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 @ Brewers: Lester vs Guerra (Game 97)

It takes no time at all for Mike Montgomery to find his inner Cub.CHC (58-38): LHP John Lester (10-4, 2.89)
MIL (41-54): RHP Junior Guerra (6-2, 3.06)
First pitch: 1:10pmCST

Lester had a great bounce-back win against the Mets on Monday (7.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 K, 3 BB). He’s 5-2 with a 3.67 on the road so far this year. Overall, the Brewers are 10-30 (.333) against him. Braun, The Thing that Should not Be, is 5-13.

Guerra had a no-decision in Pittsburgh his last time out (6 IP, 2 ER, 6 K, 3 BB). He beat the Cubs in Milwaukee in May, giving up 3 ER in 7 innings and striking out 11. The Cubs are 4-23 (.174) against him. Fowler is 1-4 with a HR.

Joe Nathan will be activated from the 60-day DL before the game.

Arrieta (12-4, 2.60) versus Gonzalez (2-5, 4.41) at 7:10pmCST on the South Side tomorrow. No word on what uniforms the Sox will be wearing.

Go Cubs!

Comments

from Iowa yesterday in extended inning starts, Cahill was bad/Matusz was pretty good. Soler (0-3, walk), Coghlan (1-3, double, walk) did play in AA. If Nathan is on the 25 man roster Sunday, there are just too many players floating around and I suspect it will take a trade to decompress this. The periphery of the bullpen right now is Edwards Jr, Richards, Warren and Grimm. I could see any of them back in Iowa until the roster opens up in September. Coghlan seems the most expendable hitter although I could see them sending Contreras down if Soler is really back to play LF. Maddon seems to really like using Contreras as late inning catcher option though. Hopefully it will clear up based on trading deadline deals.

Ken Davidoff, NY Post...
An industry source told The Post that the Yankees had asked serious Chapman suitors — a list believed to include the Nationals, the Cubs and the Indians, as well as a mystery team — for their best and final offers. While that doesn’t clinch a trade of Chapman, the impending free agent, it makes such a transaction darn likely. The Yankees intend to hold onto Miller, who is signed through 2018.
I'm thinking mystery team is the Tigers or Giants http://nypost.com/2016/07/23/as-yankees-revival-hopes-dim-selling-is-be…

Drew Storen DFA'd by Bluejays. Another once interesting reliever who fell off a cliff. Bosio fixer-upper vs. irreparably broken?

Lineup without You go, We go... probably just applying hamstring precautions LaStella (2B), KB, Rizzo, Zobrist (RF), Contreras (LF), Heyward, Russell, Ross, Lester

The Chris Sale five-day suspension includes yesterday, so it's only through Wednesday, and therefore he will probably start against the Cubs on Thursday. And he'll be pissed-off and rested, too. 

Torres for Chapman I think Yankees are aiming high,but would much rather get him to keep away from Giants or Nationals.

wow...villar just stole 3rd (after stealing 2nd) by walking 1/2 way to 3rd and then just sprinting toward 3rd with lester watching him do it from the mound.

39 pitch inning by Lester. I guess it's a wash vs yesterday's 1st when Lackey gave up 2 run HR.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

62 through 2ip...yow. it's an off day for d.ross, too. the wild pitch + passed ball in 2 separate strike 3 calls allowing the runner to reach 1st and the 5sb through 2ip makes for a bad game so far. ross cant shoulder any blame for some of those SBs, especially that villar steal of 3rd while lester watched him.

just to lighten the mood: Shark's day: 5.2 IP 5 Runs (all earned), 8 Hits, 2 HR. Left the game down 5-0 to Yankees. Anyone expecting game 4 NLCS Shark vs Hammel or Lackey?

First inning: two on, no out, Rizz and Zobrist due up. Don't score. Third inning: two on, one out, KB and Rizz due up. Don't score. This is getting' old, fellahs.

Miller park roof is closing. Hmmm, might play differently now? Lester at 72 pitches through 3. Roof closing might get him through 6. Middlebrows pulls a calf or hamstring. Len says he blew a tire rounding 1st. Nieuwenhuis enters game. Now roof opening. Dizziness. No AC in the ballpark wrt the field.

a.russell out and down into the clubhouse...no one knows why. it's very hot on the field, so it might be heat related.

Russell left game with left heel contusion from foul ball on Saturday. Started to bother him during the Sunday game.

welcome to the cubs j.nathan. 2 pitches into the inning and there's a guy on 3rd with 0 outs (triple). his velocity is hanging around 91/92mph.

cubs!!!!! cubs lead in the top 7th!

