A list of Cubs with multiple years remaining under team control

Until the MLB lockout ends, the Chicago Cubs 40-man roster will not be adding any new veteran names. Much of the current roster has players with under six years of MLB service time. Regardless of how many additions the Cubs end up making when operations resume, it is safe to assume a sizable chunk of the next Cubs core will be made up of younger members of the current roster and future prospects in the system (not currently on the roster).

Why is this significant? Team control over potential long-term contributors. Like the previous core, key players will have their years of team control, being pre-arb or arbitration eligible, before the required service time is fulfilled to become unrestricted free agents.

Here is a look at what key players have remaining years of team control. This does not count veterans under free agent contracts or others who had contract extensions i.e. David Bote and Kyle Hendricks. This also excluded Willson Contreras considering 2022 is his final season of control. We will not cover every roster member, but potential key future pieces. All of these guys will have played at least 0.1 of an inning in the majors at some point.

Before breaking this down, it is worth noting that service time will likely be a major talking point in the CBA negotiations so it will be interesting to see what changes, if there are any significant changes. This is where things sit as of right now. Also, keep in mind that arbitration eligibility and service time are dependent on if the player plays the required time in upcoming MLB seasons. This is all assuming they do, and we really know all of them won’t.

Yes, it can get very complicated.

Chicago Cubs: Much of the projected infield is under long-term control

Nick Madrigal (24) – Under team control through 2026. 

Acquiring Nick Madrigal from the White Sox in July was a clear move for the long-term future. Madrigal will be under team control for the next five seasons and will be arbitration eligible starting in 2023. He will be looking to play his first season of 100+ games in 2022.

Nico Hoerner (24) – Under team control through 2025. 

The clock started ticking in 2019 when he came up late in the year, but he still will be under team control for the next four seasons. Nico Hoerner’s role with the Cubs is not clear at the moment, but it is fair to assume he will play a significant part in the team’s future if he plays like he did in the small sample size last year. He will be arbitration eligible starting in 2023.

Ian Happ (27) – Under team control through 2023.

It’s hard to say if he actually will be a significant future piece with his inconsistent play so far. After the horrific start, he rebounded in the second half and smashed the ball. That said, he is under team control through the next two seasons and will be arbitration eligible.

Alfonso Rivas (25) – Under team control through 2027.

One of the more “under the radar” young pieces on the Cubs current roster, Alfonso Rivas made his debut last year and played in 28 games. He hit .318/.388/.409. If he continues to to impress when he gets his chances in the majors, Rivas could stick around for a while. He is under team control for the next six seasons and will be arbitration eligible in 2025.

Clint Frazier (27) – Under team control through 2024. 

This former Yankee and top prospect is a bit more of an experiment. He comes with two more years of potential team control after 2022, both arbitration eligible. Clint Frazier could be a low-risk, high-reward player for the Cubs. If it doesn’t work out, then no big financial commitment is lost.

Harold Ramirez (27) – Under team control through 2025. 

Another low-risk, high-reward acquisition from Cleveland, Harold Ramirez is potential depth in the outfield. He is under control for the next four years, and this year falls under the “Super Two” qualifications to be arbitration eligible prior to three years of MLB service time.

Rafael Ortega (30) – Under team control through 2026. 

Fluke or legit? That will probably be answered in 2022. After spending years bouncing around the league, Rafael Ortega hit .291/.360/.463 in 103 MLB games last year. He is older, but if he is indeed a late bloomer and continues to play well, he could be a nice depth piece on the team going forward. He will be arbitration eligible in 2024.

Frank Schwindel (29) – Under team control through 2027.

Will “Frank the Tank” be a long-term piece? He blew people away in his short few months taking over first base after Anthony Rizzo was traded. He hit .326/.371/.591 with 14 home run and a .962 OPS in 64 games last year. He is under team control for the next six years and becomes arbitration eligible in 2025. Doubt he is around that long, but he has plenty of control if the Cubs want to keep him around for the foreseeable future.

Patrick Wisdom (30) – Under team control through 2026.

He has earned a spot on the team in 2022 after the surprising 28 home runs he hit last year. Not sure he will be a part of the team much longer, the holes in the swing are noticeable, but he has 2022 to prove he can make adjustments. Wisdom will be under control for a while and will become arbitration eligible in 2024.