Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
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

Winter Meetings 2009 Day One

The rumor mongering Olympics begin today and instead of a Jake Peavy trade or trying to sign Kosuke Fukudome or Ted Lilly, it'll be about moving Milton Bradley and how much the Cubs are willing to pay for the privilege. Unfortunately I won't be around until later this afternoon, so I'm going to miss most of the morning rumors. Updates will go up top....

10:05 PM

Sullivan says it's basically Rays or bust although the Cubs talked to 5 or 6 teams today about trades. The Mets seem to be out of the mix as a third team and that means Luis Castillo is out of the mix as well. The Blue Jays have emerged as the possible third team with some interest in Burrell as a DH. Sullivan also echoes that Cubs may have interest in Melky Cabrera if Yankees land Granderson with the Cubs on the outside of the Granderson sweepstakes due to their refusal to move Starlin Castro.

Money quote:

One major league manager said Monday he would gladly take Bradley, though he added his general manager wasn't interested because of possible negative reaction by the team's fan base. Another manager asked why the Cubs don't just bite the bullet and bring Bradley back rather than giving him away.

Can the "another manager" come and run the Cubs?

9:22 PM

Whoever Ed Price is, he's tweeting that Brewers are closing in on a 3-year deal for Randy Wolf. I think that's good for the Cubs. I kind of like Randy Wolf, but he's not the 3.23 ERA pitcher he was last year and although he's been pretty healthy the last two years, he's had quite a few injury issues in the past.

8:34 PM

Jayson Stark echoes that 2-3 teams have asked the Cubs about Bradley since Winter Meetings have begun and the money gap continues to hold up Bradley moving to the Rays.

7:24 PM

Braden Looper would love to pitch for the Cubs. Hopefully the feeling isn't mutual.

6:04 PM

A few notes from Bruce Miles...

The Cubs and Hendry like Heath Bell but "laughed off" rumors of trying to acquire him using Geovany Soto, Ryan Theriot or just about anyone else.

The Cubs will give Jeff Baker some reps in the outfield this spring to continue their creepy molding of him into Mark DeRosa. I wonder how much Baker feels like Kim Novak in Vertigo at this point.

5:16 PM:

Bob Nightengale at USA Today says the Tigers would like to move Granderson by this week and then Wittenmyer says the Cubs have heard nothing of the sort from the Tigers.

4:10 PM:

Ryne Sandberg will manage Triple A Iowa next year. Organizational soldier Bobby Dickerson is moving to...go ahead take a guess...the Baltimore Orioles of course.

Another ESPN Winter Meetings Live note:

Nick Pietruszkiewicz: Meanwhile, Buster Olney says for the Yankees to get Granderson, it will cost Phil Hughes and Austin Jackson.

So safe to say, the Tigers are only going to move Granderson for the right package, not just salary relief.

3:56 PM CST: ESPN Winter Meetings Live has this note:

Nick Pietruszkiewicz: From Peter Gammons: To get Curtis Granderson, the Tigers asked the Cubs for Starlin Castro and two prospects. The Cubs considered that to be too high a price.

3:50 PM CST: Q&A with Lou from the winter meetings including this gem about having a balanced lineup:

I don't think it matters anymore. Just keep people healthy on the field, and let's get people that can produce and let it go at that.

No fucking shit. Thanks for ruining the 2009 season with that bullshit.

Says that Alfonso Soriano is staying in the 6 spot and Zambrano should be winning 20 games every year with the stuff he throws.

3:20 PM CST: Brewers have strong interest in Randy Wolf according to Robothal.

3:!5 PM CST: Danny Knobler at CBS Sports says the Cubs are talking with up to 4 teams now regarding Bradley.

2:42 PM CST: And we're back...

Bruce Levine blogs about talks of Bradley for Gil Meche, which Wittenmyer subsequently shoots down. The Cubs were after Meche before the 2007 season, but he passed to go to the Royals, I believe citing that he'd prefer a smaller market than Chicago. Rumors creeped up again last year with Meche right before the Cubs acquired Harden and he shot those down as well.

- Cardinals are close to their annual pick-up-a-vet for Dave Duncan to fix...this time it's Brad Penny

- Phil Rogers says the Padres are trying to move Heath Bell and the Cubs could be interested. Rogers thinks if they do get Bell, it could mean Carlos Marmol is on his way out - most likely for Curtis Granderson. I can't ever recall one Phil Rogers rumor coming through.

- It looks like the Cubs and Yankees are fighting for the same center fielders, both coveting Curtis Granderson or Mike Cameron.

- Lou was on XM radio and said the Cubs is searching for a center fielder and veteran right-handed bullpen arm. Blamed 2009 on injuries and lack of depth and some tangent about making 11 or so changes to a 97-win team.  When asked about Bradley possibly returning, he said Bradley had a tough year and he'll probably bounce back but we're looking to move him and some of the events of last summer were too much to bring him back. Has the "well, we have to dump him" pan ever worked in a team's favor? I mean, the team doing the dumping of course.