Not scratched because of a headache. Twitter... Source: Cubs prospect Gleyber Torres was in fact scratched due to ongoing trade talks. Destination unknown, but Yankees definitely in play.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

i pretty much assumed this would be one of the last kinds of things they'd do...give up a top prospect (probably the best in the system) to get 1/2(ish) year of a reliever followed by multiple years locked in at his market value. i wonder if there's other players going back/forth, too. i mean, it's not like it's a horrible thing...this is just something that seems out of profile.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Twitter is even more nonsensical with names and rumors than usual right now. I'd wait for a real confirmation from someone reputable at this point before getting too worked up.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Heyman, Wiatt, and Sharma are definitely reliable sources. Wiatt and Sharma have a ton of connections with the FO, and Heyman is one of the national guys who usually breaks stories first along with Rosenthal and Passan.

i liked it better when Cubs were really good and likeable.

will be very curious how and if they address the DV incident.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

it's a hell of a blockbuster, but it's for a guy who pitches 1/3rd of a season at an extreme premium considering the guy being traded and if the early extension $$$ rumors are true. it's one of those things that is bringing a guy at the top his game, but something is nagging me that this trade piece could have been put to better use. a huge part of me is all "hell yeah, top of the line producer"...another part of me is "hmm, that for that?"

Chapman 12+ Career WAR. Currently 4.7:1 k-BB. With Rondon/Chapman/Strop/Nathan/Montgomery/Wood...Its the best pen I can recall other than Sutter or Lee Smith handling things themselves. Its gonna suck if he gets injured, and it appears he's not the greatest of characters. But, he'll have another Cuban to hang out with on the team.

This all assumes Chapman doesn't want to be a free agent and possibly sign a $20MM+/year deal. We all know free agents get overpaid, sometimes dramatically (Hello, JayHey!). Not sure why Chapman would agree to the extension. If i'm is agent, I would tell him I could get I'm a $100M deal as a FA.

"Like the Chapman deal for Cubs from on-field POV, wish I didn't now have to feel lousy following an otherwise likable Cubs team." @jonahkeri

pretty much sums up my feelings

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Even from an on-field perspective, Torres is a 19-year-old beating up High-A pitching who also plays a great SS. Even if he never develops a legit MLB power stroke, he's still an obvious 4-tool guy with a very high floor. Sucks to trade away his next 6-8 years for a closer, albeit a great one.

Updating: Per @Joelsherman1, #Cubs-#Yankees trade, if completed, would be Chapman for Torres, Warren and likely two others.

Can only imagine they'd only give that much up if he's signing an extension. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Rashad Crawford was a basketball star in HS (he was known as "Baby Jordan", and baseball was only his second sport) and he has plus-speed and athleticism, so when the Cubs drafted him (Keith Lockhart was the scout)  he was seen as a long-term project.  

I was at Fitch Park the day that Rashad Crawford became a LH hitter, He waa never a switch-hitter, He went directly from being a RH hitter to a LH hitter, which I had never seen before. 

He had a long stroke as a RH hitter with some HR power but lots of swings & misses (he had major contact issues), and initially when he started hitting LH he was a slap hitter who bunted a lot and tried to hit the ball on the ground and beat-out infield hits. But somehow, someway he developed into a decent LH hitter with gap power and an occasional HR. 

He's an above-average defensive CF, too, with plus-range and arm. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Billy McKinney had season-ending knee surgery last August and came to Minor League Camp this year somewhat restricted. (He was used mostly as a DH in Cactus League Minor League Camp games), and I'm not sure he's 100% right now (he's repeating AA, and his XBH numbers are way down, like he's not getting good rotation in his lowev half). That might have been part of the reason why the trade wasn't completed right away. The Yankees might have been double-checking McKinney's medicals, and it's conceivable he could end up back with the Cubs (with a different player going to the NYY) if a pre-existing medical issue becomes known. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

The only player in the deal that would cause me a second thought is Gleyber Torres.

McKinney and Crawford are decent prospects but both are redundant/replaceable in the system and Warren was really only a middle-reliever or #6 starter, so to me it's really just Torres for Chapman.

And if Chapman is "nails" as a closer and gives the Cubs greater bullpen length & depth (with Strop moving to "fireman" role in the 6th & 7th innings and Rondon available as an alternate closerwhen Chapman is unavailable) and thereby gets the Cubs to the World Series and helps them win a World Championship that they are probably less-likely to win without him... and then he walks as a FA after the season... even then, I would absolutely make that trade again & again, even if Torres becomes a Hall of Fame SS.    

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

This offseason, after some ridiculous playoff run and Chapman saving every game from here until the end of the postseason striking out 27/9innings, I welcome anyone to quote this thread and call me a dummy: I hate this trade, and my hate is 2 parts Chapman makes this team less likeable and 1 part that's a ridiculous overpay for 30 regular season innings and, at tops, 10 postseason innings. Already hoping they don't extend him.

@JonHeyman: Yanks and Cubs have a deal. Torres, mckinney, Warren and likely 1 more to NYY.

