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

2020 Cubs Post-Season Roster Eligibility List

UPDATED 9/29:

The Cubs have selected the contract of C Josh Phegley, and to make room for him on the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) LHRP Josh Osich has been Designated for Assignment (DFA). 

Also,  Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured and 1B-3B Patrick Wisdom (Designated for Assignment on 9/27) has been sent outright to the AAA Iowa Reserve List and he has been assigned the Cubs MLB Post-Season Taxi Squad.  

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UPDATED 9/27

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

Because he was outrighted to the minors previously in his career, Wisdom is an Article XX-D player and has the right to elect free-agency if he is outrighted to the minors. 

Marquez was eligible for selection in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, so as the Cubs #1 pitching prospect he was a virtual lock to be added to the ML:B 40-man roster by the 11/20 deadline anyway. And because he was called up to MLB the last day of the MLB regular season, Marquez will accrue one day of MLB Service Time (which is pro-rated as three days of MLB Service Time in 2020). He also will have Draft-Excluded Status this coming off-season, meaning if he is not sent outright to the minors prior to the Rule 5 Draft he cannot be sent to the minors (optioned or outrighted) or Designated for Assignment any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day. He can be traded, non-tendered on 12/2, or released, however.  

While Marquez does not automatically qualify for the Cubs Post-Season Roster Eligibility List, he was in the Cubs organization and was assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool as of midnight 9/15, so he could replace any of the players who are on the Cubs MLB 45-day IL (Descalso, Norwood, Rodriguez, or Wieck) on the Post-Season Roster Eligibility List (TBD).

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

UPDATED 9/25

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) the Cubs have recalled RHP Manuel Rodriguez from his Optional Assignment and placed him on the 60-day IL (which is the 45-day IL). 

While Wisdom does not automatically qualify for the Cubs Post-Season Roster Eligibility List, he was in the Cubs organization and was assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool as of midnight 9/15, so he could replace any of the players who are on the Cubs MLB 45-day IL (Descalso, Norwood, Rodriguez, or Wieck) on the Post-Season Roster Eligibility List.  

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  

UPDATED 9/24

All players on the Cubs Post-Season Roster Eligibility List as of midnight 9/15 who were assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool and to the Practice Squad at the Cubs Alternate Training Site in South Bend have been assigned to the Cubs Post-Season Quarantine Bubble except C Miguel Amaya, RHP Dillon Maples, and RHP Tyson Miller. (RHP Manuel Rodriguez is on the Cubs MLB 40-man Roster but he was not eligible to be on the Cubs Post-Season Roster Eligibility List and he cannot be assigned to the Cubs Post-Season Quarantine Bubble because was not assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool as of midnight 9/15). 

In addition, three minor league players assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool as NRI (C-INF P. J. Higgins, C Josh Phegley, and 1B-3B Patrick Wisdom) have been assigned to the Cubs Taxi Squad in the Post-Season Quarantine Bubble that was established this week.      

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2020 MLB POST-SEASON ROSTER ELIGIBILITY RULES  

A club's 2020 Post-Season Eligibility List is established at midnight (Eastern) on September 15th.  
NOTE: In prior seasons (pre-CoViD-19) a club's Post-Season Roster Eligibility List was established at midnight (Eastern) on August 31st. 

A club's Active List (28-man roster) must be submitted to the MLB Commissioner prior to the start of the first game of each post-season series (WC, LDS, LCS, and World Series).  
NOTE: In prior seasons (pre-CoViD-19) the post-season MLB Active List roster limit was 25. 

A club's Active List can be changed (tweaked) prior to the start of the first game of each series (WC, LDS, LCS, and WS). 

Only players assigned to a club's MLB Club Player Pool and to the club's Post-Season Quarantine Bubble are eligible to be placed on the the club's Post-Season Roster Eligibility List.  

