Here’s how the Cubs’ current 40-man roster was put together

We’re still about four weeks out from spring training, but I thought this would be a good time to take a look at the Cubs’ current 40-man roster (which now stands at 39) and how they were acquired.

There’s been a bit more turnaround on the 40-man since the beginning of 2019 than there was in the year previous. When I posted on this topic last January, I noted:

... of these 38 players, 28 of them were on the 40-man roster when I made a post on this topic about a year ago.

Of the 38 players on that 40-man roster last January, just 24 remain. They were acquired in the following ways:

Draft: 13
Free agent: 11
Trade: 8
International free agent: 4
Rule 5 draft: 1
Purchase: 1
Waivers: 1

The Cubs have done quite well in the draft’s first round, as there are five first-round picks on the 40-man roster. But they’ve also found guys in the lower rounds who have succeeded: David Bote (18th) and Zack Short (17th), a message for MLB moguls who want to shorten the draft. Sometimes teams find gems where others haven’t looked.

There are still three players remaining who were signed or drafted by the Jim Hendry regime: Willson Contreras (2009), Javier Baez (2011) and Dillon Maples (2011).

Lastly, note that there’s still one open spot on the 40-man, still room for Theo & Co. to make a free-agent signing. Another one could open up if Trevor Megill isn’t retained, and I am hoping (expecting?) that Daniel Descalso will be released before Opening Day.

Pitchers (23)

Adbert Alzolay: signed as international free agent March 8, 2013
Tyler Chatwood: signed as free agent December 7, 2017
Jharel Cotton: purchased from Athletics November 23, 2019
Yu Darvish: signed as free agent February 13, 2018
Kyle Hendricks: acquired in trade for Ryan Dempster July 31, 2012
Craig Kimbrel: signed as free agent June 7, 2019
Jon Lester: signed as free agent December 15, 2014
Dillon Maples: selected in 14th round of draft June 7, 2011
Trevor Megill: selected in Rule 5 draft from Padres December 12, 2019
Tyson Miller: selected in fourth round of draft June 9, 2016
Alec Mills: acquired in trade for Donnie Dewees February 8, 2017
James Norwood: selected in seventh round of draft June 6, 2014
CD Pelham: claimed on waivers from Rangers November 27, 2019
Manuel Rodriguez: signed as international free agent July 2, 2016
Jose Quintana: acquired in trade for Eloy Jimenez (and others) July 13, 2017
Colin Rea: signed as free agent January 8, 2019
Kyle Ryan: signed as free agent January 9, 2018
Justin Steele: selected in fifth round of draft June 6, 2014
Ryan Tepera: signed as free agent December 20, 2019
Duane Underwood Jr.: selected in second round of draft June 4, 2012
Rowan Wick: acquired in trade for Jason Vosler November 20, 2018
Brad Wieck: acquired in trade for Carl Edwards Jr. July 31, 2019
Dan Winkler: signed as free agent December 6, 2019

Catchers (3)

Miguel Amaya: signed as international free agent July 2, 2015
Willson Contreras: signed as international free agent July 2, 2009
Victor Caratini: acquired in trade for James Russell and Emilio Bonifacio July 31, 2014

Infielders (8)

Javier Baez: selected in first round of draft June 6, 2011
David Bote: selected in 18th round of draft June 5, 2012
Kris Bryant: selected in first round of draft June 6, 2013
Daniel Descalso: signed as free agent December 18, 2018
Robel Garcia: signed as free agent October 31, 2018
Nico Hoerner: selected in first round of draft June 4, 2018
Anthony Rizzo: acquired in trade for Andrew Cashner January 6, 2012
Zack Short: selected in 17th round of draft June 10, 2016

Outfielders (5)

Albert Almora Jr.: selected in first round of draft June 4, 2012
Ian Happ: selected in first round of draft June 8, 2015
Jason Heyward: signed as free agent December 15, 2015
Tony Kemp: acquired in trade for Martin Maldonado July 31, 2019
Kyle Schwarber: selected in first round of draft June 5, 2014