That is a hell of a lot if they don't get an extention done. I'm assuming Chapman is going to be the closer with Rondon in the 8th and Strop in the 7th. That sounds great but Rondon #s aren't as good in non-save situations so we'll see how he responds to being the setup man.

I certainly hope he signed an extension. I would have been ok with this package for Miller, it is too much for 2 (well 3, hopefully) of Chapman. Of course, we win the World Series, I will retract this immediately.

[ ]

In reply to by twcoffee

chap's a FA after this season. 2-3 months of chapman and a sandwich pick after the 1st round (stay healthy chap) seems to be the "worst" outcome, but damn they're giving up a hell of a piece in torres. i don't care that torres is blocked...i just think something more valuable/controlled can come from trading away a guy like him.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Besides what he adds to the Cubs bullpen, getting Aroldis Chapman means the Giants and Nationals (and Indians) can't get him, and that could be important come the post-season. 

When the opponent knows Chapman is out there ready to pitch in the 9th, it can cause the other team to alter their strategy and play things differently than they otherwise might prefer to play things in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. 

Also, I like having Strop available as the old school "fireman" to pitch in the 7th or even in the 6th inning if necessary. Now there is no need to push the starters harder than they need to be pushed. 

"According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Cubs will not have a contract extension in place with Aroldis Chapman when their trade for the closer becomes official." hmmm.

thats a lot for 2-3 months....beyond Torres it's a lot of organizational depth, but hate to use your best prospect for a rental.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

i was going off what AZPhil said above...they keep talking about tweaking the rules, i didn't know if that had been changed or not. my winter/spring was way too hectic aside from a couple weeks vacation in janurary and i missed a lot of stuff. if not, this is one hell of an expensive trade for what looks to be 30-40 innings of play...including the playoffs. damn.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

ROB G & BOB R: You're right. The QO can only be extended if the player spends the entire previous season with one club, so only the Yankees could have offered one to Chapman (if he wasn't traded). If an Article XX-B FA is traded during the season, the new club can't offer a QO. .

Did the QO rules change?

unless there's a TARDIS involved, I dont believe that's a possibility

We are giving up a lot, but it's not like we're trading Addison Russell for 2+ months of Jason Hammel. When impact players become available, they are going to cost you. The other bids could also have been high.

Having Chapman as a rental is potentially less disruptive than having him come in with an extension in place. 

I'm not thrilled about the incident, but the police report is not as damning as I imagined it to be, and he was not charged. For the record (read: before anyone attacks me), my drunken father beat my mother on a regular basis for years, so I'd like to think I'm familiar enough with domestic violence. 

World Series with Chapman on the mound, I will have a hard time letting it diminish it.

Also, at least Chapman is not Ryan Braun.

I assume Chapman will replace Richard on the roster, but who goes down when Cahill gets activated? Maybe Grimm? And when Soler and Coghlan get healthy, how do they fit them on the roster when they're ready to be activated?

[ ]

In reply to by chitownmvp01

chitownmvp01: Indeed Clayton Richard would seem to be odd man out once Chapman reports, but Richard might accept a minor league assignment if he is promised a return to Chicago on 9/1 when MLB Active List rosters expand (Richard has minor league ioptions left).

And either Grimm or Edwards probably go down until 9/1 if & when Cahill is reinstated from the DL (all of the other relievers are out of options), Or Cahill might be willing to accept a brief two-week minor league assignment (he does have minor league options left) once his 30-day minor league rehab is completed (the assignment expires on 8/17), and then he'd get recalled on 9/1.

Same goes for Chris Coghlan when his 20-day minor league rehab expires on 8/11 (pitchers get 30 days for minor league rehab, position players get only 20). He might accept a brief minor league assignment, too, if he is promised a return ticket to Chicago on 9/1. (he also has minor league options left). 

Jorge Soler will probably get optioned to AAA when he has completed his minor league rehab (his 20-day rehab assignment expires on 8/10), and then he'll get recalled inn 9/1 when rosters expand. 

I just wonder what will happen with the 25 if the Cubs acquire a LH-hitting OF at the trade deadline like Josh Reddick. Perhaps the Cubs wiould cut back to a 12-man pitching staff and seven-man bullpen until 9/1. 

And what if LHP Brian Matusz has an 8/1 opt-out? Do you just let him walk away as a FA, or do you find him a spot on the 25 and drop one of the guys with options left (Grimm or Edwards) for him until 9/1? 

