Minor League Contracts & Roster Rules
MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACTS & ROSTER RULES
1. A player with no prior MLB or minor league service who signs a minor league contract ("first contract") or a free-agent with prior MLB and/or minor league service who signs a minor league contract must be added to an MLB club's Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List when he is added to a minor league club's Active List or when the contract is filed with the MLB Commissioner (whichever comes first). Contracts must be filed with the MLB Commissioner within 20 days of signing.
2. A player must be added to a Domestic Reserve List immediately if the player is sent outright to the minors, is acquired in a trade, or is selected in the AAA Phase of the MLB Rule 5 Draft.
3. With the consent of the player and the club, a player who has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract may be "Signed for Future Service" (contract is for the following season) if the player signs a minor league contract after July 1st but before January 1st and is not placed on a minor league club's Active List, Injured List, Temporarily Inactive List, or Military List prior to the conclusion of the Minor League season. (Attendance at a post-season Instructional League and/or participation in Instructional League games do not count). The player cannot be released until he spends at least 15 days on a minor league active list or receives a (minimum) 15-day trial in Spring Training.
NOTE-1: The deadline to sign a player for future service was temporarily extended from December 31st to January 15th beginning in 2022.
NOTE-2: Beginning on July 1, 2023, a player eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be "Signed for Future Service."
4. An international free-agent with no prior MLB or minor league service or a player who was eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) who signs a minor league contract as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) after the draft must be added to a minor league reserve list and to a minor league club's Active List within 15 days or when he plays in his first game (whichever comes first). The player cannot be released until he spends at least 15 days on a minor league active list or receives a (minimum) 15-day trial in Spring Training.
5. A player who signs a minor league contract after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First Year Player Draft) must be added to a minor league club's Active List with 15 days or when he plays in his first official minor league game (whichever comes first), but the player does not count against a minor league reserve list until the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season or until he plays in an official minor league game (whichever comes first). The player cannot be released until he spends at least 15 days on a minor league active list or receives a (minimum) 15-day trial in Spring Training.
6. A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), traded to another organization, or transferred from one minor league reserve list to another within the same organization, beginning;with the filing of MLB minor league reserve lists in November and extending through the completion of the Rule 5 Draft.
7. With the approval of the MLB Commissioner, a club may assign (loan) a player signed to a minor league contract to the Active List of a minor league club in another organization, to a club in an MLB Partner League, or to a club in the Mexican League. However, the player must be returned no later than the day after the conclusion of his club's season.
8. An MLB player who was sent outright to a minor league club during the previous season or after the conclusion of the previous season cannot be tendered a minor league contract for the following season with a salary less than 80% of his previous season's salary (what he was actually paid that season).
9. If an unsigned MLB player is outrighted to the minors after the conclusion of the MLB regular season and then is not tendered a minor league contract by January 15th, the player is a free-agent.
10. If a minor league player under club control (a minor league "auto-renewal" player) is not tendered a salary addendum by March 15th, the player is a free-agent.
11. An MLB club can automatically renew a minor league player's contract no more than six times, so a club can unilaterally control a minor league player (that is, a player not on an MLB 40-man roster) for no more than seven minor league seasons. For purposes of determining eligibility to be a free-agent, a player does not accrue a minor league season if the player spends the entire season on an MLB Active List, MLB Disabled List(s), and/or other MLB inactive list, or if the player spends an entire season on the Restricted List, Disqualified List, Suspended List, Ineligible List, Voluntarily Retired List, and/or Military List. Also, participation in a post-season instructional league, the Arizona Fall League, and/or international winter league(s) do not count toward a minor league season.
NOTE: Beginning on June 5, 2023, a player who is 19 or older on the June 5th prior to signing his first contract can have his contract renewed no more than five times and will remain under club control for only six seasons before he will become eligible to be an MLB Rule 9 minor league free-agent. (This rule does - NOT - apply to any player who signed his first contract prior to June 5, 2023).
MINOR LEAGUE MINIMUM SALARIES:
Salaries are paid weekly and are pro-rated.
BEGINNING IN 2023:
AAA: $35,800
AA: $30,250
Hi-A: $27,300
Lo-A: $26,200
ACL/FCL: $19,800
DSL: $3,000 (plus room & board)
MINOR LEAGUE SERVICE TIME & ROSTER LIMITS
An MLB organization may carry no more than 180 players on its aggregate Domestic Reserve List from minor league Opening Day up until 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, and no more than 190 players on its Domestic Reserve List beginning at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series up until minor league Opening Day.
