Cubs MLB Roster

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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

My Hall of Fame Vote

The Hall of Fame voting results are going to be announced on Monday and it's expected that Rickey Henderson and possibly Jim Rice will get in. I'm gonna separate my votes into two different ballots, because I can, and because I don't take this stuff too seriously.

My "Keeping the Hall of Fame Standards At the Highest Levels" Ballot

Rickey Henderson, Bert Blyleven, Tim Raines

Rickey's a no-brainer and it helps that his rookie card was the prized possession of my rather pathetic baseball card collection as a kid. I've read enough arguments to convince me Blyleven is being screwed for playing in small markets and bad teams before the Internet and the explosion of media. Raines is in a similar situation, always second fiddle to Rickey Henderson among leadoff hitters and from playing in Montreal; but there wasn't a player I hated seeing more coming up against the Cubs in the 80's. And if you're wondering why I'd put Raines in over Dawson, it's because Raines out-WARP'd Dawson for most of their careers, including - by a a healthy margin - Dawson's 1987 MVP season.

My "There Are Much Worse Players Already In and These Guys Feel Like Hall of Famers" Ballot

Rickey Henderson, Bert Blyleven, Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Alan Trammell, Lee Smith, Jim Rice

I explained myself on the first three, so let's take a look at the extra four I've included.

Alan Trammell - Again, another second fiddle - this time to Ozzie Smith... but an exceptional defender that was the best player on some very good 80's Tigers teams. Maybe if he did back flips when he ran on to the field.

Lee Smith - Led the league in saves four times and retired as the all-time leader before Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera passed him by...neither of which led the league in saves as many times as Smith. I still can't forgive him for '84 though.

Jim Rice - Because Peter Gammons told me so...honestly, I have no feelings either way on Rice, but if Dawson is good enough, I think Rice is as well.

Andre Dawson -  The player I'm sure most reading this article are concerned with and I think he's as borderline a candidate as there is out there. As I mentioned above, I always felt Tim Raines was the best player on the Expos when I was watching them...of course, I wasn't even 10 when most of that was happening. Dawson's  Cubs career was better than I thought when you look at his stats, and I think I was burned by his rather awful 1989 playoff performance. 

In the end, I think he has a lot of good reasons to be in the Hall of Fame, even if something like 400 HR's and 300 SB's is about the most ridiculous made-up cutoff out there. It's a very similar case to Ron Santo's, a player who never hit the big milestones like 3000 hits or 500 home runs, but dominated for a period of time, brought a lot with his defensive abilities that went unnoticed and had his career cut short by injuries (or in Santo's case diabetes). The reason I'm more adamant about Santo deserving a spot over Dawson is that no reasonable person could argue that Ron Santo wasn't one of the top 10 third basemen of all-time, while there's no reasonable person that could argue that Andre Dawson was one of the top 10 center fielders, top 10 right fielders or top 30 outfielders of all-time.

There's my thoughts, I'm sure others have their own and I would love to hear them in the comments.

Comments

what no Jesse Orosco? ...I hate listening to baseball talk (hosts and callers) where the universe is centered on NY (AL/NL) and/or Boston. anyone notice that XM Home Plate radio has gone off that NY/Bos deep end at least on weekends (really getting to dislike Ed Randle and Casey Stern because of this, they are making Dibble listenable...well, not really.)

Tonight 7:00 pm central Cubs Vs Pirates 4/21/91 Spoiler alert- it doesn't end well. I will be watching Golden Globes with Chad and the Velvet Mafia.

I love Andre, but I cannot quite get there with him. The .323 career OBP is an issue for me. I think he was better than Rice, who I would also not vote for, but who I think will be elected. I agree pretty much with Rob G's first set of selections, except that I would also include Trammell. If I had to predict, though, it will just be Rickey and Rice tomorrow, one in his first year on the ballot and the other in his last possible year on the writers' ballot.

bly is also not a favorite of sportswriters and he wasn't when he was a player, either. i dunno what bothers me more...bly not being in or how low his %votes have been vs. what i think it should be.

My HOF Ballot: Ricky Henderson Players deleted from HOF: Everyone but Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Cy Young, Jimmy Foxx, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Rogers Hornsby, Mickey Mantle, Josh Gibson, Jackie Robinson, Lou Gehrig, Warren Spahn, Stan Musial, Ernie Banks, and Bob Gibson.................and that's about it. The rest are all in the Hall of Very Good Baseball Players.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Yes, for the most part I am making a point that once you let in a Mazeroski, then where do you draw the line. Not to mention Whitey Ford and Gaylord Perry who were both doctors of the baseball. It seems like for most of the past 20 years, they elect at least someone so they can have a ceremony, and what the hell, he's got stats equal to or better than many HOF'ers anyway. I would have like to see the BBWAA set the bar a lot higher a long time ago. Also, since the 1980's, how do we know who or who isn't on the juice?

