Full list of every Chicago Cubs player out of options for the 2025 season

One of the more important elements to managing a Major League roster is knowing what players are out of minor-league options.

For the Cubs, injuries to Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw, along with a mid-March start to their regular season, have brought renewed attention to the contract statuses of the players at the bottom of the Cubs' projected Opening Day roster.

The player that immediately comes to mind is Gage Workman. Workman has been one of the standouts of spring training play for the Cubs, making a strong case to be on the Opening Day roster. Workman was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Cubs this offseason. The Rule 5 rules require Workman to be on the Major League roster for the entire season, or the Cubs would be forced to send the infielder back to the Detroit Tigers. A trade with the Tigers to acquire the full rights to Workman would circumvent the Rule 5 requirements. Under that scenario, Workman would have the standard options available.

As the Cubs prepare to trim their roster for Opening Day, MLB Trade Rumors has a handy list of the players on the roster who are out of minor-league options. An important note is that these are only players with less than five years of service time.

Every Chicago Cubs player out of minor-league options

• Miguel Amaya, catcher

The 2025 season will seemingly be a decisive season for Miguel Amaya. While the Cubs previously had doubts that Amaya could be their everyday catcher, his offensive turnaround during the second half of the 2024 season may have led them to reconsider. Amaya will likely get spelled by Carson Kelly against left-handed starting pitchers, but the 2025 season could be the season that provides a definitive answer on what his role will be moving forward.

• Vidal Bruján, utility infielder

Acquired by the Cubs from the Miami Marlins in exchange for Matt Mervis, the Cubs likely will give Vidal Bruján every chance to make the Opening Day roster. Bruján is in a mix of players that include Workman and Nicky Lopez, who are fighting for one of the final bench spots on the Opening Day roster.

• Julian Merryweather, RHP

Injuries derailed Julian Merryweather's 2024 season with the Cubs. In 2023, Merryweather ascended toward being a high-leverage relief pitcher out of the Cubs' bullpen. In an offseason where the Cubs stabilized their bullpen with trades for Eli Morgan, Ryan Pressly, and Ryan Brasier, Merryweather will need to prove to be healthy and effective if he is going to stay on the Major League roster.

• Tyson Miller, RHP

Tyson Miller was one of the bright spots in the Cubs' bullpen in 2024. Miller posted a 2.15 ERA in 49 appearances with the Cubs last season. As the Cubs look for their bullpen to be one of their strengths in 2024, Miller likely will be a key component of that.

• Justin Steele, LHP

Justin Steele has become the workhorse of the Cubs' starting rotation, there isn't going to be a scenario where the Cubs would be in a position to need to option of their best starting pitchers.

• Keegan Thompson, RHP

Keegan Thompson feels like the inevitable DFA candidate as soon as the Cubs need to open a 40-man roster spot in-season. Thompson did post a 2.67 ERA with the Cubs in 24 appearances last season but command remains the biggest pinpoint for his regression, walking nearly 14.2% of batters he faced. With a revamped bullpen, Thompson's days in the Cubs' organization feel all but numbered.