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

25 Cubs Minor Leaguers Get NRI Tix to MLB Spring Training


CUBS NON-ROSTER INVITEES (25) 

* bats or throws left 
# bats both 

PITCHERS (13) 
Joe Biagini 
James Bourque 
* Rex Brothers 
Juan Gamez 
Jake Jewell 
* Brendon Little
Trevor Megill 
Shelby Miller 
* Adam Morgan 
Tommy Nance 
Michael Rucker 
* D. J. Snelten 
* Jerry Vasto 

CATCHERS (3)
# Tayler Gushue 
P. J. Higgins 
# Jose Lobaton 

INFIELDERS (5)
Abiatal Avelino 
Matt Duffy
Trent Giambrone 
* Alfonso Rivas  
Patrick Wisdom 

OUTFIELDERS (4) 
Michael Hermosillo 
* Nick Martini 
* Ian Miller 
* Rafael Ortega 

Comments

With The Two Jakes (Marisnick and Arrieta) needing 40-man roster slots once their contracts are signed, sealed, and filed, I would expect the Cubs to try and sneak Phillip Ervin and Sergio Alcantara through waivers (and if outrighted, neither have the right to elect free-agency). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I expect Alcantara to be outrighted (just middle infield depth), but I'm really hoping they choose to outright either Underwood or Maples (out of options) before they outright Ervin (who I think will end up being the 4th/5th outfielder and a good platoon partner with Heyward or Pederson at some point in the season).

I don't know how we can keep both Underwood and Maples AND Fenter all year without the flexibility to option them to the minors when needed. Underwood had a great opportunity last year, but didn't fair all that well. Maples can't seem to control his pitches well enough to stick in the majors. And, we have tons of depth at AAA that could produce similar results to those two guys anyway.

[ ]

In reply to by Wrigley Rat

I think Underwood has shown enough in each of the last two years to keep his spot, just needs more consistency and the reps to achieve that. Plus I'm pretty sure he's like 26. Agreed on Maples though. I think he's probably gotta go. I want to see Ervin as a Cub, I've always liked his game.

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

maples has one of the nastiest sliders in the game...and very little consistency with it, or his other pitches.

if he gets stable he's a hell of a closer prospect even if he's not much of a "prospect" at age 28 (29 in may).  i'm kinda tired of waiting for him to break though, though...not sure it's going to happen.

cards signed matt szczur to a minor league deal.

his un-ending cubs love just got slightly complicated...

Who are some of the notable NRI snubs? Brennen Davis for sure is one... blanking on some others.

So let's just say for fun Shelby Miller makes the team.  Who makes the rotation Hendricks...then what between Davies (Gotta assume he is ($8mil isn't a swingman price, then again they gave $13mil to Chatwood) Miller, Mills, Alzolay, Underwood, Marquez, and I can't believe they'd pay Arrieta $6 mil to be a long relief and doubt he'd accept anything but a starting gig.

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

imagine arrieta's breaking up the slower hedricks/davies.

hendricks / arrieta / davies / t.williams ....mills/alzolay/miller

t.williams isn't exactly a lock to be good enough to make or stay in the rotation given recent performance, but they seem to like the gamble.  i still can't beleive we got rid of home-run-prone lester to pick up the even worse home-run-prone williams.

Also have they sorted out the options ordeal yet?  I think that becomes rather important regarding Alzolay if I'm correct this year being as he will have I think 0 or 1

