Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

42 players are at MLB Spring Training 

31 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE at MLB Spring Training, and nine players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 
11 players are MLB Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 17
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

NRI PITCHERS: 5 
Colten Brewer 
Carl Edwards Jr 
* Edwin Escobar 
* Richard Lovelady 
* Thomas Pannone 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
Jorge Alfaro 
Joe Hudson 

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

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
David Bote 
Garrett Cooper
* Dominic Smith

OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 1 
* David Peralta

OPTIONED:
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, RHP 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, RHP 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Sit Down, Orange Guy

GAME THIRTY-SIX IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT] SAN DIEGO PADRES (20-16, 1st, 0.0) AT CHICAGO CUBS (15-20, 5th, 7.5 GB) Wrigley Field, 1:200 PM CDT Weather: Crappy TV: CSN Chicago, DirecTV 735 Radio: WGN, XM 188
Greg Maddux, RHP 5-2, 3.64 ERA, 42 IP 33 K, 8 BB, 3 HRChris Young, RHP 3-2, 3.61 ERA, 42 1/3 IP 33 K, 16 BB, 7 HR

*Dave Roberts, LF Mike Cameron, CF *Brian Giles, RF Mike Piazza, C Khalil Greene, SS Vinny Castilla, 3B *Adrian Gonzalez, 1B Josh Barfield, 2B Chris Young, P*Juan Pierre, CF Ronny Cedeno, SS *Todd Walker, 1B Aramis Ramirez, 3B *Jacque Jones, RF Jerry Hairston, LF Neifi Perez, 2B Henry Blanco, C Greg Maddux, P
Padres vs. Maddux: Brian Giles: 11-27, 407/500/667, 1 HR, 5 BB, 5 K Vinny Castilla: 13-45, 289/319/556, 3 HR, 1 BB, 9 K Mike Piazza: 17-65, 262/273/462, 4 HR, 1 BB, 10 K Geoff Blum: 6-25, 240/269/240, 1 BB, 7 K Eric Young: 12-55, 218/237/255, 2 BB, 2 KCubs vs. Young: Jacque Jones: 2-11, 182/182/455, 1 HR, 2 K

The Cubs have sent Angel Guzman back to Iowa and called up Jae-Kuk Ryu to take his place on the roster. Since Kerry Wood is scheduled to be activated on Thursday, I'm guessing Ryu will start on Wednesday and then will be sent back down to make room for Wood. What? You want to know something about today's game? Hmm. I think the best thing that could happen today would be for the game to be rained out. That would prevent the team from fielding a lineup that includes Neifi and Blanco, with Matt Murton on the bench. I'm guessing this won't be a one-game rest for Murton; I expect we'll find out tht he's been benched, so now he can sit around all day and think about how he's thinking too much. That's useful. And why, exactly, did Hendry bother to call up Ryan Theriot? Do you think it's doing him any good to be sitting on the bench watching the team lose? I mean, yeah, it's the majors and all, but how is this helping his development?

Comments

wood will start thursday wait, you seriously think murton will be benched? i'd be surprised if that's the conclusion dusty comes to. as dumb as he is, i think he likes murton and realizes that he can struggle through a couple of weeks. then again, he thinks that a man with a 300 OBA saved their asses last year. saved it from what i don't know...

Hey Murton got a couple hits yesterday. Was actually back to his patient self. Good time to sit him so he can forget whatever he figured out.

Is that lineup a joke? Is he freaking serious? Anyone else just want to hit their head on the wall? Any lineup with Hairston, Perez, Blanco....Pierre, Jones....yeah, forget it.

Cubs up 2-0. Nice bunt rbi single by JHJ Here's the lineup I'd like to see: Cedeno Murton (if he's not going to hit with power, may as well use his + OB%) Walker Aramis Jones Barrett Hairston/Theriot Pierre (until he gets to at least a 325 OB%) Pitcher

The ever crafty Professor Maddux just stole second before the pitcher even threw home. Anyone think he can play 2B on his off-days?