Up to three minor league players not on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who were assigned to the club's MLB Club Player Pool as of midnight 9/15 may be assigned to the club's Post-Season Taxi Squad in the club's Post-Season Quarantine Bubble. Only these players are eligible to have their contracts selected and be added to the club's 40-man roster as  an injury replascement during the course of the Post-Sesaon, although if the player is added to thed 40, another player must be dropped (and players cannot be placed on the 45-day IL during the post-season, although a stricken player may be placed on the roster-exempt CoViD-19 related Injury List).   

1. A player who received a suspension for violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (player tested positive for a prohibited substance) prior to the start of Spring Training, during Spring Training, during the regular season, or during a post-season series (Wild Card, LDS, LCS, or World Series), is ineligible to play in any MLB or minor league post-season game(s) or series in that season, even if the player has completed serving the suspension. 

2. Any player on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, Voluntary Retired List, or Restricted List (for any reason other than being placed on Administrative Leave pending investigation of a possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy or extended Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency Leave) as of midnight (Eastern) on September 15th or who is placed on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, Voluntary Retired List, or Restricted List anytime after midnight (Eastern) on September 15th is ineligible to be included on a Post-Season Eligibility List that season.  

3. All other players on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 45-day Injured List, and Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on September 15th are automatically placed on a club's Post-Season Eligibility List and are eligible to be included on a post-season series Active List, but a player on an MLB 45-day Injured List who otherwise would be eligible to be included on a Post-Season Eligibility List is NOT eligible to be included until the player has spent at least 45 days on the Injured List, and a player on the MLB 45-day Injured List is NOT eligible to play in a post-season series until the player has spent at least 45 days on the Injured List AND the player has been reinstated from the 45-day Injured List. 
NOTE: In prior seasons (pre-CoViD-19) the MLB 45-day IL was a 60-day IL (player had to spend at least 60 days of the MLB regular season on the 60-day IL before the player was eligible to be reinstated, but the minimum number of days was reduced to 45 days in 2020).

CUBS 2020 POST-SEASON ROSTER ELIGIBILITY LIST (last updated 9-30-2020) 

* bats or throws left 
# bats both

PITCHERS: 21
Jason Adam
Adbert Alzolay 
* Rex Brothers 
* Andrew Chafin 
Tyler Chatwood 
Yu Darvish
Kyle Hendricks 
Jeremy Jeffress
Craig Kimbrel
* Jon Lester
Alec Mills
* Jose Quintana 
Colin Rea
* Kyle Ryan
* Justin Steele 
Ryan Tepera
Duane Underwood Jr 
Rowan Wick
Dan Winkler

45-DAY IL: 3 
James Norwood (has been eligible to be reinstated from the 45-day IL since 9/13)
Manuel Rodriguez (is not eligible to be reinstated prior to the conclusion of the World Series) 
* Brad Wieck (has been eligible to be reinstated from the 45-day IL since 9/9)
NOTE: If they remain on the MLB 45-day IL, Norwood and/or Wieck can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on the POST-SEASON ROSTER ELIGIBILITY LIST by a player who was in the Cubs organization as of midnight September 15th but who was not on the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season, although if a player is added to the 40 during the post-season as an "injury replacement" another player on the 40 must be removed (by DFA only) to make room for that player on the 40.  

+++++++++++

CATCHERS: 2
# Victor Caratini
Willson Contreras

+++++++++++

INFIELDERS: 7 
Javy Baez  
David Bote
Kris Bryant
Nico Hoerner
* Jason Kipnis
* Anthony Rizzo
# Ildemaro Vargas 

45-DAY IL: 1 
* Daniel Descalso (has been eligible to be reinstated from the 45-day IL since 9/6)
NOTE: If he remains on the MLB 45-day IL, Descalso can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on the POST-SEASON ROSTER ELIGIBILITY LIST by a player who was in the Cubs organization as of midnight September 15th but who was not on the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season, although if a player is added to the 40 during the post-season as an "injury replacement" another player on the 40 must be removed (by DFA only) to make room for that player on the 40.  