NOTE: Beginning at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the 2023 World Series, the Domestic Reserve List limit will be 175 during the off-season up until MLB Opening Day, and then 165 beginning on 2024 MLB Opening Day up until 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series.
An MLB organization may carry no more than 35 players on its International Reserve List (if the MLB club has only one DSL Affiliate) or no more than 70 players (if the MLB club has two DSL affiliates).
Once a player is moved from a club's International Reserve List to a club's Domestic Reserve List, he cannot return to the International Reserve List without consent of the MLB Commissioner.
Only players on the International Reserve List can play in the DSL.
If an MLB organization exceeds its Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List maximum roster limit, the organization has up to 48 hours to make whatever roster adjustments or moves necessary to return to (or below) the reserve list limit.
ESTABLISHING MINOR LEAGUE RESERVE LISTS PRIOR TO RULE 5 DRAFT
A club's Domestic Reserve List and International Reserve List must be filed with the MLB Commissioner on the second Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving (November 14th in 2023).
1. No more than 38 players may be placed on the roster of a club's AAA affiliate when the reserve lists are filed. A Rule 5 Draft-eligible player on a AAA roster can be selected only in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft.
NOTE: The AAA roster is used only for the purpose of determining eligibility for selection in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Any Rule 5 Draft-eligible player on a club's minor league Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List who is not on the AAA reserve list when the rosters are filed is eligible for selection in the AAA Phase.
2. If a Rule 5 Draft-eligible player on a club's minor league Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List is not placed on the AAA roster when the reserve lists are filed, he cannot be moved to the AAA roster until after the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.
3. If a Rule 5 Draft-eligible player on a club's minor league Domestic Reserve List or International Reserve List is placed on the AAA roster when the reserve lists are filed, he cannot be removed from the AAA roster until after the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.
NOTE: A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), traded to another organization, released, or transferred from one minor league roster to another within the same organization, beginning with the filing of MLB minor league reserve lists and extending through the completion of the Rule 5 Draft.
4. If a free-agent is signed to a minor league contract during the period of time between the date that the reserve list are filed and the Rule 5 Draft, he can be placed on the 38-man AAA roster, but only if there is a slot available.
For the purpose of determining minor league roster limits & restrictions, a minor league player accrues a year of "service time" for every season in which the player spends at least 30 days on an MLB and/or minor league active list and/or injured list, unless the player spent the entire season on the Injured List.
1. Service time accrued by a player while assigned to a club or clubs in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) and/or Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) does not count when determining minor league roster limits and restrictions for minor league clubs in domestic affilated leagues.
NOTE: Although the VSL has been defunct since 2016 (last season was 2015), there are players in the minor leagues today who accrued minor league service time while assigned to a VSL club back when the VSL was still an active minor league.
2. A position player making a position change to pitcher or a pitcher making a position change to position player receives a one-year exemption from minor league service time restrictions. However, a position player being converted to a pitcher may not be used as a position player in a minor league game during the exempt year, and a pitcher being converted to a position player may not be used as a pitcher in a minor league game during the exempt year.
3. A player on a minor league "rehabilitation" or "conditioning" assignment does not count against the Active List or Reserve List of the affiliate to which he is assigned.
4. A maximum of three players on a minor league Injured List, Restricted List, and/or Military List may be assigned on a "rehabilitation" or "conditioning" assignment to any one minor league affiliate at any one time, but there is no limit to the number of players who can be on a "rehabilitation" or "conditioning" assignment at the organization's Spring Training Complex (including a club's Arizona or Florida complex league affiliate). There is also no limit on the number of players on an MLB Injured List, Restricted List, and/or Military List who can be assigned on a "rehabilitation" or "conditioning" assignment to any one minor league affiliate at any one time.
5. A player who has been "Signed for Future Service" can be carried on the roster of a DSL affiliate only. A player with "Signed for Future Service" status does not count against the International Reserve List roster limits until DSL Opening Day. A maximum of 12 players "Signed for Future Service" may be assigned to any one DSL affiliate at the same time.
NOTE: Beginning on July 1, 2023, a player eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be "Signed for Future Service."
