Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

37 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (three slots are open)

Last updated 11-17-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 20
Adbert Alzolay 
Michael Arias
Javier Assad
Ben Brown
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Porter Hodge
* Bailey Horn
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 8
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Luis Vazquez
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 7
Kevin Alcantara
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
Brennen Davis
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

South Bend Cubs Thump Emeralds at Riverview

Andy Garriola clubbed a 420+ foot solo HR over the right-centerfield fence, singled, and drew a walk, Christian Franklin singled twice, walked, and drove-in two runs, Kevin Made singled, walked twice, stole two bases, and scored two runs, Haydn McGeary doubled, walked and scored a run, Jacob Wetzel belted a solo HR, and Tyler Santana and five relievers combined to toss a four-hitter, leading the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to a 5-1 victory over the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants' Hi-A affiliate) on Field #6, and the San Jose Giants (Lo-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) took advantage of ten walks, a HBP, a WP, a PB, and two costly errors to defeat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs' Lo-A affiliate) 4-2 on Field #5, in Cactus League minor league game action Tuesday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):

FIELD #6

SOUTH BEND LINEUP
1a. James Triantos, 3B: 0-1 (K) 
1b. Yeison Santana, 3B: 0-3 (6-3, L-3 DP, P-4) 
2. Moises Ballesteros, DH: 0-4 (4-3, K, 4-3, 4-3) 
3. Kevin Made, SS: 1-1 (1B, BB, BB, 2 R, 2 SB)
4a. Haydn McGeary, 1B: 1-2 (L-9, 2B, BB, R) 
4b. Miguel Fabrizio, 1B: 0-1 (L-9) 
5a. Christian Franklin, CF: 2-2 (1B, 1B, BB, 2 RBI) 
5b. Parker Chavers, CF: 0-1 (L-6) 
6. Cristian Hernandez, 2B: 1-4 (5-4-3 DP, F-8, 1B, K) 
7. Andy Garriola, LF: 2-2 (BB, HR, 1B, R, RBI) 
8. Casey Opitz, C: 0-2 (BB, K, K) 
9a. D. J. Artis, RF: 0-2 (K, E-6) 
9b. Jacob Wetzel, RF: 1-1 (HR, R, RBI) 

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS
1. Tyler Santana: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/AO, 18 pitches (15 strikes) 
2. Sam Thoresen: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1/2 GO/AO, 29 pitches (17 strikes) 
3. Chase Watkins: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 20 pitches (12 strikes)
4. Grant Kipp: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 15 pitches (10 strikes) 
5. Brody McCullough: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 12 pitches (6 strikes) 
6. Jarod Wright: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 23 pitches (16 strikes) 

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 1 
3B Yeison Santana: E-5 (errant throw to 1st base on infield single allowed batter to advance to 2nd base)  

FIELD # 5

MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP
1a. Christopher Paciolla, SS: 0-2 (P-4, K) 
1b. Josue Huma, SS: 0-2 (F-8, L-8) 
2a. Jefferson Rojas, 2B: 1-2 (2B, F-9) 
2b. Juan Mora, 2B: 1-2 (2B, K, R) 
3. Adan Sanchez, DH: 1-4 (K, 2B, F-7, F-8, R) 
4a. Pedro Ramirez, 3B: 0-2 (F-8, K) 
4b. Reggie Preciado, 3B: 2-2 (1B, 1B, RBI) 
5a. Jefferson Encarnacion, LF: 0-1 (BB, F-9, PO) 
5b. Frank Hernandez, LF: 0-2 (K, K) 
6. Cristian More, RF: 1-4 (K, K, 1B, P-5) 
7a. Miguel Pabon, C: 0-1 (HBP, F-8) 
7b. Ronnier Quintero, C: 0-2 (K, F-7)  
8. Anderson Surriel, 1B: 0-3 (F-9, F-8, 3-U) 
9a. Ke'Shun Collier, CF: 0-2 (F-8, 4-3) 
9b. Ismael Mena, CF: 0-1 (E-4)  

MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS
1. Erian Rodriguez: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 5 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 46 pitches (25 strikes) 
2. Branden Noriega: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 25 pitches (14 strikes) 
3. Yovanny Cabrera: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 36 pitches (22 strikes) 
4. Oliver Roque: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/AO, 36 pitches (16 strikes) 

MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: 2 
1. 1B Anderson Surriel: E-3 (errant throw to 2nd base attempting 3-6 FC allowed runner to reach 2nd safely) 
2. P Oliver Roque: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance 3rd) 

MYRTLE BEACH CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Miguel Pabon: 1-1 CS 
2. Ronnier Quintero: 1 PB 

ATTENDANCE: 37 

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy with temperatures in the 80's 

Arizona 
Scoring
Service 

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

Comments

AZ Phil, thank you as always for these reports!  I apologize if this has been asked before, but I will be in town next week with the family and we may try to catch a minor league spring training game or two.  What time in the afternoon do the games usually start?

[ ]

In reply to by SheffieldCornelia

SHEFF: Usually 1 PM, but sometimes they move games to the morning or to the evening, and when they make a change it is often done at the last minute.  

For example, last night all of the Cactus League minor league games scheduled for today across Maricopa County were moved up to the morning to try and beat the rain, but the rain got here first and it looks like it's going to be here for most of the day. 

AZ Phil, I have a question, and you can go with the short answer.

 

The Cubs seem to have more RP than I'm used to them having. Are there rules limiting trading minor-league free agents, like Roenis Elias, Mark Leiter, or Curtis Taylor?

 

So many keep-able arms.

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

TIM:

SHORT ANSWER: 

There are no restrictions with respect to trading Elias, Leiter, and C. Taylor.  

LONG ANSWER:

Other than a contractual "no trade" (and those are almost always only found in multi-year MLB mega-contracts like Hosmer, Suzuki, Swanson, and Taillon have), the only MLB free-agents who get an automatic "no trade" are an Article XX-B MLB free-agent who signs a Major League contract after 11:59 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, even if the player re-signs with his former club like Drew Smyly did. (Zack Britton and Mike Minor will get an automatic "no trade" through 6/15 if they get around to signing a major league contract one of these days). 

The automatic "no trade" extends through June 15th, then it expires. 

An Article XX-B MLB Free-Agent who receives "no trade" rights this way can waive the right, but if he does, his club can trade the player only for player contracts and/or cash with a maximum aggregate value of $50,000. (in other words, the player cannot be traded for a player or players on an MLB 40-man roster).

Note that a player who signs a Major League contract after becoming a free-agent by any other means like Outright Release (Hosmer), Non-Tendered, or Article XX-D or MLB Rule 9 minor league free-agent does NOT receive automatic "no trade" rights through June 15th. 

So for the Cubs, Barnhart, Boxberger, Fulmer, Mancini, Smyly, Swanson (who also has a contractual full "no trade"), and Taillon (who also has a contractual partial "no trade") have an Article XX-B automatic "no trade" through 6/15.

Hosmer and Suzuki have a contractual full "no trade" (Hosmer from his San Diego contract that is still in effect). 

Also, if an Article XX-B MLB free-agent signs a minor league contract at least ten days prior to MLB Opening Day, and then is not selected to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) or MLB 60-day Injured List by 12 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day prior to MLB Opening Day (that will be Saturday 3/25), the player can unilaterally opt-out of the minor league contract immediately, or on May 1st if he has not been added to an MLB Reserve List or MLB 60-day IL by that date, or on June 1st if he has not been added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or an MLB  IL by that date.
NOTE: The $100,000 retention bonus paid to an Article XX-B free-agent signed to a minor league contract who is not released or added to an MLB Reserve List or MLB 60-day IL by MLB Opening Day has been eliminated in 2023. 

