but based on what I saw in Spring Training in February-March, I would definitely take Tepera over Winkler and probably over Norwood, too (although not over Maples). 

I think if you keep Josh Phegley you also should keep Ian Miller to pinch-run for Contreras, Caratini, or Phegley late in a game when you need a run. Just like in previous seasons when MLB Active List rosters expanded from 25 to 40 in September, having a 30-man expanded Active List roster (even for just 14 days) is a perfect time to add both a third catcher and an OF or INF who can steal a base.

So I would have added Phegley but I also would have added I. Miller over the 16th pitcher (at least for the first two weeks before Active List rosters are reduced to 28, at which point I might cut both Phegley and I. Miller) 

AZ Phil, there will be 3 more players added to the Taxi Squad, correct?I believe one must be a catcher.

"According to ESPN's Marly Rivera, the MLBPA has agreed to a proposal for expanded playoffs in 2020...Buster Olney reported earlier that the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 seeds in each league -- the division winners -- would be able to pick their opponent among the other five clubs during a televised selection show."

this is f'n stupid.

that's as far as i'm willing to go with commentary on the issue.  it doesn't deserve much more.  2020 is a f'n circus.

HAGSAG: Up to three players assigned to a club's Practice Squad can be placed on the club's Taxi Squad for road trips (and if all three Taxi Squad slots are filled, one must be a catcher). 

In addition, one catcher who is assigned to the Practice Squad can be assigned to the Taxi Squad for home games and can work as a bullpen catcher. 

I would think the main reason the Cubs signed Jose Lobaton last week was to provde a veteran MLB back-up catcher for the Taxi Squad (both home & road), as well as providing a fall-back in case the Cubs cut Josh Phegley when rosters are reduced to 28 after 14 days or when rosters are reduced to 26 after 28 days in case  Phegley is claimed off waivers after being DFA'd.  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Is there going to be some sort of official annoucement or designation of players as being part of the Taxi Squad? Does this require any sort of a roster move between the practice squad and the taxi squad, or can players just be freely sent back and forth between the two? 

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

BRADSBEARD: Just as in past seasons, MLB must be notified when players are assigned to a club's Taxi Squad, but the club is not required to announce it to the media and in fact almost never does.

The Taxi Squad has been around for a number of years, but historically it was used mainly when a club was considering whether to place a player on the IL (DL) but wasn't sure.

Prior to 2020, a player on a club's MLB Reserve List who was on Optional Assignment to the minors could be recalled and placed on the club's Taxi Squad for one day. The player did not accrue MLB Service Time, was paid at the minor league split salary rate (for players signed to "split contracts"), and did not count against the MLB club's Active List while on the Taxi Squad, and (as with the extra man recalled for doubleheaders) the "ten-day rule" was not involved.

A player assigned to a club's MLB Taxi Squad also was removed from the minor league club's active list, so the player could be temporarily replaced on the minor league club's active list roster while the player was away from the minor league club.  

opening day!

also, juan soto tests positive for covid.

woo!  opening day!

Cubs sign UTIL Derek Dietrich and assign him to the South Bend roster (Not Yet Announced by Cubs). Dietrich has played 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, and LF with pretty strong defensive numbers (hasn't played SS since his second year in the minors, but did it well). My observations of his career stats (I have nothing else to go by):

- Great at getting hit by pitch, but not great at taking a walk.
- Power numbers have grown each year.
- Won't hit vs. LHP.
- Hits better as a 3B/LF than a 2B/1B.
- Highly successful as a leadoff hitter, #2 & #6 hitter.
- Great vs. Cubs and very strong OBP at Wrigley Field.
- Awesome stats vs. Central Division (but not Cincinnati).

Cubs sign CF Ryan LaMarre and assign him to the South Bend roster (not yet announced by Cubs). LaMarre has played CF, RF, and LF with average defensive numbers. My observations of his career stats (I have nothing else to go by):

  • Replaces Mark Zagunis as the right-handed outfielder in reserve at South Bend.
  • Much better vs. LHP than RHP at the major league level (over 248 ABs) and 429 ABs in AAA last year.
  • Good offensive numbers batting 8th and playing LF (I know, it's a stretch).
  • Looks like he struggles to hit good fastballs (better vs. Finesse pitchers).
  • Can't find much else to love.