CUBS MINOR LEAGUE AFFILIATES
SS = Short Season League
R = Rookie League
FR = Foreign Rookie League
IOWA (AAA):
RESERVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 38 (November reserve list roster filing date through Rule 5 Draft only)
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 28
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: NONE
TENNESSEE (AA):
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 28
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: NONE
SOUTH BEND (Hi-A):
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 30
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: Maximum two players and one player-coach with six or more years of service time (not including DSL/VSL service time)
MYRTLE BEACH (Lo-A):
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 30
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: Maximum two players with five or more years of service time (not including DSL/VSL service time)
ACL CUBS (SS-R):
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: NONE (maximum 30 players designated "active" for each game, not including players on rehab assignment)
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: No players with three or more years of service time (VSL/DSL service time excluded)
DSL CUBS BLUE (SS-FR):
ROSTER RESTRICTIONS: International players only (maximum two players from Puerto Rico)
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 35 (maximum 30 players designated "active" for each game)
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: No players with four or more years of service time (including DSL/VSL service time)
DSL CUBS RED (SS-FR):
ROSTER RESTRICTIONS: International players only (maximum two players from Puerto Rico)
ACTIVE LIST ROSTER LIMIT: 35 (maximum 30 players designated "active" for each game)
SERVICE TIME LIMITS: No players with four or more years of service time (including DSL/VSL service time)
There is no Active List roster limit for Extended Spring Training and post-season Instructional League ("instructs") squads.
CUBS MINOR LEAGUE ROSTERS (last updated 3-18-2024):
* bats or throws left
# bats both
Players on Optional Assignment from MLB Reserve List are in green
Players on Article XIX-C Minor League Rehab Assignment are in blue
Players signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft are underlined in purple
IFA who have been Signed for Future Service are underlined in brown
DOMESTIC RESERVE LIST
169 players are RESERVED (six slots are open), plus one player is on the RESTRICTED LIST
AAA
IOWA:
39 players (includes four players on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT)
PITCHERS: 21
Hunter Bigge
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Chris Clarke
Carl Edwards Jr
* Edwin Escobar
Kohl Franklin
Chris Kachmar
Ben Leeper
* Richard Lovelady
Sam McWilliams
Eduarniel Nunez
* Thomas Pannone
* Jack Patterson
Ethan Roberts
Cam Sanders
Riley Thompson
Cayne Ueckert
* Blake Weiman
Blake Whitney
* Brad Wieck
CATCHERS: 4
Jorge Alfaro
Joe Hudson
Caleb Knight
* Bryce Windham
INFIELDERS: 8
David Bote
# Hayden Cantrelle (Rule 5 Draft pick in AAA Phase)
Garrett Cooper
Scott McKeon
Jake Slaughter
* Dominic Smith
Chase Strumpf
Luis Vazquez
OUTFIELDERS: 6
* Owen Caissie
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
Brennen Davis
* Darius Hill
* David Peralta
* Cole Roederer
TENNESSEE:
AA
27 players (includes three players on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT)
PITCHERS: 14
Michael Arias
Brandon Birdsell
* Burl Carraway
Manuel Espinoza
Richard Gallardo
Porter Hodge
