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

Cubs Sign Chad Tracy

A busy day for Jim Hendry as he's now inked Chad Tracy to a minor league deal. He'll get a chance to compete for a bench spot in spring training.

Tracy hasn't played a full season since 2006 due to a number of maladies,  including microfracture surgery on right knee in 2007. He's also had oblique, groin and back problems. You wonder if he can even play third base or the corner outfield positions anymore.

His OPS+ and wOBA numbers since 2004:

Year OPS+ wOBA
2004 90 .325
2005 132 .385
2006 98 .342
2007 100 .342
2008 82 .313
2009 76 .296

Nothing too exciting here, but it's a minor league deal and Tracy may be more than willing to go to Iowa if he doesn't make the team out of spring training to try and jumpstart his career back to life.

Comments

including microfracture surgery on right knee in 2007. He's also had oblique, groin and back problems. --- The MLB equivalent of an Orthopedic Annuity

Iowa seldom gets to use a DH. Not sure where he fits with Hoffpauir and Marquez Smith on the corners?

I like this deal at least as much as the Nady deal. The upside is nearly the same.

I'm actually mildly excited at these signings. Mildly. Good upsides with little money.

http://cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100126&content_id=7968890&vk… cubs.com has this interesting medical tidbit on Tommy John surgery and Nady...
Nady would have to prove he's healthy from the second major elbow surgery of his career. He underwent the procedure in early July, meaning he will be just nine months removed from it by Opening Day. A number of Web sites have lists of baseball players who have gone through Tommy John surgery, a procedure in which a tendon from a different part of the body is used to replace a turn ulnar collateral ligament, but Nady and catcher Vance Wilson are the only position players listed as having the surgery twice. Wilson had his procedures back-to-back in the summers of 2007 and '08. He signed a Minor League contract with the Royals for '09 and batted .270 in 59 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Wilson didn't play his first game in '09 until June 19 and caught only 18 games, appearing mostly as a designated hitter.
here's the Wiki list of ballplayers with TJ surgery including those with repeat surgery. There are only three with three-peats...Chad Fox, Jose Rijo and the immortal Matt Riley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_John_surgery#List_of_baseball_player…

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 01/26/2010 - 10:53pm. here's the Wiki list of ballplayers with TJ surgery including those with repeat surgery. There are only three with three-peats...Chad Fox, Jose Rijo and the immortal Matt Riley ======================================= CUBSTER: Scott Williamson had two TJS, too.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Wed, 01/27/2010 - 10:49am. I think that is correct. My guess on the 5 man bench is Baker/Fontenot Koyie Hill Blanco Nady Chad Tracy Honestly, that is probably the best bench the cubs have had in a long long time ============================================= DR AARON B: If so, then here is the likely Iowa Cubs 2010 Opening Day lineup: 1. Sam Fuld, CF 2. Darwin Barney, SS 3. Brad Snyder, RF 4. Micah Hoffpauir, 1B 5. Bobby Scales, 3B 6. Tyler Colvin, LF 7. Chris Robinson, C 8. Matt Camp, 2B 9. Jeff Samardzija, P BENCH: James Adduci, OF Robinson Chirinos, C-INF Steve Clevenger, C-1B Jonathan Mota, INF PROBABLY NO ROOM AT THE INN: 1B Russ Canzler, C Mark Johnson, 1B-OF Bryan Lahair, INF Matt Matulia, and 3B Scott McClain. Tennessee: 1. Tony Campana, CF 2. Starlin Castro, SS 3. Tony Thomas, 2B 4. Matt Spencer, RF 5. Marquez Smith, 3B 6. Welington Castillo, C 7. Ryne White, 1B 8. Ty Wright, LF 9. Jay Jackson, P BENCH: Marwin Gonzalez, INF Brandon Guyer, OF Blake Lalli, C-1B Mark Reed, C MAY BE OUT OF LUCK: C Luis Flores, OF Jason James, 2B Jake Opitz, and 2B Nate Samson Daytona: 1. Brett Jackson, CF 2. D. J. LeMahieu, SS 3. Kyler Burke, RF 4. Josh Vitters, 3B 5. Ryan Flaherty, 2B 6. Rebel Ridling, 1B 7. Jovan Rosa, DH 8. Nelson Perez, LF 9. Michael Brenly, C Chris Archer, P BENCH: Junior Lake, INF David Macias, OF-IF Mario Mercedes, C Peoria: 1. Hak-Ju Lee, SS 2. Logan Watkins, 2B 3. Runey Davis, LF 4. Bobby Wagner, RF 5. Richard Jones, C 6. Charles Thomas, DH 7. Justin Bour, 1B 8. Matt Cerda, 3B 9. Jose Valdez, CF Jeffry Antigua, P BENCH: D. J. Fitzgerald, IF-OF Jae-Hoon Ha, C-OF Alvaro Sosa, C TIME RUNNING OUT - PROBABLY GONE: 1B-C John Contreras, OF Francisco Guzman, INF Dwayne Kemp, and OF Kevin Soto FEW ARE CHOSEN (PROBABLY BACK TO FITCH PARK): INF Robert Bautista, C Sergio Burruel, 2B Ping-Chieh Chen, SS Wes Darvill, C Jose Guevara, 3B Derek Helenihi, OF Dong-Yub Kim, INF George Matheus, IF-OF-C Brandon May, OF Jesus Morelli, OF Kyung-Min Na, INF Jordan Petraitis, 1B Greg Rohan, OF Cody Shields, OF Blair Springfield, and OF Sean Williams. MOST-LIKELY DSL CUBS PROMOTIONS TO FITCH PARK (POSITION PLAYERS): INF Arismendy Alcantara, 3B Joel Altagracia, RF Xavier Batista, IF-OF Vismeldy Bieneme, C Miguel Gonzalez, and 3B-1B Juan Pena.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Do you really think giving Scales a starters spot would keep Smith in AA and Vitters in A? Wouldn't it make more sense to push him to the bench in a role that he's more likely to play in the majors? Maybe someone (Denier?) can even teach him to play outfield before he gets recalled an Lou costs us more games by playing him out there.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 01/27/2010 - 6:22pm. Do you really think giving Scales a starters spot would keep Smith in AA and Vitters in A? Wouldn't it make more sense to push him to the bench in a role that he's more likely to play in the majors? Maybe someone (Denier?) can even teach him to play outfield before he gets recalled an Lou costs us more games by playing him out there. ============================ NEAL: I keep going back & forth with Vitters. My present belief is that Vitters will begin the season in the middle of the Daytona lineup and will be asked to work harder on his defense, and then he will be in-line for a mid-season promotion to AA if all is going well. Same goes for Marquez Smith and Tony Thomas (mid-season promotions), I think.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Thu, 01/28/2010 - 10:11am. I thought Thomas and Smith were locks for Iowa. Is Matt Camp really a legit prospect? =================================================== DR AARON B: Tony Thomas and Marquez Smith could make the Iowa Opening Day roster, but it wouldn't be a surprise if they bgin the 2010 season back at AA and then get a mid-season promotion to AAA. Matt Camp is a big league utility prospect, his best attribute being an ability to play 2B-CF-LF-PR-LHPH (he's sort of a Sam Fuld/Mike Fontenot hybrid) as well as SS-3B-RF in a pinch, which could allow the Cubs to keep Chad Tracy on the bench as their ace LHPH and 1B-3B back-up AND a player (Camp) who can be a legitimate back-up at both 2B and CF, a late-inning defensive replacement for Soriano in LF, and a PR or a LHPH leading off an inning. So Camp provides more versatility than Fuld or Fontenot, if extreme versatility becomes an issue. That said, Camp does not have Fontenot's HR power or Fuld's plus-defensive skills and plate discipline, but he does have above-average speed, and he has improved his hitting over the past year (he hit 329/400/448 with 18 doubles in 59 games for Mexicali in the Mexican Pacific League). So Camp's chance to make it to MLB with the Cubs in 2010 probably would be tied to Piniella wanting to keep Chad Tracy on the roster as a 3B-1B-LHPH.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Thanks Phil. It wouldn't shock me if that comes to pass. Really Smith is the guy that has earned the promotion moreso that Vitters, unless you really buy into his abortive AFL season. If Smith is going to become a Randa/Pendelton type, I hate to see his progress retarded so we can give good soldier PA's to Scales.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