10:31 AM CST: This is a bit sketchy, but a report that Burrell has been moved to the Cubs and then the Mets, no mention of Bradley, but that must be the deal if true. (For what it's worth, it was posted about a half hour ago and no confirmation anywhere else, so I think someone's been duped).

Another tweet from MLB official tweeter that Mets are the third mystery team, but no mention of the actual trade going down.

10:10 AM CST: Another Sherman tweet that the both Cubs and Yankees are interested in Cameron and then he floats that Cubs have always liked Melky Cabrera.


- 3 teams are interested in Bradley: Rangers, Rays, mystery third team. All of them want the Cubs to pay more (as in just about all of Milton's last year) to get a deal done. For the Rangers, it looks like Kevin Millwood is the trading chip, for the Rays, it's Pat Burrell, for the mystery third team, it's a mystery player.

- Speaking of Burrell, Joel Sherman first tweeted that the Mets would consider taking Burrell for Castillo but are  naturally worried about his defense. More recently he tweeted that "Rays growing less hopeful of swapping Burrell to Cubs."

-Bruce Levine blogged that Cubs are considering bringing back Reed Johnson and Rick Ankiel, Coco Crisp, Mike Cameron and Marlon Byrd are all on the Cubs radar. 

I think that's everything worth mentioning at the moment, I shall be back with updates later in the day.

Comments

I think my preference on the center fielders would be: Crisp $6 million Ankiel $4 million Cameron $8 million Johnson $3.5 million Byrd $7 million Factoring in their "likely" salaries. I saw something about San Diego being interested in Skinny Dick.

MLBTradeRumors.com is reporting that the Angels are getting interest in Gary Matthews, Jr. Could the Angels be the mystery team? Would a three-way trade moving Milton Bradley to the Angels, GMJ to the Mets and Luis Castillo to the Cubs make sense. If the Mets were/are considering Pat Burrell, wouldn't they also consider Matthews? Would the Angels consider a problem child like Bradley? Could the money be figured out? Any trade involving either Bradley or Matthews is going to involve some money changing hands. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/angels-getting-interest-in-matthe…

I'm just going to throw this out there. Mystery team is Cardinals, player is Pujlos. Hendry has him slotted to play RF.

Oh and also... MELKY F"N CABRERA!!?!?!?

MLB Trade Rumors says the Cubs have talked to the Royals about Bradley/Piniero. That could be the mystery third team. The money is about even, so I don't see why the Royals would do that unless the Cubs do eat some money to give them salary relief. I thought I read someplace that the Royals are going to be active in the FA market. If true, it probably means bottom feeder guys left at the end.

I see the Bucs are trying to light a fire under Ronney Cedeno's ass. They are considering Adam Everett and Boobie Crosby.

[ ]

In reply to by Seamhead

It wasn't big cities, it was that he wanted to be the big man on campus, if memory serves. He's not going to be big man on campus in KC, so a team in playoff contention would probably be interesting to him now, particuarly one where at least had discussions about coming to after 2006. I think adding Vitters and Marshall to get the deal done is a bit wacko.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Meche has a partial NTC clause and judging from choosing the fucking Royals over the Cubs two years ago and then saying he had no interest in joining the Cubs last year when he had a full NTC, I assume the Cubs are on the list. I read somewhere recently the Royals aren't looking to move DeJesus.

Appearently Matt Murton is going to Japan. They should welcome the singles hitter with open arms. This is according to Fox Sports

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10475170 not Brewers, Dodgers or Mets though... Yankees were rumored earlier along with Granderson... I don't know what Melky costs, but Melky, Hughes or Chamberlain, A. Jackson and a few spare parts? Would give the Tigers the help them win now players they want... -edit- thinking about it a tad more, giving Hughes or Chamberlain and A. Jackson would probably get them halladay, so if getting E. Jackson is part of it they must be holding on to one of them.

The scenario with Cubs .. TB .. Mets involved is the one I would take if true. Maddon gets to 'fix' Bradley and the Mets unload Castillo to handle 2b for the Cubs. You would think the Cubs and Mets could find a way to split the $9m left for Bradley. Assuming Castro is ready for later this summer, Theriot could then go for Granderson.

Daydreaming at work. How different would the Cubs' situation would be if they had sign Carlos Beltran instead of Soriano?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

lol... of all the BS Bradley brought to the team in '09, I do not fault him for throwing the ball into the stands. Everyone makes a dunderhead mistake every once in a while. He doesn't do that all the time. And fwiw, I think jacos was implying that Bradley used to be a really good fielder and now he is very average.

buzz seems to be DBacks want E. Jackson the most...

Not exactly front burner stuff but it's been a good week baseball-wise here in Des Moines. First the I-Cubs won some sort of best organization in baseball award & now Santa Claus is coming to town [in the person of Ryno]! That should ensure a new season attendance record next summer [600k+], a nice thing to contemplate as the first blizzard of the winter draws a bead on us...

http://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN
The Granderson talks are like the Halladay talks in July:The team is asking for the moon and stars, and if they get want they ask for, great
~snip~
But asking for and getting what they want are two different things for the Tigers.