MLB clubs must cut-back to 28 players on the Active List roster by 12 noon (Eastern) tomorrow (Thursday 8/6). 

Per the new proposed rules (not yet approved by MLB owners), the MLB Active List roster limit will be 28 for the balance of the MLB regular season (post-season roster limits TBD) and the MLB Taxi Squad limit will be increased from three to five. (Players assigned to the Taxi Squad can travel with the MLB squad on road trips and participate in batting & fielding practice, and one catcher assigned to the Taxi Squad can serve as a bullpen catcher for both road and home games).   

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

BRADSBEARD: I doubt that any club will go below 14 pitchers (with at least nine relievers), and the Cubs could go up to 15 (or 16) pitchers once Jose Quintana (and Brad Wieck) return, especially if the Cubs eventually go with a six-man rotation (as I suspect they will, given the heavy work-load the SP will need to provide what with the questionable bullpen).

AZ PHIL (or anybody):  have you heard of anything that the players are doing in South Bend (or other places) during this odd holding pattern? Obviously they are staying in game shape... I was wondering if they were using the time to do anything else interesting (eg, getting reps at different positions, odd situational strategies, developing new pitches, etc.).  I thought of the question as I was daydreaming on next year's roster & wondering if somebody like Zach Short is taking this time to get some extra OF practice to (further) increase his versatility as a utility player. 

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

The thing with Zack Short not being assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool (and to the Practice Squad) is odd, because he would have been one of only two legit MLB-ready (or near MLB-ready) shortstops on the Practice Squad (utility man Hernan Perez being the other one). So now al they have is H. Perez.  

It can't be because of roster limit concerns because they could have left off Christopher Morel or ine of the younger pitchers to make room for Z. Short. 

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

Without an actual minor league season to use for evaluation purposes, I think the likely Cubs 40-man roster adds on 11/20 will be from this group and probably in this order (and no more than seven, possibly eight): 

1. Brailyn Marquez, LHSP 
2. Christopher Morel, INF
3. Cory Abbott, RHSP  
4. Danny Hultzen, LHRP (6YFA so must be added by 5th day after last game of WS)
5. P. J. Higgins, C-INF 
6. Michael Rucker, RHRP 
7. Trevor Megill, RHRP 
8. Dakota Mekkes, RHRP 
9. Keegan Thompson, RHSP 
10. Aramis Ademan, SS 

Cubs post-2020 MLB free-agents (at present) will be Chatwood, Jeffress, Kipnis, Phegley, Quintana, and Souza, plus Descalso (2021 club option will certainly be declined) and Lester (2021 club option will probably be declined unless option auto-vests with 74 IP in 2020), so that opens seven or eight slots for Rule 5 Draft eligibles on the 40 after the World Series.  

And then Almora, Brothers, Cotton, Rea, K. Ryan, Tepera, and Winkler will be arbitration-eligible post-2020 so that makes them all potential non-tender candidates (TBD) on 12/2, and so that could open up as many as seven additional slots on the 40 for free-agents, waiver claims, Rule 5 picks, and/or MLB players acquired in trades during the off-season.

The Cubs have signed veteran RHRP Kelvin Herrera to a minor league contract and he has been added to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and has been assigned to the Cubs Practice Squad in South Bend.  

Herrera was released by the White Sox last Sunday, so he should be ready to roll right away if he is needed. 

Cubs released Derek Dietrich from his minor league contract - at Dietrich's request - so he can pursue other MLB opportunities.  Wouldn't be surprised if he hooks on with the Braves as 2B Ozzie Albies was put on the IL last week with a wrist injury that may take considerable time to heal. In any event, the Cubs player pool back to 59 of a possible 60 players. 

