Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

37 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (three slots are open)

Last updated 11-17-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 20
Adbert Alzolay 
Michael Arias
Javier Assad
Ben Brown
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Porter Hodge
* Bailey Horn
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 8
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Luis Vazquez
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 7
Kevin Alcantara
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
Brennen Davis
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

 


Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

2023 MLB Post-Season Eligibility Rules

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

A club's Post-Season Eligibility List is established at midnight (Eastern) on August 31st.  

A club's Active List (26-man roster) must be submitted to the MLB Commissioner prior to the start of the first game of each post-season series (Wild Card game, LDS, LCS, and World Series).  

A club's Active List can be changed (tweaked) prior to the start of the first game of each series (WC, LDS, LCS, and WS). 

1. A player who received a suspension for violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (player tested positive for a prohibited substance) prior to the start of Spring Training, during Spring Training, during the regular season, or during a post-season series (Wild Card, LDS, LCS, or World Series), is ineligible to play in any MLB or minor league post-season game(s) or series in that season, even if the player has completed serving the suspension. 

2. Any player on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, Voluntary Retired List, or Restricted List (for any reason other than being placed on Administrative Leave pending investigation of a possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy or extended Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency Leave) as of midnight (Eastern) on August 31st or who is placed on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, Voluntary Retired List, or Restricted List anytime after midnight (Eastern) on August 31st is ineligible to be included on a Post-Season Eligibility List that season. 

3. All other players on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 60-day Injured List, and Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st are automatically placed on a club's Post-Season Eligibility List and are eligible to be included on a post-season series Active List (26-man roster), but a player on an MLB 60-day Injured List who otherwise would be eligible to be included on a Post-Season Eligibility List is NOT eligible to be included until the player has spent at least 60 days on the Injured List, and a player on the MLB 60-day Injured List is NOT eligible to play in a post-season series until the player has spent at least 60 days on the Injured List AND the player has been reinstated from the 60-day Injured List.

4. A player on a Post-Season Eligibility List at midnight (Eastern) on August 31st must remain on his club's MLB Reserve List, MLB 60-day Injured List, and/or Military List continuously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be automatically included on his club's Post-Season Eligibility List. If a player is sent outright to the minors after midnight (Eastern) on August 31st, he is no longer automatically eligible to be included on a Post-Season Eligibility List.

5. A "27th player" (must be a catcher) may (with approval of the MLB Conmissioner) be listed on a club's Active List for the LDS, LCS, or World Series as a replacement for a catcher who is suffering from an acute concussion. The catcher who suffered the concussion would be eligible to return to his club's Active List after seven days (even if it is prior to the conclusion of the series) at which point the "27th player" (the extra catcher) must be deactivated.

6. A post-season eligible player who is placed on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List or on the Paternity List during a post-season series can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced by another player on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List (a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player, but it is not necessary for a catcher to replace a catcher, an infielder to replace and infielder, or an outfielder to replace an outfielder), as long as the absent player is reinstated after no more than seven days (for a player on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List) or after no more than three days (for a player on the Paternity List). If the series ends before the player is reinstated, he will automatically be reinstated prior to the next series, even if he has not returned to his club. 
NOTE: The absent player is not eligible to be replaced during a series if the player is a pitcher who pitched at least four consecutive innings in a game sometime previous in the series unless at least three days have elapsed since that game.

7. An injured post-season eligible player can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on his club's Post-Season Eligibility List by a player (regardless of position) who was on an Active List, Reserve List, 60-day Injured List, or Military List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st, or by a player who was on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 60-day Injured List, or Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st but who was subsequently sent outright to the minors. (In the case of a player who is sent outright to the minors after August 31st, the player must remain on a Reserve List of a minor league affiliate from that organization continuously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be eligible to replace an injured post-season eligible player).

8. A minor league player who replaces an injured player on the Post-Season Eligibility List must have his contract selected and be placed on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he can be placed on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List. If the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) is full, a player must be removed (traded, released, or sent outright to the minors) from the club's MLB Reserve List to make room for the replacement player. 
NOTE: A player cannot be placed on the MLB 60-day Injured List after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, so placing an injured player on the MLB 60-day Injured List during the post-season to make room on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) for a post-season minor league replacement player is not an option.

9. A post-season eligible player who is injured during a post-season series (LDS, LCS, or World Series) can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced during the series by another player on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List, or by a player who was on an Active List, Reserve List, 60-day Injured List, or Military List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st, or by a player who was on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 60-day Injured List, or Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st but who was subsequently sent outright to the minors. (In the case of a player who is sent outright to the minors after August 31st, the player must remain on a Reserve List of a minor league affiliate from that organization continuously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be eligible to replace an injured post-season eligible player). An injured player replaced during a post-season series is ineligible to be reinstated to his club's Active List (25-man roster) for the balance of that series and the next series (LCS or World Series). Also, a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player. However, it is NOT necessary for a catcher to replace a catcher, an infielder to replace an infielder, or an outfielder to replace an outfielder. 
NOTE: If the injured player suffered an acute concussion, the injured player is eligible to be reinstated to his club's Active List after seven days even if the next post-season series is still in progress. 

