Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus one player is on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 3-28-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# 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 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 1 
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 1 
Caleb Kilian, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Free Agents Predictions Contest

Now that we're forced to think prematurely about 2018, it's time to commit your predictions to the public record. That's right: announcing once again our "renowned" Free Agents Predictions Contest.

As always, there are no prizes because it's free to enter and because we are too cheap to really care. Besides, if you aren't satisfied with bragging rights, then you aren't a real sports fan and you probably won't win, anyway. 

The deadline to enter is Friday, Nov. 15. (If anyone comes off the board before then, guesses made regarding that player after the announcement will not count.) Do a bunch of research or just go with your gut because you are always wrong about most everything. In any event, it might be the most fun you have till Spring Training.

Also, congrats to Cubster for having the current lead in the Season Predictions Contest. Stay tuned!

Comments

Woo--the fancy upgrade neglected to include a place for your name. (D'oh.) If you were one of the first two to submit, send me a note with your picks on Arrieta and Duensing, so I can give you proper attribution. 

Where's the option for "Kenley Jansen exercises secret opt-out clause, Cubs sign him to surprising free agent deal?" Because I didn't see that option on the form, you know?

10 points? Woo....Bragging rights!!! Go Cubster Go, Hey Chicago, whaddya say... No Cubs team has repeated since...when, 1908? Oh yeah...here's a hint for 2018: Bet on Rizzo and 32HRs.

Dodgers just picking where they left off. Can we put the whole Kershaw chokes in the playoffs narrative to bed.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

All the glowing reviews of Torre in today's articles make me sick. Clemens, Pettit, A-Rod, Giambi, etc. -- the guy won with steroid cheats. He's in the HOF, they are all blackballed. Same deal with LaRussa. Whether they knew it or not (ha!) is irrelevant -- the wins are tainted.

Wow -- house-cleaning time! - Mallee out, Chili Davis (Red Sox) in. - Gary Jones out, Brian Butterfield (Red Sox) in. So, they have basically canned their coaches in charge of pitching, hitting and base running. Fielding and bunting coaches, don't renew your apartment leases just yet. My lasting memory of Chili Davis -- I was sitting in the bleachers back in the day, and Chili was getting heckled pretty good. He never turned around, but held up his palm, kissed it, then smacked it against his butt. Nicely played, Chili.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Well, I called for it last year, just because coaches are disposable whereas high-dollar elephants in the room--not so much. What I mean is, Mallee had one job, to fix Heyward. So that's the job description of the new guy, whoever it is. It should be doable. It's not rocket science. They tried to get him to swing faster. What they didn't try was getting him to swing sooner. That's an approach issue, not a mechanical one. He will risk looking foolish if the fastball he swings at sooner turns out to be an offspeed pitch. So that's a psychological hurdle. But he has to do something to get the barrel on the ball and not always break his bat or roll over on the ball or hit a dying swan. Right now the biggest guy in the league, when he swings hard and seems to connect, hits routine flies.

zobrist named a GG finalist at 2nd...because this award has a proud heritage of being a f'n joke that needs to be upheld.

mike maddux to STL for pitching coach. looks like CHC may get their guy now.

win ~295 games over three years. Make it to the NLCS 3 straight years. Fire your coaching staff.

[ ]

In reply to by blockhead25

Which hire is bad? Butterfield and Chili Davis are very well respected. Andy Haines was due to get poached if not promoted. It seems more about "fit" than incompetence. The guys leaving will still get free beer in Chicago.

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

chili is at least a new look. it didn't seem like he was harming anything, young dudes or vets, in BOS. butterfield is a respected infield D coach as much as he'll be a guy who can wave guys home from 3rd...so there's a little bonus there that might actually be targeted for helping ian happ.

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

I don't think the hires are bad, nor do I have a clue what went on in the clubhouse last year. Maybe there were big issues with Maddon and the staff, and this would have happened no matter what. It just feels like there is a lot of change for the sake of change in MLB coaching this year simply for those that didn't win the world series.

"Patrick Mooney of NBC Sports Chicago reports that the Cubs are "closing in" on a deal that will make Jim Hickey their new pitching coach."

Joe wanted all of coaches back, but instead Theo cans a bunch of them. 

Joe, consider yourself on notice.

[ ]

In reply to by blockhead25

Brian Butterfield isn't just a third-base coach, he is also considered one of the best infield instructors in baseball, and he is an expert in Optimum Defensive Positioning ("infield shifts"). 

Having watched Any Haines work with Cubs minor leaguers for a couple of years now, I can tell you he really knows his shit, and he has a great rapport with hitters, too.  His knowledge of modern (21st Century) hitting mechanics is second-to-none. 

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I believe the Cubs firing Chris Bosio was more about the Cubs (and especially Joe Maddon) wanting to hire Jim Hickey as Pitching Coach than anything specific against Bosio. Remember, Hickey was Maddon's pitching coach for a number of years in Tampa Bay, while Bosio was a Dale Sveum guy. Once it became known that Hickey was available and (yikes!) that he was interviewing with the Cardinals and the Red Sox, Bosio had to be cut loose. It's a lot like when Joe Maddon suddenly became available out-of-the-blue after the 2014 season and so (sorry, bud) Rick Renteria had to be ushered out the door.