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

Derek Dietrich getting released and opening up a slot on the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool roster (which was full prior to Dietrich getting released) would allow Mark Zagunis to opt back into the season (if he so chooses) and return to the Club Player Pool, if being on the Restricted List was going to prevent him from being a first-time minor league 6YFA post-2020. 

Why isn't Ryan Jensen at South Bend these days?

Regardless of if he gets called up. He should be there if he's healthy and able

No new Cardinals tested negative on Sunday. They need two days in a row of neg. testing to get the OK to resume the season. Today's tests are not back. 

Per Jon Heyman: Hear Indians starter Mike Clevinger sat through a team meeting yesterday and defended Zach Plesac knowing he’d been out with Plesac, then flew back with the team. Now, the Indians discover Clevinger was out with Plesac and so they have appropriately quarantined Clevinger. Clevinger was scheduled to start Tuesday against the Cubs. Now Adam Plutko starts on Tuesday.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

the indians waited too long to get trevor bauer away from influencing clevenger as a professional and human being...

there's a reason bauer has been sold "below cost" by 2 teams now.

also, do they even care that carlos carrasco is coming back from a boatload of chemo and has decided to participate in this season when he could have just taken his $$ and gone home for a year?

The Cubs and the Cardinals can add one extra player (a 29th man) on Monday and then again on Wednesday for the two doubleheaders this week. The player doesn't have to be a pitcher but it almost certainly will be. 

The 2020 MLB Trade Deadline has passed, but players can still be claimed off waivers and free-agents can be signed to MLB or minor league contracts, and the post-season roster eligibility deadline in 9/15 (in order to be eligible to play in the post-season, a player must be on a club's MLB 40-man roster or MLB 45-day IL or on the reserve list of a minor league affilIate by 9/15). 

Again, the Cubs will need to make two additional 28-man Active List roster moves (beyond the DFA of Phegley and H. Perez) once J. Martinez, Maybin, Chafin, and Osich physicaly report to the club, so one move will very likely be Chatwood to the 10-day IL, and the other will probably be either Rea or Winkler optioned to the ATS in South Bend. 

Then two more moves beyond that whenever Kris Bryant and Steven Souza Jr are reinstated, although Souza does not really appear to have a spot on the 28 after the acquiistion of J. Martinez and Maybin, so maybe he will just remain on the 10-day IL indefinitely or until he is needed.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I think they'll only  need one for now.. Chafin is likely headed directly to the IL. Otherwise to open things for Osich... kinda feel like it could be Rea of those two, but it SHOULD be Winkler, given how solid Rea has looked. Maybe Ryan gets optioned?

Edit: never mind, as you mentioned the other move will be Chatwood

INF-OF Hernan Perez was sent outright to the AAA Iowa Reserve List last night and he has been added back to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and assigned to the Cubs Practice Squad at the Alternate Training Site in South Bend. However, he will probably travel with the Cubs as a member of the three-man taxi squad (which he was doing prior to being added to the 40 on August 18th).  

Perez has Article XIX-A rights (he has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time) which means he had to give his consent before he could be assigned to the minors. This is different than having Article XX-D rights (has accrued at least three years but less than five years of MLB Service Time and/or has been outrighted previously in his career) which means a player does not have the right to decline an outright assignment but instead has the right to elect free-agency -AFTER - being outrighted (but he would forfeit his remaining salary if he does).

An Article XIX-A player (like Perez) would have had to have given his consent - BEFORE - he was outrighted, otherwise the Cubs would have had to give him his Outright Release and he would have received 100% of his remaining salary as termination pay. So it's the right to actually decline/refuse an outright assignment (and not just have the right to elect free-agency after being outrighted but with the loss of the player's remaining salary) and instead receive an outright release (with 100% of the player's salary as termination pay) that makes being an Article XIX-A player better than being an Article XX-D player.  