++++++++++

OUTFIELDERS: 7
Albert Almora 
# Billy Hamilton
# Ian Happ
* Jason Heyward
Jose Martinez
Cameron Maybin 
* Kyle Schwarber 

++++++++++

OTHER

ADDED TO CUBS MLB 40-MAN ROSTER AFTER 9/15 DEADLINE: 2 
* Brailyn Marquez, P 
Josh Phegley, C 
NOTE: Marquez and Phegley do not automatically qualify for the Cubs Post-Season Roster Eligibility List, but because they were in the Cubs organization and were assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool as of midnight 9/15, either (or both) could replace a player (or players) on the Cubs MLB 45-day IL (Descalso, Norwood, Rodriguez, or Wieck) on the Cubs Post-Season Roster Eligibility List who has not already been replaced on the Post-Season Roster Eligibility List be by another player  

CUBS POST-SEASON TAXI SQUAD (NRI ASSIGNED TO POST-SEASON QUARANTINE BUBBLE): 1 
P. J. Higgins, C-1B 
Patrick Wisdom, 1B-3B 
NOTE: Higgins and Wisdom are not on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster, but because they were in the Cubs organization and were assigned to the Cubs MLB Club Player Pool as of midnight 9/15, and because they have been assigned to the Cubs Post-Season Taxi Squad in the Cubs "Quarantine Bubble," both are eligible to be added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster as a replacement for a player who is on the Cubs MLB 45-day IL (Descalso, Norwood, Rodriguez, or Wieck) who has not already been replaced on the Post-Sesaon Roster Eligibility List by another player.   

ON CUBS MLB 40-MAN ROSTER BUT INELIGIBLE TO PLAY IN POST-SESAON (NOT ASSIGNED TO QUARANTINE BUBBLE)
Miguel Amaya, C 
Dillon Maples, P
Tyson Miller, P 

 
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4. A player on a Post-Season Eligibility List at midnight (Eastern) on September 15th must remain on his club's MLB Reserve List, MLB 45-day Injured List, and/or Military List continuously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be automatically included on his club's Post-Season Eligibility List. If a player is sent outright to the minors after midnight (Eastern) on September 15th, he is no longer automatically eligible to be included on a Post-Season Eligibility List. 

5. A "29th player" (must be a catcher) may (with approval of the MLB Conmissioner) be listed on a club's Active List for the LDS, LCS, or World Series as a replacement for a catcher who is suffering from an acute concussion. The catcher who suffered the concussion would be eligible to return to his club's Active List after seven days (even if it is prior to the conclusion of the series) at which point the "29th player" (the extra catcher) must be deactivated.
NOTE: The "29th player" (catcher) must be on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). 

6. A post-season eligible player who is placed on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List or on the Paternity List during a post-season series can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced by another player on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List (a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player, but it is not necessary for a catcher to replace a catcher, an infielder to replace and infielder, or an outfielder to replace an outfielder), as long as the absent player is reinstated after no more than seven days (for a player on the Beareavement/Family Medical Emergency List) or after no more than three days (for a player on the Paternity List). If the series ends before the player is reinstated, he will automatically be reinstated prior to the next series, even if he has not returned to his club. 
NOTE: The absent player is not eligible to be replaced during a series if the player is a pitcher who pitched at least four consecutive innings in a game sometime previous in the series unless at least three days have elapsed since that game.

7. An injured post-season eligible player can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on his club's Post-Season Eligibility List by a player (regardless of position) who was on an Active List, Reserve List, 45-day Injured List, or Military List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight (Eastern) on September 15th, or by a player who was on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 45-day Injured List, or Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on Septemberv 15th but who was subsequently sent outright to the minors. (In the case of a player who is sent outright to the minors after September 15th, the player must remain on a Reserve List of a minor league affiliate from that organization continuously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be eligible to replace an injured post-season eligible player. 
NOTE: If a player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) is DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT after September 15th or is still a "Designated Player" as of midnight Eastern on 9/15 (player was Designated for Assignment sometime during the seven days prior to September 15th but is sent outright to the minors after 9/15), that player is NOT eligible to be added to the POST-SEASON ROSTER ELIGIBILITY LIST during the post-season.     

