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

Guest Column: A Look at How the 2012 Cubs Draft is Going

It seemed a lot of you liked it when WISCGRAD did a brief rundown of the 2013 draft and how the draftees are doing so far, so WISCGRAD just went ahead and did the 2012 draft as well. What a guy...

RoundPlayerPositionComments
1Albert AlmoraOF.321/.331/.464 between Arizona and Boise in 2012, .329/.376/.466 in 272 ABs for KC in 2013 before heading to DL. Will Play in the Arizona Fall League
CAPierce JohnsonRHPOnly 11 IP in 2012 after signing; now 11-6 with a 2.81 ERA in 20 starts for KC and Daytona
CAPaul BlackburnRHP3.48 ERA in 20 IP for Arizona in 2012, 3.35 ERA in 43 IP for Boise in 2013
2Duane UnderwoodRHPOnly 8 IP in 2012 after signing; 4.56 ERA in 51 IP for Boise in 2013
3Ryan McNeilRHP20 solid IP for Arizona in 2012 before requiring TJ surgery
4Josh ConwayRHPRecovered from TJ surgery in 2012, sufferred stress fracture to same elbow in Extended Spring Training 2013
5Anthony PrietoLHP2.33 in 19 IP for Arizona in 2012; 4.29 ERA in 21 IP for Arizona in 2013
6Trey LangRHPOnly 13 IP in 2012 after signing; 8.88 ERA in 24 IP for Arizaon and Boise in 2013
7Stephen Bruno3B.361/.442/.496 in 252 ABs for Boise in 2012; .362/.436/.478 in 69 ABs for Daytona in 2013 but on DL most of season with recurring hamstring injury
8Michael HeeschLHP2.45 ERA in 25 IP for Arizona and Boise in 2012; 3.78 ERA in 119 IP for KC in 2013
9Chadd KristC.274/.335/.433 line in 208 ABs for Boise and Peoria in 2012; .249/.361/.355 line in 291 ABs for KC and Daytona in 2013
10Chad MartinRHP5.06 ERA in 16 IP for Arizona in 2012; now playing in the Frontier League
11Rashad CrawfordOFOnly 30 ABs after signing in 2012; .208/.302/.277 line in 130 ABs for Arizona in 2013
12Justin AmlungRHP4.00 ERA in 18 IP for Arizona/Boise in 2012; 3.95 ERA in 66 IP for KC in 2013
13Bijan RademacherOF.278/.320/.396 line in 187 ABs for Boise/Peoria in 2012; .287/.355/.381 line in 310 ABs for KC and Daytona in 2013
14Corbin HoffnerRHPOnly 12 IP in 2012 after signing; 1.55 ERA in 40 IP for Boise in 2013
15Carlos EscobarC.234/.358/.390 line for Arizona/Boise in 2012; .233/.298/.373 line in 150 ABs for KC in 2013
16Michael HamannRHPOnly 11 IP in 2012 after signing; 1.82 ERA in 24 IP for Boise and KC in 2013
17Nathan DorrisLHP1.88 ERA in 24 IP for Arizona/Boise in 2012; 2.80 ERA in 61 IP for KC in 2013
18David BoteSS.232/.349/.360 line for Arizona in 2012; .225/.329/.341 line for Daytona/KC/Boise in 2013
21Stephen PerakslisRHP3.42 ERA in 26 IP for Arizona/Peoria in 2012; 2.95 ERA in 55 IP for KC in 2013
22Eddie OrozcoRHP1.88 ERA in 28 IP for Arizona/Boise in 2012; 4.88 ERA in 31 IP for KC/Boise in 2013
26Jasvir RakkarRHPOnly 10 IP in 2012 after signing; 3.98 ERA in 31 IP for Boise in 2013
27Tyler BremerRHP5.71 ERA in 17 IP for Arizona/Boise in 2012; 2.25 ERA in 24 IP for Boise in 2013
28Lance RymelC.188/.246/.344 line for Boise in 2012; .260/.335/.329 line Boise in 2013
30Izaac GarsezOF.246/.331/.410 line for Arizona/Boise in 2012; not playing in 2013
32Tim SaundersSS.381/.431/.536 line in 194 ABs for Arizona/Peoria/Daytona in 2012; .226/.316/.321 line for Daytona in 2013
35Ben Carhart3B.353/.419/.456 line for Arizona in 2012; .246/.297/.336 line for Daytona in 2013
40Jacob Rogers1B.326/.462/.507 line for Arizona/Peoria in 2012; .284/.396/.419 line in 236 ABs for Boise in 2013

Cubs @ Dodgers tonight...

