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

Block party with the worst Cubs game ever!

Did it seem like it was National Block Party day yesterday?
I had to go get more brats at about 1, and I swear I drove by 3 on the little trip to the Jewel. 
Ours had a million kids, a pet parade, a raffle, an egg toss, a firetruck visit, the Chicago Mounted Police (2 guys on horses!), that giant inflatable room where kids can jump, incredible barbecue, bean bag toss competition, a dj (Hokey Pokey! Lady Gaga! The Macarena!), musical chairs, frosty cold malted beverages and the worst Cubs game possible on the radio.
At one point I walked into the house, turned on the tv.
It's 5 nothin', Cubs not winning.
I walked into the back yard, came back in about a minute later. 
Now it's 8 nothin' and Big Z is getting pulled.
Good God, remember the end of last year when he won all those (8, I think) games in a row and you thought, "HE'LL NEVER BE MORE APPEALING TRADE HIM NOW!"
I read Phil Rogers this morning. 
He says there's an unconfirmed rumor the Yanks might be interested in Soriano.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Right.
Anyway, there's another Phil who lives a couple houses down, and he comes over with the old 1986 Crosstown Classic mug.
That's the photo above. 

Just look at old man Jimmy Frey.
2 years before this, 1984, he comes this close to the Series.
1986?
He gets canned after winning just 23 of the first 56 games.
Compared to strapping young Tony LaRussa with the big guns and a 72-90 Sox team with a payroll of about $10 mil.
10 mil?
Anyway, what fabulous art!
I found a commercial for a recent crosstown classic, and it has this joke in it:
SOX FAN: Why'd it take the Cubs so long to get a website?
CUBS FAN: (LOOKS MYSTIFIED)
SOX FAN: They could never string three W's together. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

How come that seems so...not unusual?

These Cubs were Sutcliffe and Davis and Dunston and Ryno and Maddux and Moreland and Dernier and Durham and GOD DO I MISS THAT TEAM.
Even though they won just 70 games that year.
Right now the Cubs are 38-57.

Wonder if they'll be as good as '86? 

 

Comments

I like the joke but I think it would work better if it was about Q-ball. //Why doesn't Mike Quade have his own web site? He won't have one until he can string three W's in a row.// elsewhere: Peter Gammons just tweeted a bit ago that Jim Hendry has no interest in trading Dempster or Garza. I'm pretty sure that's 3/44 Pete.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

Restating Gammons: Jim Hendry has no interest in making the Cubs better for the future. I actually understand not wanting to trade Garza (though because of my displeasure with the trade for him, I have trouble liking him on the Cubs), but why would you want to keep a player who is: (1) a 34 year old pitcher having his worst year in 4 years; (2) scheduled to be paid over $10mm next season; and (3) playing on the team with the second worst record in baseball with little hope to be in contention next year (the last year of Dempster's contract). Not sure there is a more appropriate situation for a player to be traded. Dempster would likely disallow any such trade, so perhaps Hendry leaked that he won't trade Demps to avoid any fan reaction to Ryan refusing a trade. But I don't believe Hendry is that calculating. I just think he likes Ryan Dempster and won't trade him.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

most of Demp's peripherals have been pretty consistent over the last 3 years now including this season, I think he has the second highest BABIP though in the NL, at least before the last start. A better defense and a better team and he's easily worth the $12M this year and next. If they can move him for a equal or similar pitcher with 3-5 years of club control, great, but I don't think they'd get that. Demp also has the rather unique situation with his kid that he probably doesn't want to change if he doesn't have to...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Demp is a good pitcher who is getting older. The Cubs were terrible last year, are terrible this year and likely will not be good next year (his last year under contract). Please explain why again to me that you would keep him at $12 mm for next year? He likely will reject any trade, but that isn't the discussion...the question is whether he should be traded by the Cubs. And I don't think there is a clearer yes -- he (1) is still pretty good and has value, (2) is getting older and will not be under contract when/if we ever contend again, and (3) we have the 2nd worst record in baseball with him on the team. That last point is what makes me laugh when people say we don't want to give up on 2012 by trading Dempster. We had Dempster in 2010 and, before the Q-Ball miracle run, had the third worst record in baseball. We have had Demspter for a good part of 2011 (though, as often happens with aging pitchers, he was injured for part of the time) and we have the second worst record in baseball. I like Dempster and think his contract is fine. For a contender. We are not a contender with or without Dempster so if we can shed his $12mm contract, that is a good move. Particularly if we receive value in return.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

I am always confused by logic like this. It seems that if you aren't convinced the Cubs can make the playoffs you should just completely shitcan the year--sell off veterans, play young guys, save money, and plan to win 60 games. But what does that do? Fans would be pissed and not show up. The team has one of the highest payrolls in the majors and doesn't have to drastically save money. The team doesn't have that many young guys to plug in to gain experience in a lost season like that. It just doesn't accomplish anything. We are scrapping the bottom of the barrel for starting pitching now (Ortiz, Davis, Bush, Lopez). If you get rid of Dempster, you just have to find more of those guys for next year. We don't have enough young players that he is blocking anyone. The Cubs should keep him and add a few players to try to contend for next year. And even if that fails and it turns into a learning season for younger players, then you want a starter like Dempster around. You want young guys to experience winning at least a few days a week.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

So should we spend more on veterans who get us the second worst record in baseball? Would you ever admit that the current plan is NOT working? Sometimes these trades bring young players to help the future...I am sure the Atlanta fans loved Doyle Alexander, but probably were happy with that trade. Sometimes, having $12mm to spend in the offseason is enough...perhaps that $12mm could be used to help replace whatever Demps gives us next year. But Dempster will be 35 next year. He is not part of the future. You somehow believe that this team, which is getting nothing but older yet still has been one of the worst teams in baseball over 2010-11, can contend with just a few additions. I don't agree and perhaps that is why we disagree on Dempster.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