Hey guys I have a question: Why do you think when batters hit Maddux they mostly put the ball in play while when facing guys like Zambrano o Guzman they hit so many foul balls? Does the difference in speed have anything to do with it? And if it does, could these guys benefit any from throwing slower? I mean, Zambrano, Guzman, they throw so many pitches in part because they throw many balls but I have seen also that when they are around the plate there are many foul balls off them, while it is typical for Maddux to get the balls in play and thus not have to throw many pitches if they are swinging and not hitting safely. Anyway, just had this on my mind. Luis

Maddux is simply amazing when he's on. 60 pitches through 7 innings? That's 3 innings for most of our other starters...

ugh...Piazza takes Dempster deep in the 9th to blow the save and give the Padres the lead I just turned the game off.....too depressing.

Damn, that sucks. Bullpen hadn't let maddux down all year. Correct me if I'm wrong, that's the first time Dempster's granted a lead in a save opportunity, no? Two blown saves last year that were both ties the cubs won in the 9th/10th

"I've never seen anything like it." -Ron Santo btw, the Cubs haven't given Dempster enough practice in games....How many teams go at least 10 days and don't have a chance to use their close...?

John Mabry? Three chances to extend the game... John Mabry? Bynum must be injured.

It started with JJ's horrendous throw that turned a single into a double...that scored SD's first run. And don't forget Baker giving up the first out to sacrifice a man from second to third with automatic outs Perez and Blanco coming up. Result, no insurance run. There's two runs and the game right there. But let's not quibble.

The Cubs have just lost 11 of their last 12 games...On the other hand, The Padres have just won 13 of their last 14 games....Wow.

#13: I was going to mention that but it was just too painful. (Stupid Basket)

What a lineup, what a game.... Dusty is manager of the year. Theriot sure is giving the Cubs a spark...from the dugout, or something? What the fuck? Seriously?

Why was Maddux taken out in the 8th, at 73 pitches, and only 4 hits all day? I really want to know! Not being sarcastic.

Hopes? dreams? A Cub fan needs not these things...a puke bucket, maybe..

Hey Dusty- stop that annoying spitting thing in your press conferences. You look like you're going to cry.

Maddux deserves a better team to back him up...He pitched an amazing game. Most teams would have won if they had a starter like Maddux pitching the way he did today. Yet, we're dealing with the 2006 Cubs -- they've seemed to master the art of making mistakes and giving away games.

Cubs- 0-6 against the Padres this year. Unfrickinbelievable.

I'd cry too if I managed a team that was this poor defensively and fundamentally.

Someone needs to seriously ask JJ if his arm is hurt. There is no a rightfielder's arm can be that comically bad.

Why was Murton sitting again? Someone explain that to me? He should be hitting second in the lineup, by the way..

I will be happy about this loss if it finally gets Dusty fired. The guy not only makes lousy decisions but I believe his attitude is really hurting the confidence of the team. And these ridiculous lineups continue to be his trademark. Like everybody said during the winter, he will do whatever it takes to get Neifi (and his .500 OPS) on the lineup somewhere. Ughhhh. Hendry certainly has his share of blame for this mess, but right now is time for Dusty to pack. And hopefully the entire staff with him (starting with that Larry "Mr. towel drill/simulated game" Rothschild. Enough is enough. Luis

Catch you guys in spring training -- this team is not worth my time nor yours. The problem wasn't the bunt -- it was that Neifi and Blanco were, through some devine intervention, somehow expected to get the runner in. No other major league team would have two such horrible players hit in such a key situation. The Padres tried to hand this game to the Cubs, who are incapable of accepting a gift. A lineup with JHJ, Neifi and Blanco is just ridiculous -- DLee is only one player, and Hendry provided this team with no depth and no help in the minors. Just say no.

No reason for Murton sitting. If he wanted to play Hairston, he could have put him (or Theriot or anyone not named Neifi) on second. Deciding to sit Murton on the day he hits Blanco and puts Neifi on the lineup is inexcusable. Luis And btw, what's the point of Pierre's speed on the bases if he is going to bunt him over to the next base? with Piazza catching!!!!!