8. A minor league player who replaces an injured player on the Post-Season Eligibility List must have his contract selected and be placed on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he can be placed on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List. If the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) is full, a player must be removed (traded, released, or sent outright to the minors) from the club's MLB Reserve List to make room for the replacement player. 
NOTE: A player cannot be placed on the MLB 45-day Injured List after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, so placing an injured player on the MLB 45-day Injured List during the post-season to make room on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) for a post-season minor league replacement player is not an option.

9. A post-season eligible player who is injured during a post-season series (LDS, LCS, or World Series) can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced during the series by another player on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List, or by a player who was on an Active List, Reserve List, MLB 45-day Injured List, or Military List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight (Eastern) on September 15th, or by a player who was on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 45-day Injured List, or Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on September 15th but who was subsequently sent outright to the minors. (In the case of a player who is sent outright to the minors after September 15th, the player must remain on a Reserve List of a minor league affiliate from that organization continuously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be eligible to replace an injured post-season eligible player). An injured player replaced during a post-season series is ineligible to be reinstated to his club's Active List (28-man roster) for the balance of that series and the next series (LCS or World Series). Also, a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player. However, it is NOT necessary for a catcher to replace a catcher, an infielder to replace an infielder, or an outfielder to replace an outfielder. 
NOTE: If the injured player suffered an acute concussion, the injured player is eligible to be reinstated to his club's Active List after seven days even if the next post-season series is still in progress. 

Comments

It's possible that the Cubs will select the contract of veteran RHRP Pedro Strop before tonight's game. If so, I would say the player most-likely to be dropped from the Cubs 28-man Active List roster (and from the Cubs MLB 40-man roster) to make room for Strop is Rex Brothers. 

If he were to be dropped from the 40, the only way to keep Brothers eligible to be a potential injury replacemenrt player on the Post-Season Roster Eligibility List is to - NOT - DFA him (because once he is Designated for Assignment he is technically no longer a member of the Cubs organization while he is a "Designated Player"), but rather they should have placed him on Outright Assignment Waivers in advance (probably this past on Monday) so that he will clear waivers today without having to be Designated for Assignment.

BTW, a player can continue to play in MLB while he is on Outright Assignment Waivers, and a club does not have to outright a player even if Outright Assignment Waivers are secured (once secured, the waiver remain in effect for seven days but the player does not necessarily have to be outrighted, but if he isn't outrighted within seven days, the waiver automatically expires). 

If Brothers were to be claimed off waivers by another club today it would be after the midnight 9/15 post-season roster eligibility deadline so he would not be eligible to play in the post-season with his new club (thus making him less-attractive as a waiver claim), and if he clears waivers (is not claimed) and is sent outright to the minors by the Cubs, he would almost certainly accept the assignment (even though he is an Article XX-D player and has the right to elect free-agency if he is outrighted) because not only would he lose the balance of his 2020 salary if he elects free-agency immediately, but the only team he could possibly play for in the post-season (as a potential injury replacement) would be the Cubs.   

Another reason to outright (or option) Brothers to the minors now is that if he isn't sent to the minors by 9/25 he will reach five years of MLB Service Time and get Article XIX-A status, at which point he can't be sent to the minors (optioned or outrighted) without his consent.

BTW, Dan Winkler reached five years of MLB Service Time (and got Article XIX-A status) on 8/31, and Ryan Tepera will reach five years of MLB Service Time and get Article XIX-A status if he is not optioned or outrighted to the minors by 9/22. That's why Tepera is the most-likely player to be optioned to the minors next Tuesday when Adbert Alzolay is recalled to be the 5th starter. 

Keep in mind that in addition to recalling Adbert Alzolay next Tuesday to be the 5th starter on 9/22 (at PIT) and 9/27 (at CHW) and probably optioning Ryan Tepera to the Practice Squad to make room for Alzolay on the 28-man roster, - ALL - players on optional assignment to the minors - MUST - be recalled no later than the day after the final game of trhe MLB regular season, so a player could be optioned to the minors on 9/27 and then get recalled the very next day without any restriction. (Justy as alo players on optional assignment must be recalled no later than the day after the final game of the MLB regular season, all players on the MLB 10-day IL must be reinstated no later than the day after the final game of ther MLB regular season, even if the player has not spent at least ten days on the IL). 

