Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

2015-16 International Signing Period Began Today

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

The "International Signing Period" extends from July 2nd through June 15th of the following year.

Any individual who is age 17 or older, has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract, resides outside the U. S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and has not been enrolled in a high school or college in the U. S., Canada, or Puerto Rico within the previous year, can be signed during the ""International Signing Period." Also, a 16-year old international player can be signed if the individual will turn 17 prior to September 1st or prior to the conclusion of the minor league season (whichever comes first).

An international player can be "Signed for Future Service" (contract is for the following season) if the player signs a contract July 2nd up through the conclusion of the MLB regular season.  

In addition, a 16-year old international player who otherwise would not be eligible to sign can be "Signed for Future Service" (that is, signed for the next season) if the player signs a contract July 2nd through August 31st.

No international player can be signed during the period of time extending from June 16th through July 1st.

There is a maximum limit on the aggregate amount of money each MLB club can pay as signing bonuses to international first-year players before penalties begin to accrue.

Each MLB club is assigned an International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) for each International Signing Period (ISP). A club’s ISBP is based upon the club’s winning percentage from the previous season. (Clubs that finish with lower winning percentages will receive a larger ISBP than clubs with higher winning percentages, with the ISBP increasing inverse to the previous season’s standings). In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie.

The Cubs SBP for the 2015-16 ISP is $3,230,700. 

A club's ISBP consists of four separate "Signing Bonus Values" (SBV) plus an additional $700,000. Each SBV corresponds to a particular "slot," and each slot is assigned a specific cash value (TBA prior to the start of the ISP).  

A Signing Bonus Value (SBV) can be traded, but with some restrictions:

1. An SBV can only be traded during the International Signing Period (ISP) to which the SBV was assigned (July 2nd through June 15th of the following year);

2. An SBV cannot be sold for cash. However, cash can be exchanged if it is used to offset the salary or salaries of a player or players acquired in return for the SBV;

3. An SBV cannot be substituted for a "Player to Be Named Later" (PTBNL);

4. The entire SBV must be assigned to the other club when it is traded;

5. A club may not acquire an SBV in a trade if the club has already paid signing bonuses equal to or in excess of its ISBP;

6. Once acquired, an SBV can be traded ("flipped") to a third club, as long as the third club has not already paid signing bonuses equal to or in excess of its ISBP;

7. A club's originally assigned ISBP can be increased by a maximum of 50%. If a club acquires an SBV in a trade that causes the club's ISBP to increase to an amount that is more than 50% above the club's originally-assigned ISBP, the portion of the SBV that caused the club's ISBP to increase to an amount that is more than 50% above the club's originally-assigned ISBP is subtracted from the SBV. 

A signing bonus paid to a first-year international player age 23 or older who has spent all or part of at least five seasons playing in an MLB-recognized foreign professional or "major" league does not count against the club’s ISBP. (A signing bonus paid to a first-year Cuban international player age 23 or older who has spent all or part of at least three seasons playing in Serie Nacional does not count against the club’s 2013-14 ISBP, then beginning with the 2014-15 ISP, a signing bonus paid to a first-year Cuban international player age 23 or older who has spent all or part of at least five seasons playing in Serie Nacional does not count against the club’s ISBP).

Also, a club’s six highest signing bonuses of $50,000 or less and ALL signing bonuses of $7,500 or less that are paid to first-year international players do not count against the club’s ISBP. (Beginning in July 2014, only signing bonuses of $10,000 or less that are paid to first-year international players will not count against a club’s ISBP).

The penalty for a club paying signing bonuses in excess of its ISBP is a tax (no draft picks are forfeited) and a restriction on bonuses that can be paid to international players during the next ISP: 

1. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 5% or less must pay a 75% tax on the ISBP overage, but there are no restrictions on bonuses in the next ISP.

2. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 5-10% must pay a 75% tax on the ISBP overage, and is permitted to sign only one international first-year player to a bonus of $500K or more in the next ISP. 

3. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its 2013-14 ISBP by 10-15% must pay a 100% tax on the overage, and is prohibited from paying a bonus in excess of $500K to any international first-year player in the 2014-15 ISP; then beginning with the 2014-15 ISBP, a club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 10-15% must pay a 100% tax on the ISBP overage, and no player may be signed to a bonus of $300K or more in the next ISP. 

4. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its 2013-14 ISBP by 15%+ must pay a 100% tax on the overage, and is prohibited from paying a bonus in excess of $250K to any international first-year player in the 2014-15 ISP; then beginning with the 2014-15 ISBP, a club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 15%+ must pay a 100% tax on the ISBP overage, and no player may be signed to a bonus of $300K or more in the next two ISPs. 

Money collected from the tax on clubs that exceed their ISBP will be used to further the development of international baseball.  

A player subject to ISBP restrictions cannot be signed to a Major League contract. 

