Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs vs. Brewers: Series Thread (Games 47-50)

Thanks to a pair of make-up doubleheader, the Cubs begin a 7-day, 9 game homestand. They'll kick off the four-game set against thr Brewers with a Memorial Day doubleheader. See below for matchups.


Game 47, Monday, May 30, 12:05 pm central

CHC: RHP Matt Swarmer (0-0, -.-- ERA)

MIL: LHP Ethan Small (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Game 48, Monday, May 30, 6:40 pm central

CHC: LHP Drew Smyly (2-5, 4.08 ERA)

MIL: LHP Aaron Ashby (0-3, 2.91 ERA)


Game 49, Tuesday, May 31, 7:05 pm central

CHC: LHP Justin Steele (1-5, 5.40 ERA)

MIL: LHP Eric Lauer (5-1, 2.31 ERA)


Game 50, Wednesday, June 1, 7:05 pm central

CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (2-5, 5.20 ERA)

MIL: RHP Brandon Woodruff (5-3, 4.74 ERA)

Comments

s.suzuki tried out his injured finger pre-game (1st game) and it evidently didn't go well.  he may have to do an IL stint.

leave it to a.simmons to ground into a home-to-1st double play to kill a bases loaded potential rally.

imagine giving 4m to a guy who had a .223/.283/.274 slash line in 131 games last year.

yes, stellar D...but whatever.  that's the kind of singing you make when you have a team that can actually get you into later innings with leads so you can protect them or a lineup so loaded you don't need to worry about his bat...not the 2022 cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

The most important thing the Cubs need to do this year is self-scouting without prejudice, to make sure that when the time comes to add Ruile 5 Draft-eligible minor leaguers and players eligible to be minor league free-agents to the 40, that the Cubs don't identify the wrong prospects for protection, and that they have enough slots on the 40 for all of the prospects they want to protect. To the extent possible, the Cubs must accurately identify who the actual legit best MLB prospects in the system really are, and then make sure to keep them. 

The Cubs can't afford to miss on this, because the way the 2016 World Series team was built relied a lot on other teams making stupid trades and draft decisions, like the Astros selecting Mark Appel instead of Kris Bryant with the 2013 #1 overall pick in the draft, the Padres trading Anthony Rizzo, the Orioles trading Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop, the Rangers trading Kyle  Hendricks, Justin Grimm, and Carl Edwards Jr, the A's trading Addison Russell, and the Indians leaving Hector Rondon available for selection in the Rule 5 Draft. Unfortunately, you can't always count on the short-sightedness and stupidity of other organizations to build yourself a championship team.   

So the Cubs will need to build the team from within, much like the direction Dallas Green was headed in 1984-86 before he got canned and Jim Frey took over. If the Cubs can make an opportunistic trade or draft pick here & there, that's fine, but you can't count on other teams doing something stupid. Theo & company were really  astute the way they built the 2016 World Series championship team, but I don't think it could be done again today. Too many people know too much. 

The Cubs can't afford to lose what they have in their farm system right now. They will need as many 40-man roster slots as possible post-2022. One move to clear a valuable 40-man roster slot would be a pre-emptive DFA of Jason Heyward post-2022. It's not like the Cubs couldn't keep Heyward on the MLB roster and ride out his contract through 2023 while the team flounders for another year while waiting for prospects to develop, but it's his slot on the 40-man roster that's the issue. The Cubs are going to need as many 40-man roster slots as possible at the November roster filing deadline, and any dead wood on the 40 must be junked by trade or release by that deadline.

The contract tender date is a couple of weeks after the pre-Rule 5 Draft roster filing deadline, so roster cleaning can't be done by a 12/2 non-tender. As many players as posssible who do not fit into the projected 2024-25 Cubs roster MUST be identified and moved off the 40 by trade or release prior to the November 18th roster filing deadline (two days earlier than normal this year, because November 20th falls on a Sunday).

