Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

A Chart of the Soler System

(This of course inspired by Rob's headline yesterday) So, I don't know jack, do you? The other day somebody said that Jorge Soler was gonna sign a contract with the Cubs, he just couldn't find his pen. Now it's all kindsa teams trying to get close to Soler, apparently. The Cubs, represented in the chart as the USS Enterprise, still seem to be the closest. But the Yankee Evil Empire suddenly came on the screens, and not alot Captain James T. Epstein can do with his phasers against those guys. And the Black Hole of Miami now opened it's hungry mouth. They've been sucking up everything, even Dark Star Z. Billy Bean is riding some crazy comet, and swooped down to get Yoenis Cespedis. Today I read that Ces didn't get a no-trade so Billy's probably got something up his sleeve for some kind of future time warp. Every time I read anything about the Philadelpia Red Planet, it's that their population is getting ancient, so getting Soler might make sense. But given everything I've tried to guess so far, probably Soler is going someplace not on the map. Houston or Minnesota. Maybe to the White Sox to back up Kosuke Fukudome. Ahhhh just kiddin'. Like I said, I don't know jack.

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Says... "If Wright struggles to an extent in 2012 where the Mets determine he is not worth a $15MM net option price for 2013, would they be willing to risk $12.5MM for two potential draft picks?"... Under the new CBA, compensation for losing a player who is offered a guaranteed contract with a salary equal to the average salary of the 125 highest-paid MLB players the previous season is one draft pick (not two). BTW, the compensation draft pick is between the first and second round (like it would have been for a Type "B" player under the old system), but the signing team loses its 1st round draft pick (as if it had signed a Type "A" player under the old system), unless it's a Top 10 pick in the 1st round, in which case the signing team loses its 2nd round pick.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

guess I misunderstood this... C. A Club that signs a player subject to compensation will forfeit its first round selection, unless it selects in the top 10, in which case it will forfeit its second- highest selection in the draft. D. The Player’s former Club will receive a selection at the end of the first round beginning after the last regularly scheduled selection in the round. The former Clubs will select based on reverse order of winning percentage from the prior championship season. so the pick the signing team loses just disappears? there's the competitive balance lottery , but those are between the 1st and 2nd rounds and 2nd and 3rd rounds.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 1:41pm — Rob G. so the pick the signing team loses just disappears? there's the competitive balance lottery , but those are between the 1st and 2nd rounds and 2nd and 3rd rounds. ======================= ROB G: That's correct. The signing team loses its pick, but nobody gets it. There is just one fewer pick in the 1st (or 2nd) round. Of course that would be offset by additional draft picks inserted into the 1st (or 2nd) round when a club gets a compensation pick for failing to sign its own 1st or 2nd round draft pick from the previous year's draft. BTW, a compensation pick is inserted one slot lower than where the team selected the unsigned pick the previous year (if a club fails to sign overall pick #11 from the 2012 draft, it gets overall pick #12 in the 2013 draft). NOTE: Compensation for failing to sign a 3rd round pick is a selection between the 3rd and 4th round in the next year's draft, and there is no compensation for failing to sign a player selected in the 4th (or lower) round. But if the club fails to sign a compensation pick (a selection awarded for failing to sign a 1st, 2nd or 3rd round pick from the previous year's draft), it does not get another pick the next year for failing to sign the compensation pick. So "signability" considerations are very important when deciding who to select with this pick. Not much has been discussed (yet) about the new competitive balance lottery draft picks. These picks can be traded, but the pick cannot be traded during the off-season, and the pick cannot be traded for cash unless the cash acquired is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. It also has not been made clear how and when International signing bonus cap money can be traded (and how much of it can be traded to any one team at any one time).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

not sure what you're going for there... Matt Eddy @eddymk Cubs release 20-year-old RHP Robinson Lopez, whom they acquired with 2 other players from Braves for Derrek Lee in Aug ’10 10:31 AM - 15 Feb 12 via web · Details Kevin Goldstein @Kevin_Goldstein The Cubs have released RHP Robinson Lopez, who was seen as a nice prospect when he came from Atlanta in the Derrek Lee deal. 9:53 AM - 15 Feb 12 via TweetDeck · Details

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 1:23pm — George Altman Re: A Chart of the Soler System Phil, when do they have to add Concepcion to the 40-man? Or is this not 'official'? Also curious if you have any thoughts on the Jorge Soler 'signing'? ========================= GEORGE A: The Cubs don't need to add Gerardo Concepcion to their 40-man roster until the contract is signed. Apparently they are still waiting for him to take a physical. So it's not official yet. Because he has no previous MLB or minor league experience, the Cubs cannot wait 20 days to add him to their 40-man roster if he signs a major league contract (as would be the case if they were signing an MLB or minor league FA). While the Cubs have up to 20 days to file the contract with the MLB office, the player must be added to the MLB 40-man roster as soon as he signs the contract (again, presuming he signs a major league contract). BTW, if Concepcion were to sign a minor league contract instead of a major league contract, the entire $7M must be paid upfront as a signing bonus and cannot be spread over multiple years. (Well, it could be spread over five years if he is a "two-sport" player, but there is no indication of that). But if Concepcion signs a major league contract, the $7M can be spread over the length of the contract (as was the case with Jeff Samardzija). As for Jorge Soler, the Cubs have to be careful to follow the rules. If they don't, the contract could be rejected by the MLB Commissioner and/or the Cubs might have to pay a hefty fine.