As much as it hurts me to rip Maddog, you can blame the starting pitcher in this case sometimes- not always, but sometimes. Granted, Maddog is always gracious about these things. But if you don't wanna see your closer blow a save, then finish the game yourself. Don't be afraid to go through the lineup for a fourth time. Not that Maddux was ripping Dempster or anything. I'm more speaking about starting pitchers who get pissed when the bullpen blows it (ie, Steve Trachsel with the Cubs his 8-18 year). Throw a complete game and get the job done yourself. Plain and simple.

Unfortunately the blown save today is going to overshadow that horrible sacrifice bunt in the late innings. Yes, Pierre would have stolen second easily on his own off Piazza. Why waste that out? That's a question Dusty should be asked- but he won't be, because outsiders will just look at the box score and make assumptions.

I'm at the point where I'd rather not win to save Baker's job, if at all possible, however I don't think Hendry has the balls to fire him or he would have already. Sad.

Nazey, Jones doesn't make that ridiculous throw and Maddux gets through the 8th unscathed. But the point is: what pitcher do you want, the one who "sucks it up" and gives up the tying runs (and then probably goes on the DL for throwing out his arm) or the one who knows when he's done, isn't too macho to admit it, and has confidence in his fellow pitchers to do the job. As you said, Maddux NEVER blames another player, for ANYTHING. Oh, and btw, he's still one of the leaders in innings pitched at the end of every season. Saying he's "afraid to go through the lineup [again]" is just plain silly.

Here's tomorrow's lineup: 1)Juan Pierre CF 2)Neifi Perez SS 3)Todd Hollandsworth LF 4)Aramis Ramirez 3B 5)Lenny Harris 2B 6)John Mabry 1B 7)Freddie Bynum RF 8)Paul Gabor Bako C It's a Dusty lineup after all!!!!!

On Tribune's radio station (WGN) Coz is saying that the responsibility for the Cubs' performance should be with McFail, Hendry and Dusty -- he just said they ALL should go....Hmmmm....I tend to agree but it's interesting to consider where I'm hearing the comments.

#34 of 35: By Dusty Baylor (May 13, 2006 04:19 PM) Here's tomorrow's lineup: 1)Juan Pierre CF 2)Neifi Perez SS 3)Todd Hollandsworth LF 4)Aramis Ramirez 3B 5)Lenny Harris 2B 6)John Mabry 1B 7)Freddie Bynum RF 8)Paul Gabor Bako C It's a Dusty lineup after all!!!!! You almost got it right, Aram is sitting and Neifi is at 3B and Theriot is the SS. "Our guys are winded from running the bases so much, they need a day off" says Dusty.

Ronny Weiner- For the record, Greg Maddux was quoted today during the postgame press conference that he "was afraid to go through the lineup a fourth time." My point wasn't so much to rip on Maddux- he's a professional and stand up guy. And certainly JJ didn't help in the 8th. But I'm saying that a lot of starters make that excuse- more of a commentary on the atmosphere of baseball today. BTW, Dusty should be fired.

Nazey, even if he said that, he's not actually scared, just concerned that he won't be effective. At least we agree on Dusty. I've wanted him fired ever since he made his first comments about walks clogging up the bases, and nothing has changed since. He's the worst, in every possible way.

RW- Oh man, that's priceless. Where/when did he say that? I don't doubt that he did. I just want to be able to reference it for future Dusty rips.

Throughout the history of baseball, when a team is playing like the Cubs are playing, and losing the way(s) they are losing, the first step is to fire the manager and see if the team plays better with a different field boss. Then, if the team still doesn't play any better with a different manager, proceed onward and nuke the players, off the GM, whack the Team President, etc. But first things first... 1. FIRE THE MANAGER

AZ Phil: Any Manager you would recommend for the Cubs...? They just seem to lack a sense of urgency to course correct. I really like what Ozzie has done with the White Sox in the last few years (yet, he had a lot of help from the GM)...Jim Lleyland has gone into Detroit and quickly created a new culture and seems to be getting a much higher level of performance out of a team that has had trouble getting traction for years. The Tigers are actually very competitive this year. Yet, of the available Managers who would you recommend for the Cubs...?

*The Cubs have just lost 11 of their last 12 games...On the other hand, The Padres have just won 13 of their last 14 games....Wow.* Not such a "wow" if you consider that 6 of those Pod wins were AGAINST THE CUBS.

