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 Victory at Riverview Strictly Kafkaesque

Rockies 2021 1st round draft pick Benny Montgomery drilled a two-run single and scored a run to highlight a three-run third inning, Rockies 2021 8th round draft pick Robby Martin ripped a two-run single in a two-run seventh, and RHSP Cullen Kafka (Rockies 2021 9th round pick) tossed two innings of no- run / no-hit ball and combined with five relievers on a five-hitter, helping the Rockies defeat the Cubs 5-3 in AZ Instructional League game action Friday afternoon on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

Kevin Alcantara tripled, walked, and scored two runs and Peter Matt laced a two-run single, walked, and stole a base for the Cubs in a losing cause. 

The game was pre-planned as a seven-inning contest. The Rockies canceled yesterday's game at Salt River Fields because they didn't have enough pitchers available to play a game.  

Here is the abridged box score (Cubs players only): 
CUBS LINEUP:
1. Kevin Alcantara, RF: 1-3 (K, BB, 4-3, 3B, 2 R)
2. Ezequiel Pagan, CF: 1-4 (F-8, F-8, 2B, 5-3, RBI)
3. Peter Matt, 3B: 1-3 (F-9, 1B, BB, 4-3, 2 RBI, SB)
4. Bryce Ball, 1B: 0-3 (5-3, P-4, K)
5a. Moises Ballesteros, C: 0-2 (F-8, 4-3)
5b. Miguel Fabrizio, C: 0-1 (K) 
6. Reggie Preciado, DH: 1-2 (BB, 1B, F-9)
7. Yeison Santana, SS: 0-2 (5-3, BB, K)
8. Frank Hernandez, LF: 1-3 (1B, F-9, 6-3)
9. Liam Spence, 2B: 0-3 (4-6 FC, K, K, R)

CUBS PITCHERS:  
1. Michael McAvene: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 2/2 GO/AO, 33 pitches (22 strikes)
2. Daniel Palencia: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 3 WP, 0/1 GO/AO, 36 pitches (22 strikes) 
3. Luis Devers: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 PO, 4/2 GO/AO, 31 pitches (23 strrikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 1 
RF Kevin Alcantara: E-9 (dropped fly ball in RF corner allowing batter to reach 3rd base safely) 

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Moises Ballesteros: 0-2 CS, 1 PB

ATTENDANCE: 18 

WEATHER: Sunny and a bit breezy with temperatures in the 80's 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG - Not Phil, but I think this info was from him in the past:

RHP/OF (signed as a two-way player - seems to be sticking with hitting for now), R/R, 5'11 180, Age 18, SPAIN

The 18-year old Hernandez (he turns 19 next month) was the star (OF & RHP) of the Spanish 18U team that played for the World Cup in South Korea last summer, and he is the first player ever signed by the Cubs out of Spain. He has been assigned to DSL Cubs Blue (Future Service Contract - signed 2020 contract) and is being officially carried as a pitcher on the DSL Cubs Blue roster, although he was signed as a "two-way player."

NOTE: Hernandez was signed prior to January 1st so he can be carried as a "Future Services Player" (and thus not count against the DSL Cubs Blue reserve list limit until DSL Opening Day). Although Hernandez was signed about a month ago, the filing of his contract and the required approval by MLB was delayed because the MLB office was closed for two weeks over Christmas - New Year's.

At just 18 years old, Hernandez is still very raw, but he does have some professional experience playing for the Spanish 18 and under international team the past two years where he played both outfield and pitcher. What people don't realize about this signing, is that to be signed by a stateside team, you must have been a standout start at your previous organization. That means Hernandez had to turn heads during his international team run. Right now, there is so much information to sort out regarding Hernandez and what his long-term fit will be with the Cubs. Currently, he is listed as a pitcher on the Dominican Summer League roster, which is what it looks like the Cubs are targeting him to be right now. However, the signing was because of his ability to be a tremendous two-way talent, so I am sure, at some point during the summer, we will get a chance to see not only his arm but his bat.

Not only is he just 18 years of age, but the Cubs can explore with him early on to see what he projects long term. Whether he proves pitching is his true calling or playing in the outfield will take a lot of work, but the Cubs will certainly have some options with him and could certainly use him in different ways.

AzP,

Does Bryce Ball have any real bat speed, or is he just a big guy that waves at the ball and makes contact 1of5 times?

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Childersb3: Not much bat speed. Just "lug-power." I actually like Matt Mervis better. 

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).