Chicago Cubs rumors: Which players stay, which players go?

Players already under contract for 2019

Fortunately for the Cubs, just about all of the core is under contract for the 2019 season. Of the nine starters in the lineup for the NL Wild Card Game, only second baseman Daniel Murphy will be a free agent heading into 2019. We’ll get to him later.

First let’s break down the Cubs who are already signed, arbitration-eligible or under team control for 2019. It’s worth mentioning that some players listed on the 40-man roster who saw little playing time in 2018 or didn’t have a major role in the playoff push have been left out. Those players are Adbert Alzolay (shut down for injury), Dillon Maples, Alec Mills, James Norwood, Jen-Ho Tseng, Duane Underwood, Jr., Allen Webster, Taylor Davis, and Bobby Wilson.

Tyler Chatwood, RHP – Signed

Steve Cishek, RHP – Signed

Brian Duensing, LHP – Signed

Carl Edwards, RHP – Team Control

Kyle Hendricks, RHP – Arbitration

Jon Lester, LHP – Signed

Mike Montgomery, LHP – Arbitration

Randy Rosario, LHP – Team Control

Victor Caratini – Team Control

Willson Contreras – Team Control

Javier Baez – Arbitration

David Bote – Team Control

Kris Bryant – Arbitration

Tommy La Stella – Arbitration

Anthony Rizzo – Signed

Ben Zobrist – Signed

Albert Almora, Jr. – Team Control

Terrance Gore – Team Control

Ian Happ – Team Control

Kyle Schwarber – Arbitration