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

Casper Wells Unfriendly to Guests at Riverview Park

Bryant Flete reached base four times (two singles and two walks), knocked-in two runs, and scored another, and Casper Wells singled twice, walked, drove-in two runs, and scored another, leading the Cubs to an 8-4 victory over the Angels in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #6 at the Under Armour Performance Center at Riverview Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Nataniel Delgado (2012 NDFA - Dominican Republic - $280K bonus) clubbed a three-run home run to account for three of the four Angels runs.  

Justin Ruggiano (Cubs 15-day DL - hamstring) continued his EXST rehab, serving as a DH and batting three times. He laced a line-drive single to center and then later scored in the bottom of the 1st inning, grounded out 6-3 in his second AB, and flied out to the warning track in dead CF his last time up.  

Casper Wells (AAA Iowa 7-day DL - back spasms) also continued his EXST rehab, playing RF for seven innings and reaching base in all three of his Plate Appearances (the aforementioned two singles and a walk). He was due to hit a fourth time in the bottom of the 8th, but he had already departed for the clubhouse by that time. He looks to be 100%, and so he may be rejoining Iowa very soon.  

RHP C. J. Edwards (AA Tennessee 7-day DL - shoulder fatigue) is at Riverview Park while awaiting the results of his latest MRI. He can participate in PFP drills, but he is not yet cleared to resume throwing.  

Here is the abridged box score from today's game (Cubs players only):  


CUBS LINEUP:
1. Rashad Crawford, CF: 1-4 (1B, HBP, E-1, K, K, 2 R, SB)
2a. Justin Ruggiano, DH #1: 1-3 (1B, 6-3, F-8, R)
2b. Shamil Ubiera, RF: 0-1 (BB, 6-3)
3. Bryant Flete, 2B: 2-2 (1B, 1B, BB, BB, R, 2 RBI)
4a. Casper Wells, RF-DH: 2-2 (BB, 1B, 1B, R, 2 RBI)
4b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
5. Rony Rodriguez, DH #2: 0-3 (BB, F-8, F-7, F-9, RBI)
6. Tyler Alamo, C: 0-4 (4-6-3 DP, 4-3, 4-3, 6-3)
7. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 1-4 (P-6, 6-3, 1B, K) 
8. Elliot Soto, SS: 0-4 (K, 5-3, K, E-5, R)
9. Justin Marra, DH #3: 1-4 (3-U, F-8, 3-U, 2B, RBI)
10. Mark Malave, 1B: 2-4 (6-3, 1B, K, 1B, R)
11. Adonis Paula, 3B: 1-4 (E-5, 6-3, 2B, K, R)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Jeferson Mejia: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 PO, 1 GIDP, 3/1 GO/FO, 57 pitches (30 strikes)
2. Luis Hernandez: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 2/3 GO/FO, 28 pitches (19 strikes)
3. Zak Hermans: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/FO, 31 pitches (18 strikes)
4. Josh Davis: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/FO, 36 pitches (24 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 1
3B Adonis Paula - E-5 (fielding error alllowed batter to reach base safely)

ATTENDANCE: 7

WEATHER: Sunny & very breezy with temperatures in the 80's 
 

Comments

I refuse to watch tonight's game. I have the time, and I won't do it. I'm not going to add a set of eyeballs to the MLB app site, even tho I know it won't make any difference. I don't know what Renteria is thinking with this refusing to play Olt every day, but I'm boycotting the games he doesn't play in if for no other reason that it means one less home run tonight. WTF, not playing him is almost like saying, "we won't need any home runs tonight kids" EDIT: I will say this, though. I would like to see Olt get a couple regular base hits once in awhile.

Btw here is the f'ing litmus test: any doubt that Atlanta was happy as hell Olt was taken out of the lineup for extra innings the other night? Any doubt in your mind that the Cardinals are happy they don't have to face Olt four times tonight? None. No doubt. And it's not even because he's good. It's because he's dangerous and he's fairly hot. What manager doesn't play a player that unnerves the other team? Ever? Maybe an aging veteran who needs rest. That's about it.

Bryant homered again Too bad Barney and Valbuena are blocking him

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

he can't stay in AA too much longer performing like he is. sure the Ks aren't ideal, but they're not alarming given what he's doing around those Ks (including the walks). his bat is playing like a guy who's done with AA. his glove seems like a guy who's ready for LF/RF, though.