Comments

My own view after doing it is: Of the 17 pitchers drafted, 6 are doing great, 2 others solid, 2-4 just seem to be OK or meh, 4 are really struggling, 1 other has been released, and 2 others are injured. Of the position players, Almora was doing great at KC this year before getting injured. Bruno's rate stats have been awesome but he has spent much of this year on the DL with a hamstring injury. Rogers has an OPS over .800 at Boise, and Rademacher is doing fine for KC/Daytona. But the three catchers are all struggling; Bote-Saunders-Carhart in the infield are not hitting at all in 2013; Crawford's OPS is below .600 at Arizona, and Garsez was not brought back this year.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-notebook-jonathan-gray-l…

Mike Olt may have been the more well-known name in the trade that sent Matt Garza to Texas, but Edwards could end up being the prize of the haul for the Cubs. With a fastball that sits around 90-94 mph and can get into the high 90s when he needs it, Edwards is a strike thrower who repeats his delivery, works down in the zone, misses plenty of bats and can keep the ball in the yard. The home run he allowed two weeks ago was the first he’s allowed in his 179-inning career. After eight strikeouts in four shutout innings yesterday, Edwards, 21, lowered his ERA to 1.45 in five starts since joining high Class A Daytona.

Jonathan Gray in that link as well, doing quite well.

"Adam RubinVerified account ‏@AdamRubinESPN Got confirmation: Parial UCL tear in elbow for Harvey. Headed to DL. #mets" that's a TJ trip. see you in 2015 harvey...

My season ticket waiting list number has come up, and a representavtive of the Cubs will be attending a game with me on Sept 7th. I can only assume it will be Tom Ricketts.

The fact that Rizzo is thinking about batting 3rd vs. 2nd is dumb. The only two factors should be whether there are baserunners and how many outs. Does anyone in the organization think to coach these guys on the mental aspects of the game?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Someone should tell Anthony Rizzo that before he was moved into the #4 spot to stay in 1963, Ron Santo hit lead-off 17 times and batted 2nd in the order seven times in 1962.

Santo was a big-time OBP guy, leading the National League in OBP twice in the 1960's. He also led the N. L. in walks four out of five seasons 1964-68 (and he tied for the league-lead in triples in 1964, too!).   

in early action... Baez 1-1, 2 rbi including a sac fly Olt, 0-0, 2 walks

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

justin bellinger didn't even make their top 50? wtf? if he doesn't go top 10 i'd be shocked...hell, if he doesn't go top 5 i'd be surprised. 6'6" 230lbs and murders the ball...not only is he the best HS power prospect in next year's draft...he's better than pretty much every power prospect on the college level. btw, he opts to use a wood bat to do his hitting...in a high school division that uses aluminum...and he's the only one doing it. this is going to be a heavy SP + SS 1st round in 2014...

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

bellinger had a crappy power showcase this year...his longest one being 420-ish and he fouled off or outfield placed a lot of his hits. that's the only thing i can think of that would knock him down so much. still, based on what he's done in highschool...with a wood bat...i find it hard to believe so many are giving up on him so quickly. plus, he dominated the power showcase last year...hit one 470+ ft at chase field. he's probably very tired. he's spent the past many years playing a full season of highschool ball plus every single summer league he can find. if he actually slips to 2nd round talent...wow. btw, i don't think the guy is the next coming...it's just that the 2014 draft is so extremely weak with power bats. also, wow...tyler beede is #21 on the scout.com rankings...lot of people expecting him to go top-10, easy. he was a 1st round pick by TOR out of highschool in 2011.

Javy Baez just blasted a 3-1 pitch towering over the LF wall. Andreoli was on 2nd (after stealing 2nd) with two outs. 6-0 Smokies that just made my milb tv subscription worth the price!

a win tonight and the Smokies clinch a playoff birth... Smokies Playoff fever, catch it... AA ball...the balloon pop relay between innings.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

VA PHIL: Actually either four or five of the eight Cubs affiliates will likely qualify for the post-season playoffs: Tennessee (clinched), Daytona (close to clinching), Boise (50-50 chance), DSL Cubs (clinched), and VSL Cubs (lost to VSL Mariners in VSL Championship series earlier this month), but not Iowa, Kane County, or AZL Cubs. 

