Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Pirates @ Cubs: Taillon vs Lester (Game 88)

PIT (41-47): RHP Jameson Taillon (5-2, 2.73) 
CHC (43-44): LHP Jon Lester (5-5, 3.94)
First pitch: 12:10pmCST

Lester gave up 5 ER in 5 innings to lose to the Rays on Tuesday. He’s 0-1 with a 3.55 in his two starts against the Pirates this season. Overall, they are 47-178 (.264) against him. Bell is 2-3 and Stewart is 3-7, both with a HR.

Taillon won in Philly his last time out (5 IP, 0 ER, 9 K, 2 BB). He’s 1-1 with a 3.00 in his two games against the Cubs this season. For their careers, they are 22-68 (.324) against him. Rizzo is 6-11 with 2 HR, and Baez is 5-7 with a HR.

The chance of us winning this one to end the first half at .500 is as close to certain as you can get in baseball. And then we break.

Go Cubs!
 

Comments

And of course Javy is on the bench, weird given his success against Taillon. And no Zobrist walk up music, a welcome reprieve.

Cubs really brought their A game today. And by that, I mean they are playing baseball at a Low-A level, if that. Fitting end to the first "half". Looks likes a team with their bags packed and tee times tomorrow morning.

So, that move to shift Lester to get an extra pre-AS start? Didn't work out so well. Two of his worst outings of the year, including this one, which has got to be his all-time worst.

I think b/c of the World Series legend, these guys are not gonna be that worried, or that embarrassed the rest of the year. They'll need to finish in 3rd or 4th to get a grip again.

Dead team walkin'. Six game homestand, and they lose 2 of them vs. division rivals by 9 and 11 runs. This is Cubs 2013-14 stuff.

As of yesterday, 71 out of the 90 games that the Brewers have played have been against sub .500 teams. Only 19 games against teams at or above .500. Cubs have played 53 games against teams below .500 and 34 against teams at or above .500. I think the Cubs will hit the reset button and be much better after the AS Break. Baltimore is the perfect team for the offense to get hot. Really bad rotation (nearly broke the record for most consecutive games allowing at least 5 runs) and DH followed by going to Sun Trust Park for the first time. Brewers will probably regress a bit when they start playing some of the better teams. Hendricks is coming back soon too and Schwarber's hitting .286 since coming back up from Iowa. Very bizarre for them to have only played 19 games against teams at or above .500 at this point of the season. Key 3 game set in Milwaukee at the end of the month.

So far in his first AA start for the Smokies this evening, 22 year old Adbert Alzolay has pitched five innings, given up two hits, no runs, 1 walk with ten strikeouts. As Old & Blue would say: Call him up!!!

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: Mark Prior made three starts at AAA Iowa before he got called up in 2002, but RHSP Juan Cruz went directly from AA to MLB in August 2001 and RHRP Francis Beltran went directly from AA to MLB in June 2002, both at age 22 (coincidentally same age Alzolay is now). This doesn't involve the Cubs, but it does involve a couple of former Cubs minor leaguers. RHSP Zack Godley (traded to Arizona in the Miguel Montero deal) was called-up to MLB by the D'backs from AA in July 2015, and RHSP Rickey Nolasco went from AA to MLB (skipping AAA) after he was traded to the Marlins in the Juan Pierre deal a few years back.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Speaking of Godley, I notice he has somewhat eye-popping numbers for Arizona this year. He's easily the most successful pitcher that McLeod has drafted for the Cubs. Thus Epstein-McLeod continue the tradition set by Hendry-Wilken where, on those infrequent occasions when you have drafted a pitcher with major-league talent--at the moment I'm thinking of Nolasco and Dontrelle Willis--you give him away. I guess the lesson is that there are a lot of good scouts around, and most of them work for someone else.

"According to Peter Gammons, the Cubs have asked the Tigers about the availability of Michael Fulmer and Daniel Norris." breaking news: the cubs want to trade for the entire 40-man roster of the tigers also, daniel norris? hell naw.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

CRUNCH: Kyle Schwarber for Daniel Norris would not surprise me. They have almost identical MLB Service Time, they're almost exactly the same age, and both are having bad years so both teams would be selling low/buying low.

Ian Happ has become an integral part of the Cub offense (and core), so much so that Schwarber (and not Happ) is probably the young player the Cubs would be most-willing to trade for a controllable starter, and Norris (or someone very similar to Norris) is probably the best SP they would be able to get back in return.

Schwarber certainly won't fetch Michael Fulmer, but then I'm not sure anyone south of Kris Bryant would.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

i just don't like norris, that's all. he's been hype for a while, but he's been steady "just a few too many walks" and straight up "too hitable" for a number of years. i get the hype...legit fastball/slider/curve/change, but his command comes/goes and even when it's on it's still getting hit even with the nice mix of pitches. still, because of his stuff and mix of pitches, he's got value beyond what he's currently doing. i would rather see more of a sure thing if they're going to use their top expendable trading chip. as much as i like schwarb's bat potential, his LF is weak, 1st is spoken for, and the cubs don't have a DH except a handful of games a year. he is somewhat expendable even with the bat tools.

I haven't been to Wrigley in a long time so I don't know what the fine print says on a ticket, but there should be a money-back opt-out when the Cubs are down ten runs and their leadoff hitter hasn't gone to the plate yet. "Sorry, I just don't feel like seeing a game today."

I know it wasn't a fun game to watch, but I think that game was exactly what this team needed to end their first half and have to wait through 4 days off to realize each one of them has to do the little things better in order for this team to redeem themselves. They need to stop swinging for the fences and go with the pitch (opposite way) when necessary. That's the biggest adjustment all these players need to make. It was nice to see Schwarber going up the middle and to left field in the last couple games. If his approach was always to go to left field, that would really change the way pitchers approach him, and if defenses had to play him straight up, he'd be the dangerous hitter the front office and coaches expect him to be.

aaron judge is a f'n beast. also, thankfully no chris "back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back" berman in this year's HR derby.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...