Ordinarily the above paragraph related to automatic opt outs would have applied to Tyler Duffey, but he was not on an MLB 40-man roster when he became  a free-agent post-2022 (he was on a minor league reserve list), so he was not considered a post-2022 Article XX-B MLB free-agent even though he has accrued more than six years of MLB Service time in his career. He may very well have a contractual Opening Day opt-out, however. ((I strongly suspect he does). But that could be true for any FA who signed a 2023 minor league contract (especially for veteran guys like Elias, Leiter, and Tauchman). But it would have to be a contractual opt-out. It's not automatic. 

One other thing to keep in mind about trades later this season. While most minor league players can be traded after the MLB Trade Deadline, David Bote, Michael Kay, and Manuel Rodriguez cannot be traded after the MLB Trade Deadline because they were outrighted to the minors. That would also be true of any other player presently on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster who is outrighted between now and the MLB Trade Deadline. 

Hey, I'm loving the new look this year. Any thoughts on this Erian Rodriguez kid? Nice to see he and Ronnier Quintero in these box scores

darren baker (WAS) hit a grand slam in the 9th vs his dad's team to tie the game.  WAS ended up winning, too.  add another random baseball thing to the "wow, i feel old" pile.

stroman 4.1ip 5h 1bb 2k, 2r/er (1 hbp) vs mexico.

assad carved up puerto rico 2.2ip 1h 1bb 4k, 0r/er...throwing 94-95mph heat and good movement on the slightly lower velocity sinker.  broke a bat...all around dominating.

The following Cubs minor leaguers are presently in the Medical Rehab Group (limited activity - playing catch only) at Minor League Camp: 

Garrett Brown, RHP (2022 draft pick)
Luis Devers, RHP 
Joandy Duran, RHP (DSL in 2022) 
Manuel Espinoza, RHP 
Stephen Gonsalves, LHP (signed successor contract)
Jordan Holloway, RHP
Scott Kobos, LHP 
Brailyn Marquez, LHP (re-signed after being non-tendered)
Shane Marshall, RHP (2022 draft pick)
Ezequiel Pagan, OF 
Jack Patterson, LHP 
Kenyi Perez, RHP 
Tyler Schlaffer, RHP
JP Wheat, RHP (2022 draft pick)
Brad Wieck, LHP 

Also, RHP Will Frisch (pre-draft TJS in 2022) and LHP Wilson Cunningham (on Spring Break from U. of Chicago) threw "live" BP on Field # 3 yesterday (Friday).  

So far, the only pitcher at Minor League Camp who was brought up from the Cubs DSL Academy and was not at post-2022 AZ Instructs is RHP Juan Bello. 

AZ Phil, 

If the Cubs go with adding 4 NRI's to the 26-Man (e.g. Borucki or Little, Leiter, Torrens or Bote, Tauchman), who gets dropped from the 40-man assuming Hendricks & Suzuki go to the IL-15? Thanks!

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

z.mckinstry does nothing d.bote doesn't already do as well or better.  i'm not clear on what their plan is with m.mastrobuoni, but having mast and mckinstry around seems like overkill on top of overkill.  this team seems to really like mckinstry, though...no idea how to handicap that.

eric hosmer is eric hosmer and i still don't understand that low-cost "gamble" even with a need at 1st.  the cubs cast a wide net over the garbage pile looking for valuable scrap, but i think the cubs can handle being weak at 1st without hosmer helping out.  e.rios taking reps at 1st and looking capable with the glove isn't helping hosmer's chances.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

GEORGE A:

1. Of course Eric Hosmer should be released, but I doubt that he will be. I suspect he was given some assurance by the Cubs that he will have a job at least until Matt Mervis is ready, and that the Cubs do not believe Mervis will be ready by Opening Day. 

2. Zach McKinstry is having a bad spring both offensively and defensively so I believe he will be placed on waivers (if  he isn't traded first). BTW, McKinstry can NOT elect free-agency if he is outrighted. And if he is claimed off waivers, so be it. Miles Mastrobuoni can do everything McKinstry can do (including play SS) AND do it better. 