BTW, players from a lower classification can be moved up to an affiliate from a higher classification for post-season play, so one or more AZL Cubs players could be moved up to Boise (if Boise makes it), and one or more KC players could be moved up to Daytona for the playoffs.

4th pitch of the game...j.lake failed bunt...getting it out of the way early...at least it wasn't for strike 3 or weakly bunted to the pitcher. what is his obsession with bunting? sure, he's got 4 bunt hits, but you'd think he was t.campana or something with the amount of chances he takes...and m.garza by the amount he fouls off.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

"his mini-sammy-sosa epic swings" To each his own, I guess. To me, only Lake and Rizzo on the Cubs would qualify for a beautiful-swing contest. The other guys are all pretty ugly and hard for me to watch. Castro sometimes puts a nice straightaway swing on a pitch middle-outside. What are you going to say about over-swinging when Baez shows up?

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Not sure why I'm supposed to call you. All I said was he had a nice swing. Who hits 35 home runs without trying to get a couple of good rips every at-bat? I've seen half or more of Lake's at-bats and I just haven't see the hacking. Hacking implies swinging and missing, where Lake hits a lot of fouls. Hacking also implies swinging at pitches out of the zone, whereas I've seen Lake take a lot of close pitches, especially early in the count. I just don't see what you and crunch see. Everything looks promising to me so far. He has shown a tendency lately to try to pull outside pitches, which could spell the end of the 9-game hitting streak and the onset of a slump.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

when i say "hacking" in the case of j.lake, i mean he loads up and swings the bat as if he was just woken up at 3am by an attacker 2ft from his face and he's fighting for his life. he takes these mighty, full-force, "screw the world" swings. they don't seem wild or uncontrolled...just extremely hard swings that torque his body as he finishes his follow through.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I was responding to your implied connection of Javier Baez and Junior Lake, who may both take big swings. They'd both benefit from a more under control two-strike approach. But one of them could potentially hit 30+ HRs in the majors and thus get away with striking out a lot.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Lake may have the physical tools necessary to drive the ball out of the park regularly, so there's always that possibility. But career high in homeruns so far is the 17 he hit between A+, AA, and AFL in 2011. That's nothing to scoff at, but it doesn't put him on anywhere near the slugger level as Baez is right now. I like Lake plenty, and I'm happy to see him take an aggressive swing until he's got two strikes on him. But he will need a two-strike approach to succeed in the majors, and even his aggressive swings get a bit out of control at times. The same could be said of Baez, but the kind of power he already possesses will blot out some blemishes. Also, Lake will probably be playing an outfield spot, while Baez's bat will be playing on the infield somewhere. We actually agree a fair amount here, I just thought you might be making a somewhat facile connection between Lake and Baez and being picky as I am I couldn't let it go.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

I agree that we agree "a fair amount here." I'm not making large claims for Lake or trying to compare him to Baez, except in one particular: like Baez, Lake knows that the first rule of hitting is to get good rips--what Theo has called "selective aggression." (You swing selectively, but when you do, you always try to drive the ball.) The player on the Cubs who drives me most nuts is Castro, who hasn't internalized the rule about getting good rips. Neither has crunch, who got me started on my defense of Lake.

not arrieta's night again...he even walked greinke and gave up a hit to him (though greinke is hitting oddly well this season). 5ip 6h 5bb 3k...4er

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Yeah he has that Kerry Wood thing where you gotta watch for his loss of command somewhere in the first 5 innings and hope it doesn't get ugly. And yeah Greinke is batting over .330 and Scully said when SWAIM coached him in Mil, that he'd ask for advanced scouting on hitters. Considers himself a bat, and hard to argue this year.

Gameday listed Villanueva's 56 mph pitch to Ramirez as an "Eephus". I didn't know that they had that term in their repertoire.

b.wilson (LAD) throwing 88mph sliders and 93mph fastballs. good for him...except for the striking out d.murphy to end the game thing.

Cubs are 6-18 in August, I believe i heard Vin say that was the worst record in baseball for the month.

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • 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).