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 Edge Giants in Extended Spring Training Opener at Papago Park

Ezequiel Pagan laced an opposite-field RBI double off the LF fence in the 1st inning and an RBI single in the 3rd, Geuri Lubo drilled three singles, scored two runs, and drove-in another, Adan Sanchez singled twice and drove-in a run, and Jefferson Rojas ripped an RBI double and drew a walk, as the Cubs edged the Giants 7-6 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training Opening Day action Monday afternoon at the San Francisco Giants Papago Park Complex in Phoenix, AZ.  

Giants top prospect Marco Luciano belted a two-run HR and doubled and scored, Derwin Laya roped a two-run double and scored, and Clint Coulter smacked an RBI double for the EXST Giants in a losing cause. 

EXST Cubs 3B Christopher Paciolla left the game after being hit on the left wrist with a pitch in the top of the 1st inning. 

In EXST Cubs roster news, LHP Christian Winston (signed by the Cubs just a month ago) and RHP Cristian Rojas have been released.  

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only) 

EXST CUBS LINEUP:
1. Jefferson Rojas, SS: 1-4 (6-3, F-8, 2B, ,BB, 6-3, RBI)
2a. Christopher Paciolla, 3B: 0-0 (HBP, R) 
2b. Geuri Lubo, 3B: 3-4 (1B, 1B, 1B, F-8, 2 R, RBI, SB) 
3a. Ezequiel Pagan, DH: 2-3 (2B, 1B, 3-U, R, 2 RBI)
3b. Yeison Santana, PH-DH: 1-1 (1B, BB, R) 
4a. Adan Sanchez, C: 2-3 (K, 1B, 1B, RBI)
4b. Jairo Diaz, C: 2-2 (1B, 1B) 
5. Raino Coran, RF-LF: 1-4 (K, F-8 SF, 1B, K, K, RBI)
6. Anderson Suriel, 1B: 0-4 (BB, K, K, 3-6 FC, P-5 DP, RBI)
7a. Alexis Hernandez, 2B: 1-2 (1B, K)
7b. Christian Olivo, 2B: 0-1 (4-3, K) 
8. Ismael Mena, CF: 0-4 (8-4 FC, F-8, K, K) 
9a. Brayan Altuve, LF: 1-2 (5-4-3 DP, 1B, R) 
9b. Ke'Shun Collier,. RF: 0-0 (BB, BB, R, SB) 

EXST CUBS PITCHERS
1. Joel Machado: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 2/2 GO/AO,20 pitches (15 strikes) 
2. Starlyn Pichardo: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 3 WP, 2/2 GO/AO, 43 pitches (19 strikes) 
3. Carlos Garcia: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 2/3 GO/AO, 24 pitches (14 strikes) 
4. Oliver Roque: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 43 pitches (19 strikes) 

EXST CUBS ERRORS: 1 
P Starlyn Pichardo: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance top 3rd)

EXST CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Jairo Diaz: 1 PB 

ATTENDANCE: 17 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

Arizona 
Scoring
Service 

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

Comments

Additional roster moves at EXST: 

In some additional EXST Cubs roster news, catchers Yoanis "J. J." Aleksandrov, Yidel Diaz, and Carlos Ramos have been sent back to the Cubs Dominican Academy. and so they will likely be playing in the DSL again this summer.  

Also, catcher Dilan Granadillo (the most-polished of the catchers remaining at EXST) has been moved-up to one of the Cubs full season affiliates (probably as an injury replacement), but I don't know which one. The problem is that the "third catchers" who were placed on the Development List at Tennessee (Caleb Knight), South Bend (David Avitia) ,and Myrtle Beach (Malcom Quintero) last week cannot be reinstated for a minimum of seven days, which means no earlier than Thursday for Knight and M. Quintero and no earlier than Friday for Avitia. 

No game today, but there was an EXST "live" BP extravaganza on the Cubs backfields this morning, as DJ Herz threw three "innings" (46 pitches), Manuel Espinoza and Zac Leigh threw two "innings" a piece, and Eduarniel Nunez, Bailey Reid, and Gregori Montano threw one "inning" each.  

AZ Phil:
With the news that Happ is signed thru 2026 along with Seiya, and PCA still likely earn CF before then, do you think it's likely that our stack of OFs is likely to be dealt this year or winter? Winter might be too late, right?


