Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* 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: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 





Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

A Hawk Sighting

by Darrel Rade

According to a number of reliable and trusted sources, the Chicago Cubs will be seeing a familiar face back in uniform. It appears that Andre Dawson will be back on the Cubs payroll for the upcoming season, which is thrilling news for fans. The Hall of Famer has been working with the Marlins for the past few seasons as a special assistant. Dawson was fired from the Marlins and that decision was quickly rescinded. However, Dawson has made bigger and better plans and will be coming back to join the Cubs.

Dawson’s MLB History

Dawson enjoyed 21 years in the MLB and first started his professional career with the Montreal Expos in 1976. He stayed with the club until 1986 and joined the Chicago Cubs in 1987. Dawson enjoyed many great times as a professional player and was named the National League All-Star for eight times and was also Rookie of the Year in 1977. In 1987, with his first year with the Cubs, Dawson won the MVP Award for leading the league with 49 home runs and 137 RBIs. When he started with the Expos, he quickly was a shining star and became the regular center fielder for the team. After playing 1,443 games with the Expos, he became a free agent and campaigned to the Cubs. Due to poor knee health, Dawson was moved from center field to right field and the Cubs were hesitant to take him on the roster.

After a lengthy battle and many negotiations, the Cubs signed him and in his first year, he lead the league with 49 home runs and was named the MVP. For the next five years, Dawson became a team favorite and was one of the most popular professional players of the time. He held the highest career batting average for the team with an average of .507.

In 1992, Dawson joined the Red Sox as a free agent and hit his 400th career home run in Fenway Park. In 1993, he sustained a severe knee injury resulting in surgery. The Sox then used him as a DH. The following years, knee issues plagued Dawson until he was forced to retire as a player in 1996.

His Future with the Cubs

At this time, Dawson’s formal role with the Cubs has not been announced, but it is believed the all-star player will be a special assistant, as he was with the Marlins. While the exact role Dawson will play when he returns to the Cubs organization is unknown, many believe he will have a similar role to that of Ryne Sandberg, perhaps as an ambassador in some form. It is clear that Dawson is not returning to the Cubs as any type of coach. No matter what his new position may entail, Chicago Cubs fans will welcome The Hawk back with open arms and he will be a welcomed addition to the organization. The Cubs may not be the most favored team in the MLB, but they are a team that attracts much attention and are a preferred choice for sports bettors, especially those that engage in online sports betting at reliable sites, including those mentioned on the Canadian betting site list. The Chicago Cubs are looking forward to a positive new season with Dawson on the payroll and the team has some opportunities to win many games and even be in the running for the pennant.

Cubs Upcoming 2018 Season

The upcoming season for the Cubs will begin on March 29, oddly enough, with a game against the Marlins, which will be an interesting way for Dawson to break back into the game with his former team! The first home game is scheduled to be played on April 9, when the Cubs host the Pirates. For 13 of the last 17 seasons, the Cubs will play their first game of a new season on the road and this is the first time the team faces the Marlins as an opener since 1998.

Even though the 2017 season did not win a title for the Cubs, the team ended string and it is believed the 2018 season will pick up right where they left off. The team managers and coaching staff have been focusing on improving the bullpen that will help win regular season and postseason games, possible leading the Cubs to play-offs and even more. The Cubs have a problem that many other teams wish they had. The team has too much talent in too many positions and it can be difficult to make decisions on where and when to play these players. With some tough roster choices ahead, the Cubs have been planning since the start of the off-season and plan to open the new 2018 season with a bang.

Comments

A little yawn on the Smyly signing. Remains to be seen if he will fully recover. CRUNCH must be liking the low risk-high reward move here. Its fine for that. Hopefully it works. I am certainly hoping this is not their "starting pitching addition" for the off-season.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

as long as it's not an excuse to sign a washed-up player to a one year deal (*cough* lackey *cough*) i like the signing, yeah. a playoff-quality team getting late-season innings help while he rehabs getting ready for a bigger 2019 role works for me. given that he probably won't be back until july/august he's not much of an 2018 concern unless he's looking great going into the playoffs...assuming the cubs make the post-season...which i'm gonna assume.

I am always amazed when FA pitchers choose to sign with the Rockies. Enjoy pitching at Coors!

"He held the highest career batting average for the team with an average of .507." This looks to be an error in the above article, in the 2nd paragraph of "Dawson’s MLB History". What did you mean to say here?

Recent comments

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team.