CUBS 2023 POST-SEASON ELIGIBILITY LIST (STILL SUBJECT TO CHANGE): 

Last updated 8-31-2023 (14 hours prior to deadline) 
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 21
Adbert Alzolay
Javier Assad
Brad Boxberger 
Nick Burdi 
Jose Cuas 
Michael Fulmer 
Kyle Hendricks
Codi Heuer 
* Brandon Hughes 
* Anthony Kay
Mark Leiter Jr 
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
Ethan Roberts 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele 
Marcus Stroman 
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2 
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
# Jeimer Candelario
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom
 
OUTFIELDERS: 4 
* Cody Bellinger
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

Tags
MLB Post-Season

Comments

[ ]

Submitted by JoePepitone on Thu, 08/31/2023 - 08:39 pm

From the few fielding chances I observed Morel take at third base this year, he looked like his footwork was all over the place and it seemed to be a coin toss whether he could actually throw the ball to first without pulling the first baseman off the bag.  Not confidence inspiring.  Coomer mentioned the Cubs wanting to work on his footwork at third and I could see what he was talking about.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Fri, 09/01/2023 - 09:26 am

Morel is generally such a joy to watch. It doesn't look like the Cubs are ready to give him that extended opportunity to stick at a defensive position that he deserves. He'll probably get traded to a retooling team with time at 2nd and then put up a 5-win year in some season when the BABIP gods bless him.

[ ]

Submitted by Childersb3 on Fri, 09/01/2023 - 09:23 am

They probably will trade Morel.
But they should eat a good chunk of his salary and trade Suzuki.
Morel is simply the better talent. 
He's four yrs younger. He's more athletic. He's bigger. His numbers are just as good if not better.

Next year they could have LF Happ - CF PCA - RF Morel with Tauchman and Canario on the bench.
I think they like Jeimer and he won't break the bank. Belli costs them but we need him.
So, 3B Candy - SS Dansby - 2B Nico - 1B Belli with Madrigal and Mervis/Slaughter/Mastro on the bench.

Suzuki nets you a RP maybe. 

I'd go even farther with Morel and teach him 1B. He can be a Right handed RF/1B option. 

Also with moving Suzuki that opens up a 40man OF spot to keep Perlaza. He can be in the organization with an option to Iowa.

Submitted by JasonPhillie on Fri, 09/01/2023 - 09:46 pm

Hi Az Phil, I am a Phillies (and Arizona Phil) fan and I have come here because you seem to be the leading expert in this matters. 

My question relates to the Phillies Rodolfo Castro who was acquired in trade at the deadline. Castro had spent 16 days on optional minor league assignment with the Pirates prior to the trade in what would be his final option season. I understand the option year isn’t considered used/burned until the player spends 20 days on optional assignment.  The Phillies have kept Castro on the MLB active list since the trade, presumably to try to preserve this final option season for next year. 
 

If Castro finishes the regular season on the MLB active roster, but is then NOT included on the post-season roster does he still retain his minor league option for 2024?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 09/01/2023 - 09:11 pm

JasonPhillie: Generally speaking, if a player spends at least twenty days on Optional Assignment to the minors in a given MLB regular season, the player does not accrue MLB Service Time for the days spent on Optional Assignment, and the days spent on Optional Assignment count toward the twenty days required for an option year to be spent. 

There are three exceptions: 

1. if a player is optioned to the minors during Spring Training (prior to MLB Opening Day), the days spent on Optional Assignment during Spring Training do - NOT - count toward the twenty days.

2. If a player is optioned to the minors during the period of time beginning on the Friday after Labor Day extending through the conclusion of the MLB regular season, the player accrues MLB Service Time while on Optional Assignment, and the days spent on Optional Assignment do not count toward the twenty days needed to burn an option year. (This does not include players who were optioned to the minors prior to the Friday after Labor Day).   

3. If a player is on an MLB Active List and/or MLB inactive list(s) as of June 1st and remains on an MLB Active List and/or MLB inactive list(s) continuously up until being optioned, and then is optioned to the minors anytime during the period of time beginning on September 1st and extending through to the last day of the MLB regular season, the player accrues MLB Service Time while on Optional Assignment (and the days do not count toward the 20 days, even if the player spends twenty or more days on Optional Assignment during this period of time), if without the MLB Service Time accrued in September he would not be eligible for salary arbitration or to be an Article XX-B free-agent. 

By rule - ALL - players on Optional Assignment must be "Recalled - Not to Report" (that is the official term for it) on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, so it is impossible for a player on an MLB 40-man roster to spend any time after the conclusion of the MLB regular season on Optional Assignment. 

The post-season rosters are a different matter.