3. Nick Madrigal still does not appear have a spot on the Cubs 26-man Opening Day roster and the Astros just lost 2B Jose Altuve for a lengthy period of time, so there you go... 

4. If Adrian Sampson does not win the 5th SP gig (and right now it is probably no better than 50/50 that he will), I cannot see him working out of the MLB bullpen. Also, the Cubs would probably like someone to claim his $1.9M AAV contract off waivers. But even if he does clear waivers and gets outrighted, he might elect free-agency (although I doubt he would want to give up his $1.9M salary, which would happen if he elects free-agency immediately after being outrighted). But at least he would be off the 40 while staying stretched-out at Iowa. 

5. Rowan Wick is making $1.2M and is no better than several other candidates for the pen making MLB minimum ($500K less than Wick), so if they can't trade him I would think the Cubs would be fine with another club claiming his $1.2M AAV contract off waivers. If he isn't claimed off waivers, then (as with Sampson) you outright him to the minors (which at least gets him off the 40) and maybe he will elect free-agency (but probably not because he won't want to give up his contract and forfeit his salary). 

6. Michael Rucker has value as a Chicago - Des Moines shuttle guy making essentially MLB minimum salary, but I could see the Cubs taking a chance on getting him through waivers if they absolutely need his slot on the 40, although he might get claimed and the Cubs know that and so the Cubs would probably prefer not to take that chance. 

Also, if David Bote is added back to 40 (and MLB 26-man roster) on Opening Day, I believe he would remain in Chcago only until Seiya Suzuki is reinstated from the 10-day IL, and then the Cubs will put Bote on waivers (just like they they did during the off-season) and hope that another club will claim his $3M AAV contract. If he doesn't get claimed, he will be outrighted and the Cubs will hope that Bote wil elect free-agency and forfeit the balance of his contract, except of course he won't do that. 

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

DJL: David Bote stlll has an option year left, so he can be optioned to the minors if he is added to the 40. 

However... 

Once Bote accrues 89 more days of MLB Service Time he will hit 5+000 MLB ST and become an Article XIX-A player, at which point he cannot be sent to the minors (optioned or outrighted) without his consent. 

So if Bote were to be added to the 40 on MLB Opening Day (3/30), the Cubs would have until June 25th to option or outright him to the minors. 

suzuki scheduled to take swings in the cage on sunday (flips, not live pitching).  looks like he's progressing well enough to take some harder swings.  be nice to get him back before mid-april...

fulmer is yet to work back-to-back games, but he's getting work early enough in games (before the B-teamers come in) to say he's most likely the 2023 closer going into the year.

Recent comments

  • Cubster (view)

    I blame Jason Schmidt’s 3/44

  • Craig A. (view)

    Was all that stuff with the Blue Jays just to squeeze an extra $10 million/yr out of the Dodgers?  It's more than enough to cover his California income taxes!

  • crunch (view)

    unless he pitches into his late-30 that is gonna sting.  a 70m DH...ow.

    it's great to take care of 2 roster spots in 1 player, and i'm sure the team will cut into the pay with the amount of merch/etc he can sell just by being attached to the team....but yeah, i'm not mad the cubs didn't go that extreme.

  • WebAdmin (view)

    Shohei Ohtani to join Dodgers according to ESPN. 10 years for $700 m
  • Cubster (view)

    I'm getting the feeling that Todd Walker might be a Shaw comp. A valuable hit first player but limited albeit not awful on defense. Hopefully, he has more upside. Not a bad floor if Steve Garvey is his ceiling.