Cade Horton
Zac Leigh
* Riley Martin
Walker Powell
Jake Reindl
Frankie Scalzo Jr
* Dalton Stambaugh
Matt Thompson
CATCHERS: 3
Pablo Aliendo
* Moises Ballesteros
# Casey Opitz
INFIELDERS: 5
Haydn McGeary
# B. J. Murray
Fabian Pertuz
Matt Shaw
James Triantos
OUTFIELDERS: 5
Kevin Alcantara
Bradlee Beesley
Christian Franklin
Jordan Nwogu
* Ezequiel Pagan
SOUTH BEND:
Hi-A
29 players
PITCHERS: 15
Max Bain
Yovanny Cabrera
Luis Devers
Angel Gonzalez
Saul Gonzalez
Nick Hull
Grant Kipp
Brody McCullough
Joe Nahas
Connor Noland
Johzan Oquendo
Tyler Santana
Tyler Schlaffer
Sam Thoresen
* Chase Watkins
CATCHERS: 3
David Avitia
# Dilan Granadillo
* Ethan Hearn
INFIELDERS: 7
# Reivaj Garcia
Ed Howard
Juan Mora
Josh Rivera
Liam Spence
Felix Stevens
Luis Verdugo
OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Parker Chavers
Andy Garriola
* Yohendrick Pinango
* Jacob Wetzel
MYRTLE BEACH:
33 players
Lo-A
PITCHERS: 21
Sam Armstrong
Garrett Brown
Will Frisch
Landon Ginn
* Drew Gray
* Angel Hernandez
Scarlyn Lebron
Shane Marshall (ex-C)
Luis Martinez-Gomez
Grayson Moore
Koen Moreno
Naz Mule
Eligio Paredes
Kenyi Perez
Starlyn Pichardo
Erian Rodriguez
Jose Romero
Luis Rujano
* Marino Santy
Kevin Valdez
JP Wheat
CATCHERS: 2
* Michael Carico
Miguel Pabon
INFIELDERS: 7
Cristian Hernandez
Brian Kalmer
Jonathon Long
Christian Olivo
Reggie Preciado
# Pedro Ramirez
Jefferson Rojas
OUTFIELDERS: 3
* Brett Bateman
* Ismael Mena
Rafael Morel
ACL CUBS
48 players, plus one player is on the RESTRICTED LIST
PITCHERS: 26+1
Gabriel Agrazal
Juan Bello
* Daniel Brown
JC Coronado
* Miguel Cruz
* Wilson Cunningham
Nick Dean
Kenten Egbert
* Ethan Flanagan
Dominic Hambley
Ty Johnson
* Joel Machado
Fraiman Marte
Mason McGwire
Wilme Mora
* Branden Noriega
Mathew Peters (RESTRICTED LIST)
Luis A. Reyes
Francis Reynoso (ex-1B)
Yenrri Rojas
Alfredo Romero
Will Sanders
Joel Sierra
Freilyn Silverio
Hunter Viets
Jeral Vizcaino
Jaxon Wiggins
CATCHERS: 6
# Jairo Diaz
Yidel Diaz
Frank Hernandez (ex-OF)
Adan Sanchez
* Wally Soto
Carter Trice (ex-INF)
INFIELDERS: 9
Drew Bowser
Angel Cepeda
* Jose Escobar
* Albert Gutierrez
Alexis Hernandez
Geuri Lubo
* Yahil Melendez
Christopher Paciolla
Derniche Valdez
OUTFIELDERS: 7
* Ke'Shun Collier
* Jefferson Encarnacion
Leonel Espinoza
* Cristian More
Alfonsin Rosario
* Anderson Suriel
Edward Vargas
INTERNATIONAL RESERVE LIST
67 players are RESERVED (three slots are open), plus two are on the RESTRICTED LIST
DSL CUBS BLUE:
34 players, plus one is on the RESTRICTED LIST
PITCHERS: 16+1
Frailin Alejo
* Melvyn Amador
Juan Archbold
Eduardo Castillo
Diego Dugarte
Charbel Gonzalez
Yoendris Gonzalez
* Jeremy Guzman
Jair Jimenez
Yander Maria
Dalbert Mosquea (RESTRICTED LIST)
* Santiago Payares
Darian Rivero
Jhon Rosario
Adrian Santana
Saul Siri
Yafrerlyn Vasquez
CATCHERS: 4
Henniel Alcala
Carlos Altuve
Ivan Cespedes
Vicent Nunez
INFIELDERS: 9
Yoanis Aleksandrov
Edgardo DeLeon
# Ronnyel Espinoza
Moises Febrillet
* Juan Monso
Isaac Moscote
Brailin Pascual
# Eriandys Ramon
Grenyerbert Velasquez
OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Derik Alcantara
* Darlyn DeLeon
* Alexey Lumpuy
Robin Ortiz
* Jesus Rodriguez
DSL CUBS RED:
33 players, plus one is on the RESTRICTED LIST
PITCHERS: 17+1
David Bracho
Kevin Camacho
Alberto Chala
Brayan Diaz
Julian Duran
Jostin Florentino
* Zhiorman Imbriano
Bryan Landaez
Ronny Lopez
Emannoel Madeira
Cesar Pierret
Nestor Pirela
Welington Quintero
Luis R. Reyes
Jordi Romero
Albaro Santana (RESTRICTED LIST)
Runelvis Toribio
Irving Vazquez
CATCHERS: 3
Daniel Campos
Abel DeLeon
Diego Gonzalez
INFIELDERS: 8
Fernando Cruz