Obviously lots still TBD . 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I would expect Richard to accept an optional assignment because based on how he's played this season, there is a decent chance that he won't find work elsewhere. Rather stay and potentially get a ring. Same goes for Coghlan since he's struggled mightily this year. Edwards should not go down. He's pitched very well and Maddon is very impressed with him. I would expect Grimm to go down for Cahill so he can get back on track (he's pitched better in July, but he's not getting enough appearances). I hope Matusz doesn't have an 8/1 opt out. Does he? If he does, maybe he opts in with promise of being promoted on 9/1. No guarantees he finds work elsewhere. Soler staying in AAA is a good idea for him to get some at-bats on a regular basis. Hard to fit him in if Contreras plays LF. Acquiring Reddick doesn't make any sense to me. We don't need another bat, especially in OF. If you get a bat, get an IF because if lets say Zobrist lands on the DL (I hope not, knock on wood), do you trust Candelario or Kawasaki on your bench? It's not as good for sure.

I am 70 years old. The Cubs last played in the World Series in 1945. I was born in 1946. I hate to lose a prospect like Torres, but when the opportunity is there to get that World Series ring, you go for it. This was the idea in stock piling all this young talent. I would like to see Reddick added now and the Cubbies should be done.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

I am right there with you closing in on 60. I don't care that much about "mortgaging" one player who is not only blocked by two guys, but is not ready to hit the majors for at least a couple years. There is no reason why this team, this year, can't have a real shot at something NONE of us have experienced. Further, I don't feel that even if they fall short that they have ruined their farm system. I have made my opinion clear here, with others, Warren was shit on the Cubs save one spot start. The other players - are there no more that would be their equals or outperform them? I'd take that bet. Yeah - the lovable loser Cubbies have a shot to maybe not be so likable, while they try to punch their ticket to the World Series that have alluded them since 1908. I'm ok with the trade-off.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I'm also not crazy about press convictions. As the police report noted, there were no marks on the lady in question. There's a TMZ link (of course) to her police pictures, as well. I think the only way this trade goes real bad is if Cubbery intervenes and Chapman is suddenly bad for some reason.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Sure, no marks and some inconsistencies in the witness's statements. But firing your gun into garage wall immediately after an argument and punching out your car window is still threatening and out of control behavior. There was certainly enough for MLB to think it warranted a 30-game suspension.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Well he didn't leave a mark so its not that bad.

Fuck that.

Facts:

He choked her.

Her brother tackled him to separate him.

He cooled off by shooting his gun in the garage.

I don't have to like him on the team I follow.

And you are others are free to not give a shit about his personal misgivings if you so choose as well.

 

 

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

Stockpiling young talent isn't only for trading for someone like Chapman though. Even with an elite closer winning the World Series is basically a crap shoot so the key is to get to the playoffs as much as possible and not just mortgage everything on one year. Once you get there an elite bullpen certainly helps but the playoffs can be won by one hitter or starting pitcher getting hot (Murphy, Molina, Baumgardner) and a closer might not be able to stop that. Also getting Chapman doesn't guarantee an elite bullpen as his #s aren't that much better than Rondon's. The possibility in it is being able to slide the other relievers down to make the 6th and 7th better but we're gonna have to see if Rondon is good in a set up role. If so for sure it'll be great but if not we're only going to be a bit better. I like that Theo is willing to give the team what they need to win I just dislike Chapman as a person and feel like we gave up a lot for what isn't a slam dunk improvement.

Here are some possible corresponding minor league moves we might see in the aftermath  of the Chapman trade: 

SOUTH BEND to MYRTLE BEACH: OF Donnie Dewees and INF Bryant Flete  

EUGENE to SOUTH BEND: OF Robert Garcia and INF Vimael Machin 

There is really no reason to replace Billy McKinney at Tennessee because both Chris Coghlan and Jorge Soler are doing their rehab at Tennessee.  

And there are plenty of pitchers at Iowa. No need to replace Warren at AAA. .  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I'm a bit disappointed on the Warren experience. Essentially they gave Castro away for crickets (OK, well they signed Zobrist with the Castro salary dump). Otherwise one might look at it as Chapman for Castro and our #1 minors prospect (Torres) + McKinney/Crawford. Seems pricey for a 2 month rental. We will see if this price tag is that steep in a relative way based on the remaining deadline deals for relievers.

Trading for Warren, Warren sucking, getting Warren back for Chapman plus 3 prospects, sounds like Revenge of The Yankees on the former Boston executive. Old rivalries never die. I pray to the heavens above Chapman doesn't suck for some reason, or he'll be booed out of town faster than a Todd Hundley revival meeting.

When we played the Reds with Chapman, I always thought of it as an eight-inning game. So now other teams have eight innings to try to get a lead against the Cubs. Should be a challenge, assuming three or four Cubs ever start hitting again. I don't really try to get to know and like these players personally. I'm rooting for laundry, for the most part. Exceptions might be when a player makes trouble in the clubhouse or in the dugout. (Zambrano and Bradley come to mind. Also Papelbon.) But I don't think Chapman is one of those jerks.

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).