  • Wrigley Rat (view)

    AZ Phil - If that's the level of return, I would want NO part of that trade to Cleveland for Clase and Bieber. I have some faith that the Cubs have a strong plan for which prospects they will keep (even if they dangle them in trade talks) and which they will move, because they have plenty of solid prospects they can trade but they shouldn't be trading any of the ones they hope will be future core players. Some guys are redundant, so I hope they choose the right players to keep and the right players to move. It's always important for a team to know its own minor league players better than scouts from other teams (obviously), but I don't think that's always been the case for the Cubs and many other clubs. 

    Cubster - I watched an interview with Carter Hawkins a couple days ago where he said that although Morel hasn't gotten into any Dominican games at 1B, the Cubs did send coaches down with Morel to work on first base skills during practice. So he is developing those skills, whether the Cubs end up using him there or not will probably be dependent on a lot of factors including how those coaches think he looks at the position while training. 

  • tim815 (view)

    He could still play SS at Double-A, but Vazquez, Hoerner, and Swanson are much better defensively, arm strength or not. I'd be good leaving Shaw at SS with McGeary and Ballesteros around, but by the first of June (?), 1B might make sense in DM.

  • crunch (view)

    i have no reason to see a problem, it just seems like it's his most obvious reason to give pause on him at 1st.

    the cubs situation dictates 2nd/SS isn't an option.  his arm dictates 3rd isn't an option.  1st or CF seems to be his best path and he's only played CF in summer ball back in highschool/college...and of course PCA is a better + closer to the bigs CF.

    it's a lot safer to say he's made for 1st than it is he's made for 3rd.  even as a SS his arm is weak, and it's not like his glove is so great he needs to stay in the middle-IF.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    CRUNCH: Steve Garvey (one of Shaw's comps as a hitter) was a 5'10 right-handed throwing first-baseman with a rag arm. Jeff Bagwell (another Shaw comp) was a 6'0 right-handed throwing first-baseman with a rag arm. Carlos Santana (who played 1B for Counsell in Milwaukee last season and is an above-average defensive first-baseman) is 5'11. It's not like Shaw is 5'7 or 5'8. I don't really see the problem. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    CUBSTER: It's not that Matt Shaw can't play SS (or 2B). Shaw was a SS his last two years in college at Maryland and apparently was OK defensively. It's just that there are certain throws a big league SS has to make (the backhand / flat-foot throw from deep in the 5.5 hole and the leap & change direction throw after fielding a ball up the middle after ranging to his left) that you might not see every game. So while he might appear to be passable at SS, over time the below-average arm at SS will catch up with the player and cost the team runs. 

    Shaw is a good fielder so he could play SS (like Ryan Theriot did) and you would just live with the below-average arm strength that would rear its ugly head every now & again, because he is a plus-plus hitter. But the Cubs have Dansby Swanson locked-in at SS through 2029, so Shaw won't be playing there even if he were to improve his arm strength and remake his throwing mechanics.  

    As far as second-base is concerned, that would seem to be Shaw's best position, because the position requires a plus-glove but not a plus-arm. Nico Hoerner is presently the Cubs' 2B and is signed through 2026 (although he does NOT have "no trade" rights, so he could be traded at any time). So Shaw could move to 2B in 2027 after Hoerner's contract expires (presuming Hoerner does not sign another extension in the meantime), or the Cubs could preemptively trade Hoerner at some point prior to the conclusion of the 2026 season and install Shaw at 2B before 2027. 

    The thing is, the Cubs have three other prospects who also project as second-basemen, including Top 10 prospect James Triantos, Top 10 prospect Jefferson Rojas, and Top 30 prospect Pedro Ramirez. So while Shaw could very well eventually be the Cubs second-baseman, there are other legit candidates who could eventually take-over the position after Hoerner departs. But for second-base to open up before 2027, Hoerner has to be traded.  