The 2022 MLB Trade Deadline (which will be August 2nd this year) must be an "Everything Must Go" sale for the Cubs, even moreso than last year. Not just players with expiring contracts, either. The Cubs MLB 40-man roster must be cleared of anybody who is not part of the projected 2024-25 Cubs. As a last resort, if you can't trade a player at the deadline, just release him. The player's 40-man roster slot is more important than keeping a player who is not part of the future. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Phil,

Here's my keep list as of today:

P)Effross, Hughes, Steele, K. Thompson, Swarmer, Marquez, M. Rodriguez, Alzolay, Roberts, Heuer

C) Amaya - I'd re-sign Contreras 

IF) Hoerner, Morel, Rivas

OF) Suzuki, Canario, Velazquez

I'm holding 18 spots on the current 40 assuming self-scouting agrees on these guys and keep Contreras. I see the rest of the current Roster as trade bait/DFA fodder.

How many slots do you see them needing?

 

 

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

Not Phil, of course, but.... the only potential subtraction I'd make is Swarmer. I think if he's still around, he's AAA depth. ManRod's injuries may result in him getting passed by some of the other RHRP. 
I'd maybe add Espinoza and Vizcaino to the P group. Vizcaino being MIA this year might result in him getting passed like ManRod. Higgins, if he hits enough, could be a viable backup catcher in 2024. He's older but backup catchers can stick around well into their 30s. Also, I can't imagine the FO has given up on Madrigal as a meaningful part of the future.

Last but certainly not least.... some of the future core... do what other teams do and they failed so badly to do with the last group and SIGN THEM TO FREAKING EXTENSIONS

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

I also wanted them to extend some of the 2016 core, but now I think they are better off without having done so. The only guy who has produced this year is Rizzo. Bryant has zero home runs in Colorado​​​​​, for Pete's sake, Javy (as much as I love watching him play) is near the Mendoza line with 3 home runs, and Schwarb's is below.200 again, though he does have 12 dingers. Only 0.2 WAR, per B-Ref. Not a lot to regret there. 

Well thought out AZ Phil. Given no movement on Willson Contreras contract, I assume he will be moved. Can you update us on your vision of the Cubs 2024 catching projections. I recall some discussion that you outlined possible catching prospects in any Contreras trade. Is that a must given their farm system as is right now?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

w.contreras and the astros seem to be an eventual match made in heaven...a guy that hits the ball that hard playing in that ballpark with a team that needs a catcher that can hit...competition should be good for him, though.

the flipside is he's never had a hit in orange juice park in 17 PA.

dude should be the cubs captain...but whatever.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: I saw Yainer Diaz play in the AZL in 2018 and 2019 and I saw Forrest Whitley pitch in the AFL, so I didn't just pick those names randomly. 

Diaz is one of the best young hitters I have ever seen, and he also has a rocket for an arm. The Astros got him from Cleveland in the Myles Straw trade, but they have another catcher (Korey Lee) who happens to be their #1 prospect and he should be MLB-ready by 2023 (he is at AAA right now) so the Contreras impending free-agency shouldn't be a problem for Houston. 

Also, it's not unusual for a club to be more willing to trade a prospect they acquired from another organization (as is the case with Diaz) than someone they signed themselves, so Diaz might be more readily available in a trade than some of the other Astros prospects.   

As for Forrest Whitley, I used the Arrieta comp because like Arrieta, Whitley has been expected to develop into the Astros ace for a while, and it just hasn't happened. Part of it is injuries (sore shoulder, lat strain, 2021 TJS), but he also is known to be somewhat eccentric in his approach to physical conditioning (just like Arrieta), and that can sometimes wear on a club over time, especially if (like Arrieta when he was with the Orioles) he doesn't develop as quickly as expected. 