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

As fans, we look at the HOF as some shrine that is to be revered and protected from inferior players. However, the truth is that the HOF is a privately owned business that makes its money by selling tickets and inducting new members. If you reserve the Hall for the greatest of the great, then you'll rarely have an induction ceremony and the HOF will lose all of the free publicity they get every year.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Sure did play the game the right way. Had an 82% success rate stealing bases. Also had a career .500 OBP in the 8 spot. Only hit into 10 double plays in a season twice in his whole career. All Chadball cornerstones. I'm putting Raines on my all-time Chadball team.

I ♥ MLB Network. seriously, im gonna go make babies with it n stuff. btw, there is pure classic cubbery unfolding right now. i dunno if paul ass-maker can hold onto this one.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

I don't know what to think of that story. I kinda smell alot of bullshit on it. They want to move Young to 3rd base? Ok.....but they got one of the top power hitting prospects in the game called Chris Davis who plays 3rd base and 1st base. The same postions that Hank Blalock plays. In the same article it says they would look to aquire a 3rd baseman. Why in the hell would they need a 3rd baseman when they already got 2 guys that can play the position already on the roster? But it says "young" 3rd baseman like Josh Fields who is 26 compare to Davis who is 22. I think it would be just much easier to tell the rookie to learn 3rd than piss off your veteran and trade him. He is supposed to be this defensive wizard and would like make the transition pretty easily. And if they wanted to trade Young get some damn pitching down in Texas not another stupid 3rd baseman.

Ken Takahashi (39 yrs, 40 in April) is a different lefty pitcher from the ones speculated on in this tribune article from 12/27/08 (Shigeki Noguchi). http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-27-cubs-bits-chi… ----------------- Here's the link from Japanese Baseball/NBP Tracker dated Nov 12th about Takahashi... http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/11/free-agent-watch-ken-takahashi/ ”There aren’t that many left-handers over there either and that would be a plus for me.” It looks like teammate Hiroki Kuroda inspired this: ”I’m interested in seeing what American baseball is like. The image of Kuroda has had a big impact. I’m struggling (with the decision)”. Takahashi enjoyed a resurgent season for the surprisingly competitive Carp, going 8-5 with a 3.50 ERA in 115 2/3 innings. The Carp will certainly miss his presence in the rotation, but team ownership has already promised him a home after he comes back. Nikkan Sports reports that the Cubs, Padres, and Giants are interested, and quotes a Cubs scout as saying Takahashi could be used out of the bullpen and as an emergency starter. ----------------- based on the above article indicating the Cubs had interest back then, it could be real. At least it will give Fukudome someone else to chat with during the spring and a possible 2nd lefty and emergency starter...doesn't sound that likely he'd make the pitching staff but who knows.

My question on dawson is this: At what point is it enough? He didn't get 3000 hits or 500 HR's. Ok. Are there HOF players who didn't? He does have an MVP, and 2 runners-up. He was excellent defensively until his knees just couldn't hold up. He not only hit 438 HR's, but 500 doubles, and 98 triples as well. He played on some good Montreal teams, but on some truly awful ones, and Cub ones as well. His onbase is low. Ok...and the average OBP from 1976-1985 was right around .325. But doesn't the fact that he did everything else so well get considered? For his era?

I have advocated for a while now that the top two finishers in the BBWAA balloting should get into the HOF (regardless of percentage) each year, and the "old timer" who gets the most votes should get into the HOF once every five years.

I know that the HOF has no real MLB affiliation but I don't want it to become the NFL HOF which is a joke.

If he is elected today by the BBWAA, I believe Rice will be the first candidate elected on his last year on the writers’ ballot since Ralph Kiner (in 1975), who I understand to have been an extremely controversial pick at the time. Kiner had a much shorter career than Rice, but was a better hitter. Split information does not seem to be available for him, but hitting all the home runs he did while playing in Forbes Field is impressive (actually, I have read that the park in Pittsburgh had less ridiculous dimensions when Kiner played, but still. Rice had a home benefit that was sizeable. Home .320/.374/.546 OPS .920, with 208 homers, away .277/.330/.459 OPS .789, with 174 homers. The league OPS during his career was .744. If he is elected, he would be another player (along with Yaz, Boggs and Puckett) to add to the argument that people just don’t focus on home/away splits other than when arguing against Santo.