 

Tags
Cubs International Signing Bonus Pool

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 07:38 pm

MLB Trade Rumors reports that the Cubs have signed several 2015-16 IFA today, although unlike two years ago when the Cubs signed the Top Two IFA (RF Eloy Jimenez and SS Gleyber Torres), none of the players reportedly signed by the Cubs today are rated among the consensus Top 10 2015-16 IFA 

link 

However, one (Dominican SS Aramis Ademan) is a Top 15, two others (Dominican OF Yonathan Sierra and Venezuelan INF Yonathan Perlaza) is a Top 20, and a third (Panamanian catcher Miguel Amaya) is a Top 25. 

Ademan is a left-handed hitter and a "true shortstop" (should be able to remain at SS), has (at best) average speed for a middle infielder, and at the plate he is a contact hitter with a short stroke, a patient approach. and a good eye at the plate. Perlaza is an "offensive-first" switch-hitting infielder with plus bat speed who will almost certainly be moved to 2B or to a corner OF spot. Amaya is an advanced receiver but with just an average arm, and at present a singles-hitter with withoccasional  gap power at the plate. And Sierra is a "boom-or-bust" power hitting corner OF.  

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 07:00 pm

"Tally up those deals, and the total outlay stands at $7.65MM. That’s more than double the club’s $3,230,700 total pool allocation (via Baseball America), meaning that the Cubs will sacrifice the ability to hand out any $300K+ bonuses for the next two years and incur a 100% tax on its overage. The club could still trade for some additional spending slots to offset some of those penalty fees."

Submitted by John Beasley on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 07:42 pm

Phil, could the Cubs put LaStella on the 60-day DL at this time backdated 60 days, or did his brief minor league rehab stint ruin his eligibility for that type of move?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 07:02 pm

JOHN B: A rehab stint has no effect on transferring a player from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL, or when his DL time expires, other than the number of days a player can spend on an Article XIX-C Minor League Rehab Assignment (max 20 days for a position player, and max 30 days for a pitcher).  

The Cubs can transfer Tommy LaStella from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL anytime (like right now today and then reinstate him tomorrow, if they had some reason why they would want to do that). Time spent on the 15-day DL is automatically applied toward time required to be spent on the 60-day DL when a player is transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day DL, so since LaStella was placed on the 15-day DL on April 14th (retroactive to April 9th), he has already spent 60+ days on the 15-day DL.  

That's why it is puzzling that the Cubs opted to DFA C Rafael Lopez last Saturday to make room on the MLB 40-man roster for RHSP Donn Roach, when they could have just transferred LaStella to the 60 instead.

Of course, the Cubs will need to make another 40-man roster move when Mike Olt's Minor League Rehab Assignment expires on July 13th (or earlier, if he is reinstated prior to the maximum 20 days), so they may have decided that they will have an easier time getting Lopez through waivers this week (to make room on the 40 for Roach) than ten days from now (to make room on the 40 for Olt), since Lopez was probably in-line to get  DFA'd eventually anyway.

BTW, if waivers are secured and Rafael Lopez gets outrighted, he will remain under club control through the 2017 season (subject to being eligible for selection in the 2015 & 2016 Rule 5 drafts).   


Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 07:19 pm

The Blue Jays (from Dodgers), the Braves (from the A's), the Rangers (from Angels), and the Rays (from the Marlins) acquired ISBP Signing Bonus Values (SBV) in trades involving minor league players troday.  

Remember, an SBV can only be traded for a players or players. An SBV cannot be sold for cash.

Two years ago, the Cubs acquired an SBV from Houston in exchange for minor league 2B Rony Torreyes, and two more SBV from Baltimore in the Feldman/Clevenger for Arrieta/Strop swap. Then they sent one of the Orioles SBV acquired in the Feldman deal and another SBV of their own to the Dodgers in the Carlos Marmol deal.

The SBVs acquired from Houston and Baltimore did not keep the Cubs from overspending their 2013-14 International Signing Bonus limit in excess of 15% and receiving penalities in the 2014-15 ISP (they could not sign any players for bonuses in excess of $250K), but it did somewhat reduce their tax liability (financial penalty).
 

Submitted by Hagsag on Fri, 07/03/2015 - 07:46 am

AZ Phil, can you give a scouting report on P.J. Francescon? He seems to be having a fine year at Tenn.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

  • crunch (view)

    booooooooooo

    also, wisdom and taillon are both in chicago.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Tonight’s game postponed. Split games on Saturday.

  • crunch (view)

    cubs getting crazy good at not having player moves leak.

    taillon we 100% know is pitching tonight.  who he's replacing and any additional moves are unknown as far as i can tell.

    p.wisdom was not in today's lineup in iowa (rained out) and he was removed from the game last night mid-game, but not for injury.  good bet he's with the team in the bigs, too.

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

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