Somebody woke up Albert Almora tonight...3 doubles, 4 rbi and Ben Wells had a nice night 6ip, 3 hits, 0 runs, 8K, 0 BB

Arrieta is walking a tightrope over thin ice on the edge of the world, um with no where to turn, well I mean - he's wild tonight.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

It's really really bizarre. I think we've all said it - that it would be understandable if there was an established vet. Half of Olt's hits (very nearly) are home runs, which is also a little bizarre. I'd like to see that change but I also wouldn't want them to mess with his approach just yet. The only way to really see what this kid is about is to play him and give him those ABs. But you nailed it best in a post earlier up the thread. OTHER teams are intimidated by his presence. That walk yesterday? I'm glad he took it. He has eight of them now. Teams are starting to really be careful around the strike zone, and he isn't showing signs yet of reaching out for crappy pitches. When he strikes out, he strikes out Brett Jackson style, just seems to miss the damn thing. Jackson, however, doesn't smash the ball into space the way Olt does when he does connect, so teams aren't afraid of him. The thing is, even if he goes 0-4, he's a threat to turn a game around at every at bat. Why on earth would you not play him? I loved that post you wrote. It said it a lot better. It's really crazy. I just don't get it at all.

even though j.arrieta got to go 96 pitches in his last injury rehab tuneup, he's only been allowed to go 82, 81, and 82 since his return to the bigs.

baez 0-4 with 3Ks. 43K in 102ab. is b.jackson his hitting coach in iowa?

HAGSAG: I don't know if Tsuyoshi Wada has an opt-out in his contract, but we might be able to deduce some things: 

1. Any international player who was at least 23 years old and who had played all or parts of at least five seasons in a recognized foreign "major" league (NPB, KBO, Serie Nacional, et al) prior to signing his first contract with an MLB club becomes an Article XX-B FA when the player's contract expires, 

Tsuyoshi Wada was an Article XX-B player post-2013. 

2. If an Article XX-B MLB free-agent signs a minor league contract at least ten days prior to MLB Opening Day (Wada's original contract with the Cubs was signed in January), and then is either not released by 12 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day prior to MLB Opening Day or added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or MLB Disabled List by 3 PM (Eastern) on MLB Opening Day, the player automatically receives a $100,000 retention bonus, and the player can unilaterally opt-out of the minor league contract on June 1st if he has not been added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or an MLB Disabled List by that date. 

The Cubs released Wada prior to 12 PM on the 5th day prior to MLB Opening Day.

So because Wada was released by the Cubs prior to 12 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day prior to MLB Opening Day, it probably means the Cubs either did not want to pay the $100,000 retention bonus and/or give Wada the right to opt-out of his minor league contract on June 1st if he was not added to the MLB 40-man roster by that date. 

Also, because Wada was released from a minor league contract, Outright Release Waivers were not required, and so no other MLB club would have had an opportunity to claim him at the time the Cubs released him, even if another club was interested.

So the Cubs could have just not released Wada and kept the original minor league contract with the $100K retention bonus and the June 1st opt-out, but they did not. They released him (and then almost immediately re-signed him), obviously to either avoid having to pay the $100K retention bonus and/or to remove the automatic June 1st opt out.

From Wada's POV, he must have received some added benefit that he would not have had in the original contract he signed with the Cubs, or he probably wouldn't have re-signed a week before Opening Day without first testing the market. 

It's very likely that he did not receive an earlier automatic opt out (like May 1st) in his new contract (the one signed in March immediately after he was released) or he probably would have exercised it, or (more likely) the Cubs woud have made sure to add him to their 40-man roster prior to the opt-out date and then option him to Iowa. So even without knowing the particulars of his "second" contract (the one signed in March), I think we can surmise that Wada must have received additional money in exchange for a later opt-out or maybe even no opt-out at all (other than becoming a free-agent after the season if he isn't on an MLB 40-man roster by the 5th day folllowing the conclusion of the 2014 World Series). 

Again, even if Wada does have a right to opt out on a certain date (let's say July 1st), the Cubs can just add him to their 40-man roster by that date and then either place him on the 25-man roster, or else they could option him to Iowa, because he has two minor league options left. It would cost the Cubs a slot on their MLB 40-man roster to do that, but at least they could keep Wada from becoming a free-agent until the end of the season. 

If Wada is on an MLB 40-man roster at the conclusion of the 2014 World Series and he is not signed for 2015, he will automatically become an Article XX-B FA. And if he is on a minor league roster at the conclusion of the World Series, he would automatically become a Article XX-D second-contract minor league FA at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series. The only way the Cubs can be sure to retain Wada for 2015 (if they want to do that) would be to sign him to a 2015 minor league successor contract (but then he would be eligible for selection in the December 2014 Rule 5 Draft), or add him to their MLB 40-man roster and sign him to a 2015 MLB contract.

Recent comments

  • 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.

    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?

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.