Though sabermatically not a super duper star, during his 8 year heyday, Rice was probably the AL's most feared hitter. My inner circle HoF would be Rock and Rickey. My 'They're better than other clowns in there' would probably add Byleven and I would probably take out Smith. He just wasn't that dominant. When compared to today's closers (I know who pitch shorter and get more chances), his stats just don't stand up.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 10:45am.

Was this the game where they set the record for bottom of the 9th comebacks?

==================================

REAL NEAL: The 4-21-91 game featured the largest blown extra-inning lead in MLB history (Cubs scored five runs in the top of the 11th, then the Pirates scored six in the bottom of the 11th).

I agree on Lee Smith, just kinda makes me wonder...he did do it well for that long. He did have really, really good seasons from 1982-1992 especially. He'll probably never get in. Henderson Blyleven Dawson Rice In that order. Alan Trammell, still getting the short end of the stick.

Submitted by jacos on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 11:00am.

Phil- WHat is the record for largest 9th inning comeback? I wouldn't know where to look,

================================

JACOS: The Detroit Tigers scored ten runs in the 9th to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 14-13 on 4-25-1901 (that was the 1st year of play for the American League). BTW, the Brewers moved to St. Louis in 1902 and became the Browns, and then the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Orioles in 1954.

The Phillies scored nine runs in the 9th and defeated the Dodgers 12-11 on 8-21-1990.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Did Rice hit more home runs in last 15 years? Congrats to being a Red Sox. It's funny on MLB Network they are saying "Boston is celebrating" if I remember correctly he was not that popular with the BoSox fans. I believe Dwight Evans was more popular.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Jim Bunning needed VC help as well, topping out with the BBWAA at 74.2% in 1988 (he was 4 votes short). Curiously, he was on the BBWAA ballot for three years after that and lost a ton of votes, not exceeding 64% and going all the way down to 57.9% in 1990.

If Jim Rice is a Hall of Famer, then what about Dave Parker? His numbers are about as good. And he manged to stick around past 35. When will the ESPN outcry for Don Mattingly and Dwight Evans begin?

Mattingly, if he played for the oyals, wouldn't even be mentioned on HOF day. A good player, too bad he hurt his back. Dwight Evans was a very soild player, who walked a lot and was a perennial Gold Glove OF. I just don't think that his first 9 seasons were that great. He had a nice run from 1982-1989 however. His counting numbers approximate Rice's, of course, he needed 600 more games to do it. Also Rice bashers love to point out his home/road splits, but Dwight Evans' splits are slanted to Fenway as well, which I would post if baseball-reference.com was working right.

The 5.2% of the writers that didn't list Ricky on their ballot should have their ballot taken away next year. Then again, 1.5% of the writers didn't vote for Cal Ripken Jr. either, so there is obviously a dufus-driven margin of error here. I tend to think that Hawk will get in, very much like Rice, toward the very end of his eligibility. But I'm with Rob G on this, Santo's qualifications are stronger because Santo put the numbers up at 3B, not at corner outfield. I do believe that if the Cubs would have made a serious run in the playoffs this last year, the vote tallies for both Santo and Hawk would have been higher.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

there should be debate about 3rd/CF, too if that's the list. well, unless by "valuable" you mean 'kids out there to choose from in the market that deliver good bat value' that is...if it's by skill/toughness of D i'd put 3rd up there over CF.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I see what you're saying here, Neal. 3 of his 7 All-Star years were as a CF, as well as his ROY year. But I wasn't talking so much about the defensive value of the position played, I was thinking more about scarcity of offensive production at a particular position. Had Dawson played short-stop and produced as he did, he would be a first-ballot HOF'er. In judging Hawk's credentials, you have to compare his offense and defensive contributions against his outfield peers, and you judge Santo's credentials in comparison to his 3B peers.

[ ]

In reply to by DC Tom

"you have to compare his offense and defensive contributions against his outfield peers, and you judge Santo's credentials in comparison to his 3B peers." I have to disagree here. You should be evaluating his contributions against players "all time" more heavily than against his peers. Dawson shouldn't be punished because he played RF at the same time as some other Hall of Fame candidates, just like Santo shouldn't be rewarded because he's not playing today (when his peers would have included Jones, Wright, A-Rod, AramRam etc).

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).