Joan Delgado
# Ludwing Espinoza
* Luis Maza
Jesus Meneses
* Ezequiel Pena
# Enyel Rosario
# Sandy Sanchez
OUTFIELDERS: 5
Daniel Benschop
Andres Bonolis
Andrws Cruz
* Cesar Lugo
Josias Ramirez
CUBS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT & MINOR LEAGUE STAFF
DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: Jason Kanzler
DIRECTOR OF PITCHING: Ryan Otero
DIRECTOR OF HITTING: Greg Brown
FIELD COORDINATOR & BASERUNNING COORDINATOR: Kevin Graber
ASSISTANT FIELD COORDINATOR & CATCHING COORDINATOR: Mark Johnson
SENIOR PITCHING DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR: Casey Jacobson
PITCHING PERFORMANCE COORDINATOR: James Ogden
ASSISTANT PITCHING DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR: Carlos Chantres
REHAB PITCHING COORDINATOR: Matt Hinckley
HITTING COORDINATOR: Steven Pollakov
INFIELD COORDINATOR: Dai Dai Otaka
OUTFIELD COORDINATOR: Doug Dascenzo
POSITION PLAYER REHAB / DEVELOPMENT LIST COORDINATOR: Desi Wilson
DOMINICAN ACADEMY COORDINATOR: Edgar Perez
ROVING INSTRUCTOR: Dave Keller
SPECIAL ADVISOR - PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: Matt Buschmann
SPECIAL ADVISOR - PITCHING: Mike Mason
SPECIAL ADVISOR - HITTING: Tom Beyers
DIRECTOR OF STRENGTH & CONDITIONING and PERFORMANCE NUTRITION : Blaine Kinsley
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COORDINATOR: Mark Weisman
ARIZONA COMPLEX STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COORDINATOR: Dallas Lopez
MEDICAL COORDINATOR: James Edwards
ASSISTANT MEDICAL COORDINATOR: Sean Folan
MENTAL SKILLS COORDINATOR: Javier Guerrero
IOWA: Marty Pevey (Manager), Eric Patterson (Bench Coach), Tony Cougoule (Pitching Coach), Rick Strickland (Hitting Coach), Ben Martin (Assistant Hitting Coach), and Andrew Betcher (Assistant Pitching Coach)
TENNESSEE: Lance Rymel (Manager), TBA (Bench Coach), Jamie Vermilyea (Pitching Coach), Rachel Folden (Hitting Coach), Henry Haack (Assistant Pitching Coach), and Derren Davis (Assistant Coach)
SOUTH BEND: Nick Lovullo (Manager), TBA (Bench Coach), Bruce Billings (Pitching Coach), Nate Spears (Hitting Coach), Andrew Rueter (Assistant Pitching Coach, and Marco Romero (Assistant Coach)
MYRTLE BEACH: Buddy Bailey (Manager), D'Angelo Jimenez (Bench Coach), George Thanopoulos (Pitching Coach), Rob Vaz (Hitting Coach), Armando Gabino (Assistant Pitching Coach), and Daniel Wasinger (Assistant Coach)
ACL CUBS: Corey Ray (Manager), TBA (Bench Coach), Clayton Mortensen (Pitching Coach), Jose Zapata (Pitching Coach), Chris Pieters (Hitting Coach), Yovanny Cuevas (Hitting Coach), Andrew Craig (Assistant Pitching Coach), and Collin Andrews (Assistant Coach)
MESA REHAB: Connor Rooney (Rehab Coach) and TBA (Rehab Catcher)
DSL CUBS BLUE: Carlos Ramirez (Manager), Jordal Williams (Pitching Coach), Raymond Pena (Hitting Coach), and Jovanny Rosario (Assistant Coach)
DSL CUBS RED: Enrique Wilson (Manager), Luis Hernandez (Pitching Coach), JC Bonilla (Pitching Coach), and Johnny Bethancourt (Hitting Coach)
ATHLETIC TRAINERS: Ed Halbur and Logan Severson (Iowa), Seth Clapp (Tennessee), Nick Roberts (South Bend), Maggie Lowenhar (Myrtle Beach), Tanner Costine and Hunter Martin (ACL Cubs), Leroy Martinez and Chadlacane Rodriguez (DSL Cubs Blue), and Arnoldo Goite and Guadalupe Segovia (DSL Cubs Red)
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACHES: Nathan Garza (Iowa), Jesus de la Sancha (Tennessee), Kelcey Mosley (South Bend), Allen Cooper (Myrtle Beach), TBA (ACL Cubs), Luis Gutierrez (DSL Cubs Blue), and Alexei Cazarin (DSL Cubs Red)
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).