I don't have any first-hand reason to believe such a trade will happen, but it would seem to make sense for both clubs. The Cubs would probably have to pay some or all of Contreras's remaining 2022 salary (which the Cubs did last year when they traded Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees and Javier Baez to the Mets), allow the Astros to pick the MLB reliever of their choice (probably Robertson), and include a second-tier prospect just outside the Cubs Top 30 (TBD - Astros choice) as part of the deal.   

my bad...thought hughes pitched both games yesterday...

since i'm wasting time, if anyone out there doesn't like christopher morel i'll straight up fight you.  pick a state, region, and vacant field to meet up.  try me.

iowa got stomped tonight, but darius hill started his AAA career 2-5 with a homer and single.

he's a non-prospect, but i dont think any team would turn down a reed johnson-like dude even if it's just bench work.

bote went 0-3 with 2 walks.  he yet to demonstrate he can hit, or hit for power when he is hitting (7 hits, 1 double).

The Bote contract seemed odd to me, committing $16 million to a guy who obviously never would be a good regular at any one position. I assume that this is a lot more money than he could make doing anything else, and sets him up for life, and good for him. Anyway, it sure looks as if he has been replaced by Morel.

The Cubs probably don't want to make any big decisions based on 61 Morel PAs, and with Suziki on the IL, Heyward will probably be activated and go to RF. When Suziki gets back, things get interesting. All of a sudden Heyward is blocking a legit prospect, and there is nothing to be gained by playing him, even if he plays better. I'm sure the Cubs hate to DFA him, and could stubbornly keep him on the roster for the rest of the season. I suppose they could send Rivas down, make Schwindel the regular 1b, and sub Morel all over the diamond like Zobrist. But boy, I learned about "sunk costs" from the economists, and the big point is that sunk costs are sunk, gone, so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye. All that matters in rational decision-making is the future, and there is no way keeping Heyward around after Suzuki is back is helping the team. 

[ ]

In reply to by fullykräusened

dunno about heyward and 2023 (22m owed), but if contreras goes that leaves heyward as the outwardly vocal clubhouse/dugout verteran presence.

heyward's a great teammate and mentor with leadership qualities.

villar and gomes are respected vets, too, but heyward and contreras are leaders and cheerleaders.

[ ]

In reply to by fullykräusened

Suzuki-Gomes-Bote-Villar-Herm are still needing to come off IL.

Herm probably gets DFA'd. Gomes sends Higgins down. Villar sends Rivas down. Schwindel and Happ can play 1B. Suzuki probably forces Morel down. No way around it. Bote coming back forces Jed to decide b/w Bote or Frazier. Frazier & Bote have options but both can reject the option and become FAs. 

Our roster gets pretty boring here in maybe at most two weeks. Then we just wait for trades to happen. Nothing we can do about it. Jed wants at least one more trade firesale to basically buy some more prospects. Not a terrible idea. Just not fun to watch.

Rivas is struggling at the plate nowadays. I'd like to see Happ get some 1B time. He's played it before. If he doesn't get traded this yr than our OF is packed. Morel, BDavis, Velazquez, Maldonado & JYoung can all play OF. Not to mention Suzuki. Happ would need to find some time elsewhere. Just a thought.

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

I think he would forfeit it because it's his choice to go to free agency, not the team's. It might have to do with his service time, but I could be wrong on that. Bote is closer to a Kei Igawa/ Rusney Castillo salary/ refuse assignment situation than he is to Cano. What would be good about an outright is his salary, while still requiring payment, would not count against the team salary cap so long as he is in AAA and off the 40 man. Also, I don't believe he's previously been outrighted, so with it being the first time, I don't believe he has the right of refusal.

All that said, I totally defer to Phil!

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

DLJ: Because he is signed to a major league contract, David Bote's salary would count against the Cubs CBT threshold even if he is outrighted and remains there through 2024.

Check out Yasmany Tomas's contract history with the Diamondbacks for an example. He signed a long-term MLB deal with the D'backs after fleeing Cuba, but he was a mess defensively and he didn't hit much either, so he was eventually outrighted to AAA. Then he played at AAA for several years because he didn't want to give up his MLB contract & salary, but Tomas's salary counted against the D'backs CBT until the contract expired because he was signed to a major league contract, even though he was on the AAA Reno reserve list.