Okay so WTF?? Anyone care to guess what the fuck happened on Monday? Was it Soler's agent blasting the shopping spree into the stratosphere by leaking a false signing? Or was it some crap the The tribune screwed up - or a 'true' scoop that was ill-advisedly leaked for reals? This particular turn of events has an old school cub-moment smell to it??

Has compensation taken this long ever in beisbol history? Can Bud hurt the Cubs to help the Brewers? What's going on??

fan graphs comes up with another good one...homegrown talent WAR production (total and average WAR) from 2002 by team. I assume higher average war equates with more star power development. shows the Cubs at #27 (near the bottom, total WAR 19.3, ave WAR 0.92) with the most productive player in Sean Marshall. This would be fun to look at in 5 and 10 yr blocks of time correlated with management/scouting director changes to see who deserves credit for major upswings/downswings. Best: Boston Red Sox 100.3; 4.36 Worst: Chicago White Sox 11.9; 0.54 ...........Seattle Mariners.....8.9;..0.45 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/building-through-the-draft-wor…
If the Astros have only developed one stud player since the 2002 Draft (Hunter Pence), the Chicago Cubs have developed no one significant. They have been relatively successful at drafting and developing minor role players — Tony Campana, Rich Hill, Darwin Barney, Tyler Colvin, etc — but the homegrown talent is lacking star power. The best the Cubs have done is Sean Marshall, who found success as a dominant set-up man — which, while nice, has little overall value for creating a homegrown core to build around. Perhaps the 2005 Draft personifies the Cubs’ developmental success over the past decade. The 2005 Draft saw one Chicago Cub draftee make the big leagues (thus far), and that was left-handed reliever Donnie Veal, who pitched 16.1 innings for the Pirates in 2009 and compiled a 7.16 ERA. The system suffered yet another blow prior to the 2011 season, when they sent Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, and company to Tampa Bay for Matt Garza.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

The problem with this kind of analysis is that it only addresses the June amateur draft--at which the Cubs have obviously been miserable for the last decade and a half. But the story is a bit different when you look at international signings, the Cubs have been one of the more active teams there, and the results have been good over the same time period. On last year's team alone you had Zambrano, Marmol, Soto, Castro and I suppose you'd need to include Fukudome as well? Plus, Soriano, Pena and Ramirez were originally intl FA signings with other teams.

tweeting Nick Cafardo @nickcafardo 1hr ago A Red Sox official indicated he expects comp decision on Theo Epstein "very soon."

from this fucken tool Nick Cafardo --- don't forget that Nick the Tool thinks this significant announcement will be for significant compensation even though he thinks Theo was a worthless jerk and really bolted for a lateral move compared to his significant boss, Lucchino who is a real President of Baseball Operations.

Best pre-ST news I've heard so far -- Tony Campana has been working on his (abysmal) bunting. IF he could bunt, his OBP would be forty points higher and he'd be worth keeping around. Best suggestion I've heard for Tony Campana's weak hitting --- fine him every time he hits a fly ball.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Campana showed bunt almost every PA last year but he was so inept infields didn't take the bait and third basemen just played him at normal depth. He only had 3 Sac Hits. I'm saying he could raise his OBP all the way up to .340 if he could bunt---it was .303 last year. e.g. A combination of 2 more sacrifice hits, 4 more bunts for hits, a walk instead of a strikeout bunting, and 2 hits past a pulled in infielder last year would have done the trick.

If you're wondering where the Cubs rank in the ESPN INSIDER super-flawed "future power rankings," they are 13th.

Take that you stoopid Cafardo...our own Captain Wrongway sez: Phil Rogers @ChiTribRogers Selig has spent "a ton" of time studying Theo case. Decision likely by week's end.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/42553/mlb-insider-keith-law Re: Hak Ju Lee 10-15 HR peak. Should hit for high averages, get on base, run, save 5-10 runs a year with the glove. What's not to like? Re: Soler with Cubs Definitely not ahead of Rizzo, but most likely ahead of Jackson on ceiling. Re: Cespedes vs. Soler I haven't seen either guy yet, but given what I've heard, and their listed ages, I'd rather roll the dice on Soler. Re: McNutt I wouldn't rule out starting, but he's got to get some consistency in that delivery first.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    For sure. This lineup isn’t exactly stacked as is, and subbing out a Cooper or even a Tauchman for Madrigal won’t do it any favors.

  • crunch (view)

    the ESPN bottom graphic taking up 1/8th of the screen sucks.

    i only use ESPN during baseball season and i'm forced to watch a baseball broadcast designed to be broadcast in sports bars and betting parlors where the news/scores of other games is as important as what you're actually tuned in to watch.

  • crunch (view)

    morel triple to start the season....yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    LHP Blake Weiman appears to have been the last cut from the AAA Iowa roster. He is with the Tennessee group at Minor League Camp.

     

  • crunch (view)

    bruce bochy is hobbling rather badly for a guy who's had 2 hip replacements.  his gait is extremely wonky taking the lineup card to the ump.

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.