After the conclusion of the MLB regular season but prior the first game of the Wild Card series, players on a club's post-season eligibility list (which is established at midnight 8/31) are either on the MLB 60-day IL (but only players who were already on the 60-day IL prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season, because players cannot be placed onto the 60-day IL or transferred to the 60-day IL after the conclusion of the MLB regular season), or "reserved" (as they are throughout the off-season), or "active" (on the club's 26-man active list roster for that particular series). NOTE: A player on a club's post-season eligibility list who is injured can be replaced on the club's post-season eligibility list by any player who was in the organization as of midnight 8/31 (including players on the 40-man roster who were on optional assignment at that time, and also any player who was on a minor league reserve list), although if the replacement player is not already on the 40-man roster, the replacement player must be added to the 40, and (if necessary) another player on the 40 must be dropped (released, traded, or outrighted).  

I say this because (for some unknown reason) MLB shows  post-season eligible players not on a club's post-season series active list roster as "reassigned to the minor leagues," and THAT IS NOT CORRECT.  They are - NOT - assigned to the minors. They are just "reserved" (inactive, if you will), which they are throughout the post-season.   

MLB apparently feels the need to "do something" with post-season eligible players who are not on a post-season series 26-man roster, so they say they are "reassigned to the minors," when they are simply "reserved" (or inactive).  

BTW, MLB lists players selected in the Rule 5 Draft as "claimed off waivers," when that isn't what happened at all. No waivers are involved in the Rule 5 Draft. Rather, the player is SELECTED from a minor league roster, not "claimed off waivers."  

Submitted by Cubster on Fri, 09/01/2023 - 09:21 pm

Wow, the above question and answer are on the level of a General Manager’s final essay to get their PhD. Professor AZ Phil, Dr of Baseball Rules, at his finest!

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    i know it's still very early, but i'd like to go into the xmas-to-newyears part of the off-season with something more than...*checks list*...patrick wisdom avoids arbitration with a 1-year deal

    also, steven brault retired and was spotted at the winter meetings with a demo reel and making contacts trying to break into broadcasting (not a joke).  unless he's more optimistic than talented (we already know he can sing) he should make it one day because he seems to be very serious about it.

  • Cubster (view)

    I blame Jason Schmidt’s 3/44

  • Craig A. (view)

    Was all that stuff with the Blue Jays just to squeeze an extra $10 million/yr out of the Dodgers?  It's more than enough to cover his California income taxes!

  • crunch (view)

    unless he pitches into his late-30 that is gonna sting.  a 70m DH...ow.

    it's great to take care of 2 roster spots in 1 player, and i'm sure the team will cut into the pay with the amount of merch/etc he can sell just by being attached to the team....but yeah, i'm not mad the cubs didn't go that extreme.

  • WebAdmin (view)

    Shohei Ohtani to join Dodgers according to ESPN. 10 years for $700 m

  • Cubster (view)

    I'm getting the feeling that Todd Walker might be a Shaw comp. A valuable hit first player but limited albeit not awful on defense. Hopefully, he has more upside. Not a bad floor if Steve Garvey is his ceiling.

  • Wrigley Rat (view)

    AZ Phil - If that's the level of return, I would want NO part of that trade to Cleveland for Clase and Bieber. I have some faith that the Cubs have a strong plan for which prospects they will keep (even if they dangle them in trade talks) and which they will move, because they have plenty of solid prospects they can trade but they shouldn't be trading any of the ones they hope will be future core players. Some guys are redundant, so I hope they choose the right players to keep and the right players to move. It's always important for a team to know its own minor league players better than scouts from other teams (obviously), but I don't think that's always been the case for the Cubs and many other clubs. 

    Cubster - I watched an interview with Carter Hawkins a couple days ago where he said that although Morel hasn't gotten into any Dominican games at 1B, the Cubs did send coaches down with Morel to work on first base skills during practice. So he is developing those skills, whether the Cubs end up using him there or not will probably be dependent on a lot of factors including how those coaches think he looks at the position while training. 

  • tim815 (view)

    He could still play SS at Double-A, but Vazquez, Hoerner, and Swanson are much better defensively, arm strength or not. I'd be good leaving Shaw at SS with McGeary and Ballesteros around, but by the first of June (?), 1B might make sense in DM.

  • crunch (view)

    i have no reason to see a problem, it just seems like it's his most obvious reason to give pause on him at 1st.

    the cubs situation dictates 2nd/SS isn't an option.  his arm dictates 3rd isn't an option.  1st or CF seems to be his best path and he's only played CF in summer ball back in highschool/college...and of course PCA is a better + closer to the bigs CF.

    it's a lot safer to say he's made for 1st than it is he's made for 3rd.  even as a SS his arm is weak, and it's not like his glove is so great he needs to stay in the middle-IF.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    CRUNCH: Steve Garvey (one of Shaw's comps as a hitter) was a 5'10 right-handed throwing first-baseman with a rag arm. Jeff Bagwell (another Shaw comp) was a 6'0 right-handed throwing first-baseman with a rag arm. Carlos Santana (who played 1B for Counsell in Milwaukee last season and is an above-average defensive first-baseman) is 5'11. It's not like Shaw is 5'7 or 5'8. I don't really see the problem. 

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