It's possible that Perez signed a 45-day waiver prior to being added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster on August 18. An Article XIX-A player can opt to sign this special waiver prior to being added to an MLB 40-man roster, and if he does he is agreeing in advance to  accept an outright assignment to the minors if he is outrighted within 45 days of signing the waiver. A veteran player with little leverage who signs a minor league contract will sometimes do this just to make himself more attractive to the club when the club is deciding who to add to the 40 as a temporary injury replacement (as happened with Perez on 8/18).   

However, Josh Phegley is also an Article XIX-A player, but he was not outrighted to the minors yesterday even though he was Designated for Assignment a day before Perez, which probably means that Phegley has not (yet) given his consent to be outrighted. So he might get released (and receive 100% of his remaining salary as termination pay). 

Ian Miller and Casey Sadler (the two other players who were Designated for Assignment earlier this week) are Article XX-D players (both have been outrighted previously in their careers), so if outrighted they would have the right to elect free-agency immediately (but forfeit the balance of their 2020 salary if they do), or accept the outright assignment, not forfeit the balance of their salary, and defer the election of free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (but only if the player is not added back to the 40 in the meantime). That's of course presuming they aren't claimed off waivers. 

Of the two, I. Miller is probably more likely to get claimed beause he has minor league options left, whereas Sadler is out of minor league options. Sadler does have more MLB experience, however. 

Cubs have selected the contract of LHRP Matt Dermody (ex-TOR) from the Practice Squad, and RHP Tyson Miller has been optioned back to the Practice Squad.

Dermody will have MLB Rule 6 Draft Excluded status if he remains on the 40 post-2020  He also has Article XX-D rights (he has been outrighted previously in his career), so he will have the right to elect free-agency if he is outrighted. 

The Cubs will need to make another MLB Active List roster move when Ildemaro Vargas reports to the club. (Vargas was claimed off waivers on Saturday). 

So the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) is now full.  

The Cubs have released OF Steven Souza Jr. He was Designated for Assignment between games last Saturday. The Cubs have also released RHRP Juan Gamez from the Practice Squad. 

Because he has Article XIX-A status (he has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time), Souza has the right to decline an optional or outright assignment to the minors and receive his unconditional release, with the Cubs on the hook for 100% of his remaining salary (which would be offset by the pro-rated MLB minimum salary if he were to sign an MLB contract with another club prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season). 

Next Tuesday (9/15) is the 2020 deadline for MLB post-season roster eligibility. (It was August 31st in previous seasons). So a player must be signed to an MLB or minor league contract with an organiztion by that date in order for that player to be eligible to play in the post-season with that club. So (for example) if a player is claimed off waivers or signed as a free-agent on 9/16 (or later), he is not eligible to play in the post-season.  

The player does NOT have to be on the MLB 40-man roster by 9/15 (although he would have to be added to the 40 before he could play in the post-season). He just needs to be signed to an MLB or minor league contract and be assigned to an MLB or minor league reserve list with that organization by that date. 

Waivers have been secured and the Cubs have sent LHRP Matt Dermody (Designated for Assignment on Monday) outright to the AAA Iowa reserve list. He also has been returned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and to their Practice Squad at the Alternate Training Site in South Bend. So the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool now stands at 59 (one slot is open). 

Dermody has Article XX-D rights (he has been outrighted previously in his career), so he has the right to elect free-agency immediately or else defer his election until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (he has 48 hours to decide). 

If he elects free-agency immediately (within the next couple of days) his contract is terminated with no termination pay, but if he waits to elect free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season he will continue to be paid at his minor league split contract salary rate. 

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    SF snags b.snell...2/62m

  • Cubster (view)

    AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24). 

    However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024: 

    * bats or throws left 

    Angel Cepeda, INF 
    * Miguel Cruz, P
    Yidel Diaz, C 
    * Albert Gutierrez, 1B
    Fraiman Marte, P  
    Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B) 
    Derniche Valdez, INF 
    Edward Vargas, OF 
    Jeral Vizcaino, P 

    And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.

    Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect. 

    F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season. 

    The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically. 

    Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).

    Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day. 

    Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will. 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.

    The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required. 

    They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).

    If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.

    If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option). 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil, 
    Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
    If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!  

    And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).