That would be the same case with David Bote if he is outrighted and accepts the assignment, and then remains on the Iowa reserve list through 2024. That's also why the Cubs would be fine with selecting Bote back to the 40 anytime they need him, because they can just outright him back to AAA when they don't, and maybe he'll get claimed off waivers one of the times or maybe he'll get tired of the elevator ride and elect free-agency (although I very much doubt that would happen). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

And of course Jason Heyward's situation is totally different from David Bote's. Heyward has Article XIX-A rights (he has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time), so he can't be sent to the minors without his consent. So there is no issue with him being outrighted and then either having to accept the assignment or elect free-agency and forfeit what remains of his contract. Heyward doesn't have to make that choice. 

So if the Cubs want to drop Heyward from the 40 before his contract expires post-2023, it would have to be by outright release, and then the Cubs would be on the hook for what remains of his salary. However, if he were to sign a major league deal with another MLB club for the MLB minimum salary after being released by the Cubs and before his contract expires (which is not inconceivable), that pro-rated minimum salary would be subtracted from what the Cubs owe Heyward through 2023, and the Cubs could replace Heyward with a player making the MLB minimum salary with no additional cost to the club. 

As I wrote here recently, Heyward doesn't need to be released before the end of the 2022 season, but they really can't wait until the end of Spring Training 2023 to do it, like the Angels did with Albert Pujols in 2021 and with Justin Upton this year. The Cubs will need to release Heyward by November 18th, because his slot on the 40 will be needed for Rule 5 Draft-eligible players the Cubs will need to add to the 40. They will need his 40-man roster slot. 

BTW, it's entirely possible that Heyward would agree to waive his 10/5 "no trade" and agree to be traded to a contender this year, as long as the Cubs pick-up what remains of his salary minus the MLB minimum salary. Agreeing to a trade would be up to Heyward, but I could see him maybe going back home to Atlanta, or maybe stay in Chicago with the White Sox.

However, if it happens, the Cubs would just be doing him a solid. They wouldn't get anything of value back in the deal, other than Heyward's 40-man roster slot and the MLB minimum salary offset, which they could use to pay for Heyward's replacement on the roster. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

These roster machinations are so detailed and fascinating and I'm very thankful we have you to read through all of it and explain it in such a thorough way. Thanks Phil!

Would you happen to know if the rules on that had changed recently? I thought part of why the Yankees never cut Igawa and Boston never released Rusney Castillo is because if they did, the salary cap would be impacted but so long as they were outrighted to AAA, it wasn't?

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

childerb3: If David Bote is outrighted he would have the right to elect free-agent (he has Article XX-D rights  because he has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time), but if he does elect free-agency he forfeits the balance of his contract. So it's likely that if Bote is outrighted he would accept the outright assignment and play at Iowa until his contract expires post-2024. Of course the Cubs could bring him back to Chicago anytime they want and then outright him back to Iowa again and again if necessary, up until he has accrued five years of MLB service Time and can't be sent to the minors without his consent.  

The Cubs would probably hope that another club claims Bote off waivers and assumes the contract so that the Cubs can get out from under it, but for that to happen he would have to show he is 100% healthy and he would also have to display a better hit tool and show significant HR power.   

It's not exactly an onerous contract, but the Cubs can probably find a pre-arbitration guy who can do what Bote does for a lot less money. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I agree that no team probably takes his contract. So, if necessary the Cubs could outright him to Iowa, pay him the money they have to pay regardless, and open up a spot on the 40. This at least keeps Frazier on the roster for a while or perhaps even Morel. But more than likely Frazier

Thanks for clearing that up Mr. AzP

smyly 15d IL...rucker activated and up

n.velaquez optioned to AAA...manuel rodriguez recalled and immediately placed on 60d IL (elbow)...

heyward activated and in the lineup tonight.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...