Would I ever admit the current plan is not working? Sure, if that were the case. Would you ever admit that perhaps you are overreacting in the midst of a bad season? This season sucks and we all feel just as shitty about the future as you do. But we felt this way in 2002 and 2006 as well, and then with just a few moves -- yes, that's all it took -- the team turned it around. With a payroll this high, that happens. The "plan" that you see as not working is the same plan they have taken every year since 2003 and it has brought us 3 division championship teams, another 89-win team, and another 83-win team that finished second. The plan is to spend $125 million+ on payroll to field a veteran team capable of winning. Does it work every year? No. No plan does. But on the long term it is a more effective plan than trading veterans in hopes of getting a John Smoltz in return and playing a bunch of rookies with no real potential all season just to see what happens.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

I'm sure no one would be too upset if they got all of Dempster's contract off the books and received a couple of top 50 major league prospects. But I don't think that's on the table. So then it becomes what makes it worth trading him? Just taking the money off the books and getting marginal prospects? Does that really get the Cubs anything? I'm not sure it does. There's certainly not a wealth of starting pitching on the market next year. Maybe the Ricketts are the type to save money now and use it later, but I haven't seen anything to indicate that. Get a couple good prospects, but pay a lot of Dempster's salary? Cubs have never showed that willingness to pay off salaries of useful players. Besides Castro, I'm fine with them trading just about anybody right now, but just making trades to show the appearance of doing something, doesn't make a lot of sense. Will it improve the Cubs somehow is the question to be asked? And since we're rarely privy as fans to what has been offered or discussed in deals to well after the fact, not much use getting bent over it.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

Either way, just the chance that those players COULD be helpful in the future to a contending Cub team is more valuable than paying Dempster $12mm to lead us to another season 20+ games under .500 that is not a statement of fact though... I'm sure the Cubs intend to compete next year, like they did this year, and any team with a $125M payroll can turn it around in one offseason with the right moves. they can likely trade Dempster next year if they're out of it and get a better or similar deal since he'll be owed considerably less.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Not sure I agree with the premise that "any team with $125mm payroll can turn it around in one offseason with the right moves". That has been our attitude for the last few years. One attribute of a good leader is to realize when plans previously undertaken are failing and make new plans. Not just assume it will get better with a few changes. Just because we have a high payroll, there is no evidence based on the last few years that we should have a realistic belief that we can contend next year. Particularly when the only significant change that likely could occur is replacing Pena with Pujols or Fielder. That would not make us a contender.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I don't disagree, but being the best players on the worst team shouldn't mean you are safe, should it? Demps is dependable and his dependability is valuable. Much more valuable to a contending team than to the second worst team in baseball. I just believe in taking a chance on trading for prospects. The Cubs shouldn't be special...when other teams are terrible, they trade highly paid players. The Mets just traded K-Rod, rumors are that Beltran could be available for the right price. The Mets are significantly better than the Cubs -- why would the Cubs be different?

[ ]

In reply to by springs

I should have clarified... $125M and money to spend, not $125M and most of the money already tied up in aging players and no room to maneuver. Not sure I agree with the premise that "any team with $125mm payroll can turn it around in one offseason with the right moves". sure they can, whether they will is no sure thing of course. But higher payrolls still have a greater chance of being good, but it's not 100%, probably not even 90%. just agree to disagree by this point... the cubs aren't blowing anything up and they will attempt to compete next season and ryan dempster is still a very useful pitcher worth his money.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I don't disagree that teams that spend more money typically are better than teams that spend less. That doesn't mean that Soriano, Zambrano (or Vernon Wells or other poor signings) are worth the amounts they are being paid. And they limit what you can do. So if you were GM, unless you believe that we can win 25 more games than we will this year from signings, then the correct move is to attempt to compete next year and beyond by moving players who are (1) getting older and are not part of the future, and (2) still have trade value. Demps fits this category. Mind you, the discussion started not as "will the Cubs trade Dempster". We know the answer is a mid to high 90th percentile of "no". The question is should they trade Dempster. I don't believe they can take the team they have and add significant players to be contenders in 2012, so I think the answer should be "yes"; unless you can identify enough people to add to turn us into a team with a reasonable chance to be a contender next year, I am not sure how your answer is different.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

I don't believe they can take the team they have and add significant players to be contenders in 2012, so I think the answer should be "yes" I'm sure you felt the same after 2006 and 2002. Anyway, I don't know the exact targets at the moment and I don't know if Hendry will be in charge. I have no problem trading Dempster, I have a problem trading him for B- prospects that won't be ready for 2-3 years, if ever. He's just not a guy they have to move. Soriano, Fukudome, Pena, maybe Ramirez, even Z are higher on my list.

Has Hendry asked the Phillies for permission to talk to R.S.? If Ricketty wants to put fannies in the seats, that's the only hope. Of course, Q will go on to manage the post divorce Dodgers to 3 W.S. titles but we can say we trained him...for 25 years. BTW the Rangers have been playing night games and winning them, with record high lows for 9, 10 PM. And Arlington has not been known to evaporate humidity at night either. So goes the theory (if there ever was one) of sunshine, heat and the wind blowing out for daily excuses. Wonder if things would change if a Hall of Fame guy took the reigns.

A whole bunch of seats emptied after the fourth inning. Something else going on in Chicago?

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).