Chili Davis Was a switch-hitting OFer. So, its like you are getting two hitting coaches for the price of one. Shrewd work, Theo.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

I'm hoping Martinez gets a managing gig and leaves. Not only because he's earned the top job somewhere, but it would free up a spot next to Maddon for David Ross' long-rumored apprenticeship to begin. From an intangibles POV, I can't think of a better starting point for the 2018 team than getting Grampa Rossy back in the clubhouse with the young players that adore him.

MLBTR's Tim Dierks takes a stab at his list of 50 free agents. Showing why this is always a big crapshoot (emphasis on the first syllable) https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/2017-18-top-50-mlb-free-agents-w… of note... he predicts the Cubs will sign: Yu Darvish #1, 6/160; Addison Reed #16, 4/36; Jake McGee #30, 3/18; #4) Jake Arrieta to Brewers at 4/100 (I think Theo would go four years (5 not so much), so I'm grain of salting this one given his Darvish prediction). Brewers gave Garza a 4 yr deal, so I'd expect them to be a bit gunshy here. #8) Wade Davis to Astros at 4/60 #9) Lance Lynn to Rangers at 4/56 #10) Greg Holland to Cardinals at 4/50 #11) Alex Cobb to Twins at 4/48 #27) Andrew Cashner to A's at 2/20 #32) Alex Avila to Yankees at 2/16 #34) Beef Welington to A's at 2/14 #39) Jon Jay to Rangers at 2/14

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

While I don't see the Cubs signing Yu Darvish (with Hickey now on-board as pitching coach, I think they will sign Alex Cobb for about 4/$80), I do think Jake McGee (another ex-Ray) and Addison Reed are very plausible signings and for the money Dierkes projects.  

I also think the Cubs will try and trade Kyle Schwarber for a young arm (very well could be a high-upside bullpen arm), similar to the Red Sox trading Travis Shaw to MIL for Tyler Thornburg last off-season. 

And then I suspect the Cubs will package Ian Happ as part of a deal for a young club-controlled SP (somebody like Michael Fulmer, Aaron Nola, or Sean Manaea). 

And if the Cubs can acquire Christian Yelich from the Marlins for Albert Almora Jr plus a couple of "bad contracts" that expire post-2018, they will do that, too.

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

"almost 50 left-handed homers" Happ was 22, Schwarber 24 when they hit almost 50 from the left side. You're trading a bunch more than that. My trade prediction would be Russell, since a team doesn't need two shortstops no matter how good they are, and second is an easier position to fill. Happ or La Stella or--who knows, Bote--could step in right away. Theo has been hinting that two SS's is a luxury that the Cubs may no longer be able to afford. What makes this a tougher deal is that Russell had an off year professionally and personally.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Also, I assume Russell's injury history and occasional throwing yips don't help. It would be great if they cool keep both -- it would be fun to watch those 2 patrol the middle of the infield together for a few more years. But, if they had to move one, I would think/hope they keep Baez over Russell -- more versatility, more power, more dynamic base-runner. It's still early days for Russell, but in 3 full years has hit .240 every year.

Would Boston trade Benintendi and an arm, reliever or starter, for Schwarber? Boston needs lefty pop. We need arms but don't need to give up our lefty bats and replace with just righties.

Darvish, Arrieta, Tanaka, Cobb. Seems a foregone conclusion one of these 4 will be signed as the "fourth starter", and one of the Cubs' hitters will be moved for a 5th starter. Am I crazy to think that Lance Lynn might be a smarter signing than any of the 4, after taking money, age, health and performance into account?

Recent comments

  • hellfrozeover (view)

    I would say also in the bright side column is Busch looked pretty good overall at the plate. Alzolay…man, that hurts but most of the time he’s not giving up a homer to that guy. To me the worst was almonte hanging that pitch to Garcia. He hung another one to the next hitter too and got away with it on an 0-1. 

  • crunch (view)

    amaya blocked like 6-8 of smyly's pitches in the dirt very cleanly...not even an exaggeration, smyly threw a ton of pitches bouncing in tonight.

    neris looking like his old self was a relief (no pun), too.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    In looking for bright spots the defense was outstanding tonight. The “stars” are going to need to shine quite a bit brighter than they did tonight offensively though for this to be a successful season.

  • Eric S (view)

    Good baseball game. Hopefully Steele is pitching again in April (but I’m not counting on it). 

  • crunch (view)

    boo.

  • crunch (view)

    smyly to face the 2/3/4 hitters with a man on 2nd in extras.

    this doesn't seem like a 8 million dollar managerial decision.

  • crunch (view)

    i 100% agree with you, but i dunno how jed wants to run things.  the default is delay.  i would choose brown.

    like hellfrozeover says, could be smyly since he's technically fresh and stretched.

    anyway, on a pure talent basis....brown is the best option.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Use pitchers when you believe they're good. Don't plan their clock.

    I'm sorry. I'm simply anti-clock/contract management. Play guys when they show real MLB potential talent.

    If Brown hadn't been hurt with the Lat Strain he would've gotten the call, and not Wick.

    Give him a chance. 

    But Wesneski probably gets it

  • crunch (view)

    alzolay...bro...

  • crunch (view)

    wow.  what a blown call.  go cubs, i guess.