Looper had what looks like he had pretty bad luck when it came to HR/Flyball (much like Harden). I am not saying that we should jump on him with a $6 million contract, but there's a good chance that he could give a team, especially one with a solid defense, 200 league average innings and at $3.5 to $4.5 million that would be a pretty nice deal. The Cubs and the Sox, you'd figure could get him at the best price.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Well, at that price I suppose that would be a "deal". Jason Marquis with his 15-13 record last year (and annual Post ASG flop), will be making around $10MM after accepting the Rox' arbitration.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I don't think Looper would be too bad as a 4th or 5th starter. He had a 14-7 record last year (impressive), but a 5.22 ERA (not so much). However, he has a career 4.15 ERA which isn't bad for a back of the rotation starter. Plus, he's fairly durable. If he's willing to sign for one year and a reasonable salary (he made $4.75 million last year), it wouldn't be a horrible move.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I wouldn't feel comfortable throwing that large amount of our remaining cash at a starting pitcher until we get our other chips set in place. Pick up a back end veteran in a few weeks if you'd like, but I'm not even worried about it. Our younger guys can get the job done, imo

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

The problem is that three of the guys competing for the #4 and #5 spots in the rotation to start the season are AAA guys (Gorz, Marshall, Samardjzia). Picking up a legit big leaguer wouldn't be a bad idea. However, I do agree that now is not the time to do it (unless Looper gives Hendry a blank contract ala Andre Dawson). There will be arms available in January/February.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Trouble is that the Cubs will be starting Marshall and Gorgonzola, already. I'd like to see a solid guy like Looper/Garland or a boom or bust guy like Smoltz/Sheets added to the rotation. Pitchers get hurt, and if possible I'd like to avoid having Cashner and Atkins starting "must win" games. I think it's best to go into the season with six guys who you're pretty sure are going to be decent and healthy starters. Our top 3 guys all got hurt last year, one of them is coming off shoulder surgery and the next three guys all have some uncertainty around them, so in my mind we're not there yet.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

thanks to scheduling the cubs don't really need a 5th starter until the CIN series (9/10/11) and there's another day off for a skip afterwards where a 5th could be pushed back in the HOU series (15/16/17). cubs could get through april with a 5th man needing 3 or 4 starts. it could be done in 3, but he'd go in one of those first 2 may starts.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

BL -- Gorzelanny spent the majority of 2009 on the Pirates AAA team in Indianapolis. The guy couldn't stick in the Pirates rotation, but now he's supposed to start the year as the Cubs #4 starter. Marshall is better than AAA. That's true. My point is that the Cubs are counting on four guys (Gorzelanny, Marshall, Samardjzia, Wells) to fill out their rotation next year who have a lot of question marks and extremely short resumes. A proven back-of-the-rotation arm would be nice insurance.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Like Mitch Atkins or Jeffy? The Cubs rotation are one popped hamstring from becoming thinner than Calista Flockhart. Assuming Lilly comes back in May, Marshall is the fill in guy which leaves the long relief with holes. I do agree that the team needs to address the outfield situation and not drag this into spring training before making a move for a starting pitcher. I guess I am saying that I am not as sold on the rotation as some.

"Another manager asked why the Cubs don't just bite the bullet and bring Bradley back rather than giving him away." amen. ...though it seems almost impossible bradley is staying at this point.

points and laughs at Braves another report was they were pushing to move Derek Lowe. how about trading our Soriano for Lowe instead of Bradley? I saw it floated as an idea on another blog. I'd take it. They'd still have to move Bradley and Hendry would ruin it all by signing Jason Bay or something...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Wow, imagine getting out from Soriano's contract - that would be awesome, even if we have to pay a 4th starter $45 over three years. Hopefully this will make the Braves more motivated Bradley buyers. Here's a scary thought. If we had to throw in Jake Fox to get rid of a one year deal for $3.7 million - who are we going to have to throw in to get rid of a two year $21 million deal?

[ ]

In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

I don't think he'd be eligible since he's the bonehead who made the mess to begin with. Kind of like how a closer who comes in with a 10 run lead and then gives up 9 runs to put himself into a Save situation, then strikes out the side doesn't get credit for a Save.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Here's the thing--I think the whole "medical report" business is just cover. In reality, baseball people recognize that Harden just doesn't help you because the guy NEVER pitches deep into ballgames. How does it help your pitching staff when you know you're going to need 2-3 relievers minimum every single time Harden gets a start? Yeah, he can be dominant at times for 5-6 innings, but unfortunately, it's a 9-inning game. He just ain't worth the big bucks.

[ ]

In reply to by rokfish

Didn't post it, but I had to chuckle, I was thinking the same thing... For the GM of the year thing, it'd kinda be like the Cubs staking Hendry to a 6 run lead, then him blowing it, but still getting awarded his own save....

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).