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

Rockies' Rock Too Heavy for Cubs to Lift

Rockies 2021 2nd round draft pick LHSP Joe Rock hurled four innings of no-run / one-hit ball, Rockies 2021 10th round pick Zach Kokoska belted an RBI triple and an RBI single and scored a run, and Rockies 2021 6th round pick Braxton Fulford laced a single and and an RBI double and scored a run, helping the Rockies defeat the Cubs 7-3 in AZ Instructional League game action Wednesday afternoon on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

Felix Stevens clubbed a moonshot HR high over the LF fence and Luis Verdugo drilled a two-run single to account for the three Cub runs.

Felix Stevens and James Triantos are now tied for the AZIL Cubs lead in HR with two a piece. Matt Mervis and Ezequiel Pagan have each hit one (the AZIL Cubs as a team have hit six HR in 15 AZIL games), and Miguel Fabrizio hit a HR in the only "Blue - Red" intrasquad game played so far.  

With two RBI today, Luis Verdugo now leads the AZIL Cubs in RBI with five (Brayan Altuve, Ronnier Quintero, and Reggie Preciado are tied for second in RBI with three a piece). 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 
CUBS LINEUP
1. James Triantos Jr, 3B: 1-4 (F-9, 1B, L-8, 5-4 FC)
2. Malcom Quintero, C: 0-4 (K, L-7 DP, P-4, K)
3. Christian Franklin, LF: 0-3 (K, 2-3, K, BB) 
4. Christian Olivo, SS: 0-2 (BB, BB, 5-3, K, R) 
5. Matt Mervis, 1B: 1-3 (4-6 FC, 2B, K, R)
6. Luis Verdugo, DH #1: 1-3 (F-9, 1B, 1-3, 2 RBI)
7, Bryce Ball, DH #2: 0-3 (4-3, P-5, 3-U)
8. Felix Stevens, RF: 1-3 (5-3, 4-3, HR, R, RBI)
9. Bryan Serra, 2B: 0-3 (K, 3-U, K)
10. Brayan Altuve, CF: 0-2 (F-9, K, BB) 

CUBS PITCHERS
1. Koen Moreno: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/0 GO/AO, 17 pitches (12 strikes) 
2. Bailey Horn: 2.0-IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/4 GO/AO, 26 pitches (16 strikes)
3. Nicholas Padilla: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 20 pitches (12 strikes)
4. Sheldon Reed: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 PO, 0/3 GO/AO, 33 pitches (18 strikes)
5. Angel Gonzalez-Martinez: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 2/2 GO/AO, 37 pitches (22 strikes)
6. Yovanny Cabrera: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 23 pitches (13 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 2 
1. C Malcom Quintero: E-2 (errant throw to 3rd base on SB attempt allowed runner to score) 
2. SS Christian Olivo: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Malcom Quintero: 0-5 CS, 1 PB, 1 E (see above) 

ATTENDANCE: 10 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 70's 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen"

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Nice, any thoughts on how he looked?

Sorry to stack questions but might as well ask: you wouldn't happen to know if any of the injured pitchers had TJ this year? Marquez, Franklin, and Moreno avoiding the knife is excellent, McAvene too, but there's been nothing on Riley Thompson and I think Jack Patterson did have TJ. One more: did Cam Sanders get hurt to end the year? 

Answers or not, thanks for keeping us updated as much as possible!

 

[ ]

In reply to by KingKongvsGodzilla

KKvG: I strongly suspect Koen Moreno's outing was more about getting out on the mound and throwing in a game than anything. He did get several swings & misses from his CH (which is a plus-pitch), and he uses his low 90's FB to set-up the CH.

I didn't see any breaking balls, although it's possible I might have mistaken a CH for one.

Koen Moreno is what scouts call a "pitchability" guy. Nothing wrong with that, BTW. MLB starting rotations are full of pitchers like that.  

Owen Caissie and Felix Stevens finished 1-2 in average exit velo for ACL Cubs in 2021, for anyone who might think Stevens is a non-prospect.   

Jed's GM search wrapping up, and the winner is: (Athletic write up): 37 yr old "Carter Hawkins, Cleveland assistant general manager, deals with all aspects of baseball operations in a front office admired for its stability, creativity in turning over the roster and ability to keep churning out pitchers. Hawkins, a magna cum laude graduate of Vanderbilt University and a four-year letter winner on the baseball team, started as an advance scouting intern with Cleveland in 2008 before transitioning into pro scouting, rising to become the director of player development and adding more responsibilities around the major-league club when named assistant GM prior to the 2017 season."

bonds got a standing-O after being introduced between innings at LAD @ SF.

as he sat down, dude looked extremely genuinely happy to hear the park errupt in cheers for him again.

it's not his first time back, nor his first set of cheers, but the park is packed and loud.

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).