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

Cubs @ Orioles: Quintana vs Jimenez (Game 91)

CHC (45-45): LHP Jose Quintana (4-8, 4.49)​BAL (42-48): RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (4-4, 6.67) First pitch 12:35pmCST

Quintana escaped from Colorado with a no-decision on Saturday, only giving up 3 ER in 5.1 innings. Then he escaped from the South Side on Thursday, by being acquired by the Cubs. Welcome, Jose!

The Orioles are 27-100 (.270) against him. Jones is 8-14 with 2 HR.

If you're wondering about him at the plate, he's 0-27, with a walk and 16 strikeouts. Oh, boy. I hope he can bunt.

Jimenez gave up 4 ER in 5 innings in Minnesota but ended up with the win his last time out. The Cubs are 8-27 (.296) against him. Jay is 3-8 with a HR.

Lester (5-6) vs Teheran (7-6) in Atlanta tomorrow at 6:35pmCST.

Go Cubs!

 

Comments

Greetings from (just outside of) Baltimore! I may or may not be at the game--depending on if they win.

Ubaldo Jimenez has a 20.7% HR/FB rate this season. Get that shit in the air today! Go Cubs!

Although A's RHSP Sonny Gray has been mentioned as a possible Cubs trade target in recent days, I think the Cubs #1 project right now is to acquire a back-up catcher who could be a #1 if anything happens to Contreras. Victor Caratini is a very good prospect but he is a bat-first catcher who probably would be more valuable to a team in transition than to a contender.

Tigers catcher Alex Avila (DET) has been mentioned as a possible short-term rental (the Cubs also could perhaps acquire LHRP Justin Wilson in the deal), but if the Cubs want to add a #1-A who would be under control for another 3-1/2 years, Tucker Barnhart (CIN) could be that guy. Acquiring Barnhart would solidify the Cubs catching corps through 2020, and with Barnhart being first-time arbitration-eligible post-2017, the Reds might be inclined to exhange him for a younger catcher (like Caratini) plus a couple of decent SP prospects. 

Speaking of Justin Wilson and lefty relievers, Brian Duensing has quietly had a very solid year for the Cubs and has been one of the better LHRP in MLB. But if the Cubs want to really upgrade the pen, Oakland A's LHRP Sean Doolittle has been virtually unhittable this season. He has a lengthy injury history with regard to his left shoulder and could go down at any time, but at least he's healthy right now, and (if his arm doesn't fall-off first) he is under control through 2020 by way of club options in 2019 and 2020 (so he can be dropped post-2018 or post-2019 if his shoulder goes south long-term). So while I can't see the Cubs acquiring Sonny Gray from Oakland, Sean Doolittle might actually be the more likely target.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG: Even though he would be just a two-month rental, Avila (alone) would probably cost the Cubs Caratini. And Justin Wilson is the Tigers closer, and even though any contender acquiring him would probably use him as an 8th inning set-up guy, the Tigers would consider dealing Wilson a matter of trading their closer. Also, Wilson has another year of club control (he won't be a FA until after next season), so that will jack-up the price a bit as well.

One thing the Cubs have in their system is starting pitcher depth, and the depth was increased with the most-recent draft when they added a half-dozen more legit long-term SP prospects to the organization. So the Cubs can put together a package of starting pitcher prospects in any trade and still have more left.

Although trading Dylan Cease to the White Sox leaves the Cubs with no Top 100 SP prospects at this time, Albertos, Alzolay, Clifton, de la Cruz, Hatch, Steele, and Tseng would have value in a trade, especially if it's any two of them packaged together. So I would think Caratini plus any two of the Cubs SP prospects the Tigers prefer would probably get a deal done for Avila and Wilson, although another contender could out-bid the Cubs.

Jeimer Candelario and any one SP (A's choice) plus a RP prospect (like Dillon Maples or Dakota Mekkes) for Doolittle might get that deal done, especially with Doolittle's chronic shoulder injury history. The Cubs can also add additional young position players besides Candelario (like Mark Zagunis, Charcer Burks, Jacob Hannemann, and Jason Vosler) to any deal without a second thought.

And while I do suspect Kyle Schwarber or maybe even Ian Happ would be made available in a deal for a long-term club-controlled SP, I don't think the Cubs will pursue that type of deal until next off-season.

Doolittle and Madson are both Nationals per Rosenthal. Blake Trienien and 2 prospects in the Nats top 10 according to MLBpipeline.com (Sheldon Neuse and Jesus Luzardo) going to Oakland.

a whole lot of cubs hitters got statistically better the past 3 days. heyward has 6 hits and a walk in 11PA (through 2PA today).

Just glad they have not been behind the 8-ball after the 2nd inning finally for several consecutive games.

I could see Quintana and Lester go back to back in the rotation - though both are lefties they have different pitching styles/looks with Lester going frequently to the cutter and Q with the up/down fastballs and big breaking ball wipeout pitch when needed. Fantastic that that's back to back double digit strikeout games for him too.

Okay Big Rizz - you can stay on the team now. Bat choked up two run bomb (take notes young Schwarbs)

Bryant seems to have bagged the whole "I need to hit to the opposite field" thing, which resulted in a lot of pop-ups, at least for now. He has gone back to pulling the ball, and is crushing it. Hey, it worked pretty well the last 2 years.

Cards blow ninth inning lead and lose on a walk off by the Bucs and Brewers currently losing in the seventh

Man, Trevor Cahill looking terrific against the Giants (CRUNCH's Fave Sammarddjzian pitching for Giants). Too bad they didn't sign him instead of that excrement Brett Anderson.

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.