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

cubbies.4ever: I haven't heard yet about whether 2020 will be considered a "full season" (and therefore as a Qualified Season) as far as it pertains to players like Adbert Alzolay who might or might not be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2021, but I do know that players who spent less than 20 days on Optional Assignment to the minors in 2020 are getting credit for only one day of MLB Service Time (not each day multiplied by 2.78) for each day spent on Optional Assignment. So it would appear that the only changes from the letter of the CBA and MB Rules in 2020 was that MLB Service Time was multiplied by 2.78, but only for days spent on an MLB Active List roster and MLB IL, but not for days spent on Optional Assignment to the minors (if a player spent less than 20 days on Optional Assignment), and minor league players who were eligible to be minor league free-agents post-2020 were given credit for a qualified season toward minor league free-agency in 2020 even though the 2020 minor league season was canceled before it ever started. Whether all minor league players (the ones not eligible to be Rule 55 minor league free-agents post-2020 but who will be eligible to be free-agents in coming years) will get credit for a qualified season toward minor league free-agency in 2020 is unclear, as is whether 2020 will be considered a "full season" as it relates to 4th minor league option eligibility for guys like Alzolay. Keep in mind that 4th minor league option eligibility only applies to players on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who have not yet accrued five "full seasons" but have used three minor league options, with a "full season" being defined as any season where a player spent at least 90 days on an MLB and/or minor league Active List roster(s), or at least 30 days on an MLB and/or minor league Active List roster(s) followed by an IL assignment where the total number of days (combined) spent on an Active List roster(s) and Injured List totals at least 90 days. So guys like Dillon Maples, Duane Underwood Jr, Sergio Alcantara, and Phillip Ervin are not eligible for a 4th minor leagued option because they accrued five "full seasons" by the time they had used their third minor league option. Players on the Cubs MLB 40-man roste who would be eligible for a 4th minor league option if 2020 is not considered to be a "full season" are Adbert Alzolay in 2021, Justin Steele in 2022 (but only if his third option is spent in 2021), Miguel Amaya and Manuel Rodriguez in 2023 (but only if third option is spent in 2022), and Nico Hoerner, Brailyn Marquez, Christopher Morel, and Keegan Thompson in 2024 (but only if third option is spent in 2023), but none of them would be eligible for a 4th minor league option if 2020 was considered a "full season" as it pertains to 4th minor league option eligibility.

Williams is supposed to benefit from  Master Yoda's pitch lab. Shelby needs to bring his GT.

Any accuracy to the Cubs having only on DSL/AZL affiliate?

Is this a choice, or a league mandate?

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

TIM: The short-season leagues (AZL, GCL, and DSL) haven't been fully configured yet, but the Cubs do have 140+ players (includes several players who were "Signed for Future Service" prior to 12/31 and thus don't yet count against short-season minor league reserve list limits) assigned to the reserve lists of AZL Cubs Blue, AZL Cubs Red, DSL Cubs Blue, and DSL Cubs Red.

The Cubs have only named Lance Rymel (AZL Cubs) and Carlos Ramirez (DSL Cubs) as short-season managers because it is not yet officially confirmed (although it is very likely) that there will be two Cubs teams in both the AZL: and DSL.

Because the minor league regular seasons for full season leagues will start at least a month late, It's possible that the AZL, GCL, and DSL will operate more as de facto EXST/Instructs leagues for the entire 2021 season (TBD).

For Craig Kimbrel's 2022 $16M option to vest he will have to finish 79 games (GF) in 2021, and that is after multiplying Kimbrel's GF in 2020 by 2.78.

Kimbrel needed to finish at least 110 games (combined) in 2020-21 for the 2022 option to vest, and he only finished 11 games in 2020 (which is pro-rated to 31 GF). So if he doesn't finish at least 79 games in 2021, 2022 becomes a club option, with a buy-out if option is declined.   

So from the Cubs 2022 payroll POV, the only issue with Kimbrel is not whether his 2022 $16M option will vest (it won't), but rather whether he will finish 53 games in 2021. If he finishes at least 53 games the buy-out is $2M, and it's $1M If he finishes less than 53 games. 

So the Cubs can use Kimbrel as much as they wish this season (even as the primary closer if he is effective in that role) without having to worry about getting stuck with his $16M salary in 2022. 

Jeremy Jeffress hasn't signed yet. Does Anyone know if his market just hasn't landed yet or if he's asking for a boatload of $$ or something else (behind the scenes) that is at issue? He was reliable and solid last year. Some recent rumors sound like the Red Sox are sniffing around. Any on the rumor list seems interesting though and I've always liked lefty Tony Watson but he's always too pricey for the dumpster divers.

Getting the band together again? Oh snap! If you like the Jake Arrieta signing, you'll love bringing back Pedro Strop.

(the list of top relievers remaining on the market includes righties Jeffress, Workman, Trevor Rosenthal, Shane Greene and Tyler Clippard and left-hander Tony Watson.)

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

re: Pedro - totally agree.  He is #4 in all-time appearances by a CHC reliever (#6 overall including two pre-WWII pitchers/unbreakable-Terminators).  In front of him are:

Lee Smith ('nuff said)

Don Elston (solid RP; longeviity; some very good season)

Carlos Marmol (thank you for the fun memories at a dark period in Cubs history, but I already feel the anxiety rising in my chest)

And just after him in RP games are Ryan Dempster * (~ 225 games as RP & ~150 G as SP) and then James Russell  (I would NOT have ever guessed that... he got WORKED in those first 5 yrs).  Working down the list of RP games played... Farnsworth, Sutter (HOF), Kerry Wood*, Rondon, Sean Marshall... and then it peters out to RPs who had 2ish solid years with CHC (eg, Bob Howry) & guys who sucked up lots of unspectacular innings (eg, Will Ohman - who is currenly in the CHC top 50 all-time for # of G by a P... huh.)