    As far as third-base is concerned, the Cubs already have a Top 15 prospect (B. J. Murray) who plays 3B and plays it well, and he should be considered the Cubs third-baseman of the future (possibly as soon as sometime during the 2024 season). Also, I don't think that Christopher Morel has the "touch" required to play 3B (he is an athletic and rangy player who plays like the proverbial "Bull in a China Shop" or like a point guard who plays too fast and turns the ball over too much), while Shaw simply does not appear to have the arm strength required to play 3B. It is true that Nick Madrigal has made himself into an above-average defensive-third baseman, but I would not be too quick to generalize and say that because Madrigal did it, that anybody can do it. Also, 3B requires different perception, reaction, and tracking skills than does SS and 2B (which is why a lot of catchers can often play 3B fairly well), so not all middle infielders can play 3B well-enough to be an MLB-regular at the position. 

    The one position that is wide-open on the Chicago Cubs going forward is 1st base. Matt Shaw is a plus-fielder with a below-average arm but with a plus-plus bat, so he could be a fit at 1st base. Sort of like Padres first-baseman Jake Cronenworth, but Shaw has a higher ceiling as a hitter. If the Cubs were to move Shaw to 1st base in Spring Training 2024 and presuming he is able to play the position without difficulty, he could be in Chicago by the end of the 2024 season. I understand why the Cubs might think about Christopher Morel as a possible first-baseman because they want to get his power into the lineup any way they can, but Morel's two best attributes are HR power and raw arm strength. He is a rangy infielder (not needed at 1st base) with a plus-arm (also not needed at 1st base), but he also doesn't have the "flyhawk" skills needed to play CF. Morel's best position would be LF, but Ian Happ is firmly ensconced there (with a full "no trade") through 2026, which makes Morel a prime trade chip to be used to acquire pitching (or maybe a catcher).  

    As far as Matt Chapman is concerned, I would hope the Cubs don't sign him. It's not just losing the draft pick (Chapman got a QO from the Jays) or that he blocks B. J. Murray long-term, because that wouldn't matter if Chapman is still the hitter he was earlier in his career. But after a red-hot April last year he fell off the table at the plate the last five months. Granted he is a Gold Glove-quality defender at 3B, but you're essentially getting Patrick Wisdom offensively, and so he is not worth the financial investment (money & years) and losing a draft pick on top of it if you sign him. 

    If the Cubs don't sign Ohtani, Yakamoto, or Bellinger (and I am becoming increasingly pessimistic that they can), I would hope that they will sign position player free agents only to one year deals (with maybe a second year option) that can be easily moved at the Trade Deadline, and then get ready to unleash the youth (PCA, Shaw, Caissie, Ballesteros, Murray, et al) in 2025 (or perhaps even over the last two months of the 2024 season, if the Cubs are not in contention). 

    As for possible free agents the Cubs might target, Brandon Belt and Carlos Santana (who played for Craig Counsell in Milwaukee last season) would provide some LH power at 1B & DH (Santana is an above-average defensive first-baseman, and Belt still hits RHP very well).  

    I can see the Cubs maybe acquiring a pitcher like Tyler Glasnow in a trade and then signing him to an extension (Glasnow has the same agency representation as Kyle Hendricks, so an extension should be possible), which would not be the case with Corbin Burnes or Dylan Cease (both are Boras clients).   

    I think in part because of the Carter Hawkins connection with Cleveland, even more-likely than a trade for Glasnow might be a trade for SP Shane Bieber (a post-2024 FA but as a Rosenhaus client he should be open to signing an extension) and closer Emmanuel Clase (signed through 2026 with club options both in 2027 and 2028). The Guardians need power hitters and the Cubs have Christopher Morel, although Morel would not be anywhere near enough to get both Bieber and Clase (or to get Glasnow if the trade is with the Rays). If the trade is with Cleveland for Bieber and Clase, the Cubs would probably have to give up some combination of Christopher Morel, Owen Caissie, Moises Ballestereos, Kevin Alcantara, Jefferson Rojas, and/or James Triantos (probably three from that group), one Top 10 pitching prospect like Ben Brown or Jackson Ferris, and an MLB-ready reliever with closer potential like Daniel Palencia or Luke Little.