Also, I would expect Jose Quintana (if healthy) to get recalled on 9/27 to get maybe a three-inning rep (maybe piggy-backing with Alzolay), and Tyler Chatwood will likely be transferred to the 45-day IL prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season (if Chatwood is transferred to the 45-day IL, he would be eligible to be reinstated on 10/15 only if he hasn't been replaced on the MLB 40-man roster and the Post-Season Roster Eligibility List by another player).  

MLB is expected to mandate a "bubble" for all MLB players (and members of their families who are traveling with them) beginning at least seven days prior to the start of the ALDS and NLDS (which start the week of October 5th).  

As far as players are concerned, only players on the club's Post-Season Roster Eligibility List (that is, players on the MLB 40-man roster who are assigned to the club's MLB Club Player Pool and players on the MLB 45-day IL who have not been replaced on the Post-Season Roster Eligibility List) will be allowed in the bubble. 

However, MLB is supposedly planning to allow each club to establish a "taxi squad"' of maybe five NRI players (that is, players in the club's MLB Club Player Pool who are not on the MLB 40-man roster) who will be allowed in the bubble. In the case of the Cubs, I would expect their "bubble" NRI taxi squad (if it is indeed five players) to include catchers Josh Phegley and P. J. Higgins, INF-OF Hernan Perez, OF Ian Miller, and LHRP Matt Dermody. (The Cubs will need to carry at least two extra catchers as "worst case" insurance policies, but they really won't need many pitchers on the NRI taxi squad because they already have 22 pitchers on the 40, and that's not even including Norwood and Wieck).   

Jake Arrieta to the Phils IL. Might be how his Phillie career ends. Any thoughts that he comes back in 2021 as a closer for someone?

Prior to this season, MLB clubs were not permitted to option players to a minor league affiliate whose season had concluded. So with the exception of a minor league affiliate competing in its league's post-season playoffs, most minor league clubs concluded play on Labor Day. And even those minor league clubs that continued to play past Labor Day (while participating in league playoffs) would conclude their season by mid-September. 

However, since Active List roster limits expanded ro 40 beginning on September 1st, it was rare for an MLB club to option a player to the minors during the month of September. (When it did happen, it was usually for disciplinary reasons or for MLB Service Time issues or to reduce payroll by paying the optioned player his minor league split salary instead of the MLB split  -- sometimes resulting in a grievance being filed by the MLBPA).

But starting in 2020, Active List roster max limits were set to go from 26 to only 28 on September 1st, and so the rule prohibiting clubs from optioning a player to a minor league affiliate in September after the affiliate's season had concluded was going to potentially become a real problem.  

However, the emergency CoViD-19 rules were implemented, and the minor league season was canceled, and instead of being optioned to a minor league affiliate, players have been routinely optioned to and recalled from the club's "Alternate Training Site" throughout the 2020 MLB regular season (including the month of September). 

However, the MLB Alternate Training Sites are expected to be closed next week, as all players on the club's MLB 40-man roster assigned to the MLB Club Player Pool (including players not on the 28-man Active List roster) plus probably up to five NRI players assigned to the club's MLB Taxi Squad will be quarantined until the conclusion of the club's season, such that players not in the bubble wil not be permitted to come in once the quarantine goes into effect.

How the quarantine bubble will affect optional assignments starting next week is unclear. By rule, all players on Optional Assignment must be recalled no later than the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (and all players on the 10-day IL must be reinstated on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season), but will clubs be able to option players off the 28-man roster next week (prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season) after the Alternate Training Sites have closed?

Like what happens if the Cubs recall Adbert Alzolay to be the 5th starter on Tuesday 9/22? Can they option a player (like Josh Osich or Ryan Tepera) to make room on the MLB 28-man roster for Alzolay, even though the optioned player does not actually go anywhere?

Remains to be seen.

Uncharted territory. 

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).