Setting aside some good overall production from Dempster/Wood with discussion to be had about RP/SP splits... that leaves 2 HOF-ers & Pedro. Nobody else really even comes close.

pitchers and catchers report today.  woo.

r.wick held back (oblique strain) and k.ryan on covid protocol (no idea what's going on there).

teams are being rather aggressive with players who have had covid.  it's not just active/exposure cases...they're giving health checkups to make sure anyone who's had it has healthy heart/lungs/etc after recovery...robust checkups for player health.

AZ Phil: Keith Law's newest Cub Prospect Ranking has Michael Avene at #17. Any new thoughts on him for 2021 especially your projection as a reliever or starter.

Cubs sign Brandon Workman per Patrick Mooney at $1M, The allure of ex-Bosox is still strong with the Force says Yoda. Baby Yoda just moves the deck chairs around in circles. 

and Pedro Strop also agrees to a deal, minor league contract with spring training invite.

1965 Cub and Hypnotist Bill Faul as well as Paul Reuschel and Carlos Marmol were on that short list.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

actually a bit surprised alcantara's gone.

on the MLB level there's baez/hoerner.  on the "AAAA" minors-to-majors-as-needed pipeline ildemaro vargas is more of a 2nd/3rd type than a 2nd/SS type (kinda like bote).

maybe they're gonna cross their fingers and hope baez/hoerner can handle things without free'ing up a 40-man roster spot for a "AAAA" SS ahead of need.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

They've got another SS with MLB experience on hand in Iowa, Abietal Avelino. There's probably not a huge difference between him and Alcantara in terms of an emergency SS. I also think Vargas can probably handle it in a pinch. That was his primary position in the minors. But I imagine they also hope Alcantara sneaks through waivers with most 40 man rosters filled up (and most teams passed on him the last time he was on waivers).

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Although it is possible that Sergio Alcantara could get claimed off waivers, he is out of minor league options, and other than a September "cup of coffee" with the Tigers in 2020, he has not played above AA. 

So while he is only 24 and actually still is a decent prospect, Alcantara is not a particularly attactive waiver claim candidate because he probably needs a year of AAA, and since he is out of options he can't be sent back & forth to the minors during the season. 

If the Cubs are able to secure waivers and outright Alcantara to the minors, he does - NOT - have the right to elect free-agency, although he would be a Rule 55 6YFA after the World Series if he is not added back to the 40 before then. 

Does anyone, AZP in other words, know what % of ticket/gate receipts goes to visiting teams in MLB? 

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

A club contributes a percentage of its net revenue (that is, minus expenses) to a central fund, and from that fund clubs receive a percentage based upon whether the club is a revenue sharing receiver or payor, or neither.

The percentage of net revenue paid by a club is a "blending" of 50% of the club's net revenue from the previous season, 25% of the club's net revenue from two season's back, and 25% of a club's net revenue from three season's back, which usually comes out to approximately 30% of a club's net revenue.  

A club's net revenue includes ticket sales, but also other revenue as well. 

Thx, BB. Hoping that's the case cuz I wanna go see the Cubs play @ the Twins in August but I don't want the Cubs to get any of my $.

[ ]

In reply to by Mike Wellman

MIKE W: A club's gross revenue includes gate receipts, but the visiting team does not receive a direct portion of the gate receipt from a given game.

About 30% of net revenue (minus expenses) over the course of an MLB regular season (not including the post-season) from all 30 clubs is mixed together in a common pool and then is redistributed as revenue sharing (so some clubs get more than what they put in, others get less), but the actual money spent by a fan on a ticket for a particular game is thoroughly mixed into the stew.

Thx, AZP. Sounds murky & convoluted enuf to let myself believe that none of the $ I pay to the Twins will go directly to the Ricke, I mean Cubs. That's all I need to know.

happ wins his arb case (4.1m vs 3.25m)...kinda surprised he won.

cubs gonna have to trade bryant, baez, and contreras now.

btw, tom ricketts is currently blaming his recent bond brokerage (Incapital LLC) slow growth on spending the past decade pouring $$ into the cubs.  so, that's another great sign from our finacially challenged (yet still billionaire) overlords going forward.

The Cubs have signed OF Cameron Maybin to a 2021 minor league contract.

Because he was an Article XX-B MLB free-agent post-2020, he gets the automatic $100K retention bonus and June 1st player opt-out if he is not released or added to the MLB 40-man roster by MLB Opening Day. 

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).