imo, the cubs would probably be wise to trade either baker or fontenot if they choose to keep tracy. they could make s.castro the "guy in waiting" who would/could(maybe) be the injury backup shuttling up/down majors/AAA if baker-or-fontenot/blanco get injured. they seem to want to introduce castro to the majors in 2010, anyway.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Thanks for taking a stab at this, Phil. Very interesting to read and ponder. A lot of good young players climbing a few greasy poles. A couple of quibbles: Obviously I like Robinson C. better than C. Robinson. Jay Jackson got a disciplinary demotion to high-A last season, but at the end of August he got a start at Iowa (and performed nicely). He finished at AAA, so it would be a demotion to start lower. Wright and Smith had fine years for a near-champion at Tennessee. Their manager got a promotion, they will too. Guyer was a little old for Daytona, but he hit .347 and will start for Tennessee, probably in left field, which Wright will have vacated. Hak-Ju Lee should do what Castro did last year and skip Peoria; but there are too many middle infielders already at Daytona. Something has to be done at the ML level to free up positions lower down. I have several ideas about what may happen and should happen, but that's a different topic.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

I think, as of now, Fuld probably makes it ahead of Tracy. They need someone to backup in CF. Assuming Baker is the starter, I think Tracy's best bet is beating out Fontenot. Tbh, I think the signing is a nice gamble, but I think it'll probably be similar to the Koskie signing in some respects.

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

Fukudome played center field last year and Nady in theory can do it as well, but as of right now, Fuld is probably the favorite for the 5th outfielder spot.

Even if he doesn't get much playing time at 3B or 1B, Chad Tracy is one of the best left-handed pinch-hitters in baseball (276/364/621 and tied for second in MLB in PH HR in 2009, and 400/471/667 in 2008).

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

A good call. Trying to make a case for Dawson as a Cub is a case where evidence must be cherry-picked to support the conclusion. He actually might have been better in '81 than '87, but thanks to the strike, Mike Schmidt and the the near-anonymity of Montreal, few ever noticed.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

If Dawson had played in Montreal like he did in Chicago, he may not have even gotten to the second year of voting. If you go by WARP3 (or any other position based total statisic really) Montreal: 43.7 Wins Chicago: 18.1 Wins Others: -2.2 Wins There's no coherent argument to support Dawson as a Cub in the HoF, other than "I am a Cub fan and I want him to go in as a Cub."

Marshall is signed according to whoever MLB trade rumors linked.

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).