NellyV, Canario, BDavis, DHill and YPerlaza have all done solid work, but aren't likely to gain a chance at real PT in Wrigley. Even, Bellinger with his prove it contract for '23 could produce enough to resign. We need lefty bats and Belli plays premium positions!
This isn't even considering Jaquar, ONKC, Nwogu, Pinango & Pagan who all have a ways to go, of course.

childersb3: I have felt for a while now that one or two of the Cubs outfield prospects would be dealt (more like exchanged) at some point in the near future, to an MLB organization that has multiple catcher or third-base prospects. 

As far as the Cubs outfield prospects are concerned, keep in mind that both Pete Crow-Armstrong and Owen Caissie will not be eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft until post-2024, which means if they are not added to the 40 until 2024 they would not be out of minor league options until Spring Training 2028 (two years after Happ's and Suzuki's contracts have expired). 

Also, Kevin Alcantara gets four minor league options, so he won't be out of options until Spring Training 2027 (the year after Happ's and Suzuki's contracts have expired).

And if Jordan Nwogu, Darius Hill, Yonathan Perlaza, and/or Yohendrick Pinango are selected to the 40 post-2023 (TBD), they would not be out of minor league options until Spring Training 2027.  

So the only outfielders who would be out of minor league options prior to Happ and Suzuki departing are Alexander Canario (he will get a 4th minor league option in 2024 so he will be out of minor league options in Spring Training 2025), Nelson Velazquez (he will be out of minor league options in Spring Training 2025, 2026, or 2027 depending on if option years are spent in 2023 and/or 2024), and Brennen Davis (he will be out of minor league options in Spring Training 2026, a year before Happ and Suzuki are gone). 

All that said, presuming Matt Mervis is the first-baseman by 2024, and even with Happ and Suzuki signed through 2026, there will be an opening in CF by 2024 (or even by August 2023 if Bellinger is moved at the Trade Deadline), at DH (possibly even two openings if the slot is platooned) by 2025 (or in 2024 if Mancini opts out post-2023), and the 4th outfielder roster slot (which is occupied by Velazquez right now).   

So while conceivably the Cubs could retain most of their best young outfielders (speaking of PCA, B. Davis, K. Alcantara, Caissie, Velazquez, Canario, and Nwogu) without having to trade any of them (well, one would be odd man out), with the 2027 Cubs having (let's say) B. Davis in LF, PCA in CF, K. Alcantara in RF, Caissie & Canario platooning at DH, and Velazquez or Nwogu as the 4th outfielder.

I'm not saying that "hoarding" them all would be ideal (because it probably wouldn't be). It would be better if the Cubs can trade one or two of them for a catcher and/or third-baseman (if the opportunity presents itself). 

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: Casey Schmitt (Giants)

Making a trade for a prospect like Schmitt would probably require it to be a "prospect for prospect trade," meaning the Cubs would have to offer the Giants one of their better outfield prospects in return (not PCA, but any one of the others), plus maybe a pitching prospect as well.  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Appreciate that Phil!
I believe DHill and Perlaza are on Successor Deals. So, this is probably the last year for them unless they're added? If they produce in AAA someone will give them a shot elsewhere I'd imagine.
Pinango, Nwogu and EPagan have at least two more years before MiLB Free Agency?
So, the hoarding option is possible if PCA stays in MiLBs for 2024 season.
I hope he forces Jed's hand by March 2024.
 

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Childersb3: Yonathan Perlaza was eligible to be a minor league 6YFA post-2022 and he did sign a 2023 minor league successor contract, but Darius Hill is under club control through the 2025 season. 

Because he signed a successor contract post-2022, Perlaza is not likely to sign another one post-2023 (agents usually advise their clients not to sign a successor contract two years in a row unless the player is a Crash Davis-type mentor / player coach, which Perlaza is not).  

As for the others, Ezequiel Pagan is under club control through the 2024 season, Yohendrick Pinango is under club control through the 2025 season, and Jordan Nwogu is under club control through the 2026 season. 

Also, "forgotten man" Cole Roederer (Cubs 2018 2nd round Article XX-B comp pick) is under club control through the 2024 season.  

Again, all of this matters only if the player is on a minor league reserve list and not on an MLB 40-man roster. 

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    LHP Blake Weiman appears to have been the last cut from the AAA Iowa roster. He is with the Tennessee group at Minor League Camp.

     

  • crunch (view)

    bruce bochy is hobbling rather badly for a guy who's had 2 hip replacements.  his gait is extremely wonky taking the lineup card to the ump.

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • 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.