Lou Pinella

Couple of thoughts: Juan Pierre's bat is SLOW. He's fouling off fastballs that are right down the middle. He has a bat speed problem. The Cubs need to send a message to their players. Reward good behavior, punish poor behavior. Bring up Coats or Pie and Hoffpauir. DL Jones (arm or groin-u pick)and send out Bynum.

oh yea, and fire Dusty. Bring on Steve Stone.

carmenfanzone: Jacque Jones is actually our best active hitter right now. He has killed right handed pitching (+.900 OPS). If it wasn't for the ineptitude of our manager/GM combo he wouldn't bat against lefties and his numbers would look great. Luis

"Juan Pierre's bat is SLOW. He's fouling off fastballs that are right down the middle. He has a bat speed problem." Maybe he has a bum shoulder. Batting from the left side means his left arm generates the speed and power -- but he has neither. He sure can't throw with that arm very well.

At least Stoney would know what the hell he is doing. Dusty is clueless. Pinella is availible, and I'd like his style for this team, but like I said earlier in the season, he's only going to manage for a contender...and now the Cubs aren't even that, so Pinella is out. short list... Santo Banks Stoney Brently Bill Murray/Rick Sutcliff (I don't know who mentioned this combo, but it gets my vote, at least losing would be fun) Bueller....bueller?

Pinella is not going to happen. Mcfail stated in the past that he would never be part of this organization. In typical fashion this team will hire some lame duck manager for the remainder of this year. They will wait until December/January when the top 5 choices for manager have signed elsewhere and then we'll be stuck with nothing again. Dusty could ruin a 1 car funeral. I just wish it was his funeral.

Could Big Jim Hendry work out a deal with the Marlins that will bring Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera and Joe Girardi to the Cubs for Dusty Baker and (fill in the blank)?

Pinella has said himself that he only wants to manage a "proven contender" and the Cubs do not qualify as that. As Azrad was saying Pinella would never get the job even if he wanted it because he isnt a team player. This organization is as hostile to criticism as religious zealots are. The next manager of this team will be a butt-kissing "yes man" who is an old school guy. That leaves this short list of guys who will be the next manager: Brenly Howe Rothschild or some assintant that just wants to be a manager so bad they dont care where it is or what they have to do get it. When in actually Hendry should only have a list of 6 to go after Bud Black Don Cooper Orel Hershier Don Mattlingly Terry Pendleton Any proven manager who might be out there at the end of the year. Heck if the Trib were serious about winning they would offer Scioscia the GM and manger's job with atleast a 20% ownership share in the team to replace Baker.

IMO, it takes the right GM to create a real contender...They must also have a great working relationship with an outstanding Manager (Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen at the White Sox come to mind)...The team turning around The Detroit Tigers may also be a good example...Here's a passage from a recent Washington Post article on the Tigers... {..."I think we have a quality club," General Manager Dave Dombrowski said. "Our starting pitching is very solid, which puts us in a position where we can compete on a daily basis, and we also have a very solid bullpen that allows us to shorten the game." Dombrowski, 49, is perhaps best known as the architect of the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins, a team he built from the ground up beginning with its expansion season of 1993. That experience has served Dombrowski well in Detroit, as the franchise's horrific 2003 season was nothing if not expansion-esque. And while many observers around the game, perhaps even some inside the organization, believed 2007 was the year the Tigers would truly arrive -- putting them on precisely the same time frame as the Marlins of a decade ago -- Dombrowski said his slow, painful transformation of the Tigers never had a deadline on it. "There are just some shortcuts you can't take," he said. "Doing this takes time, and you just hope you don't run out of time before people's patience runs out."... ...Back in his Florida days, when Dombrowski believed the Marlins were ready to make a title run, he hired Leyland as his manager. Within a year, they had won a world championship together. In Detroit this winter, as Dombrowski added pieces to a Tigers team that had fought its way back from the nightmare of 2003, he again turned to Leyland. This time, however, Leyland was not the managerial star he was in 1997. This time, he was coming off a six-year hiatus from managing, dating back to his failed stint with the Colorado Rockies in 1999, in which he walked away with two years and $4 million left on his contract, admitting he was too burned out to do the job. For most of the next six years, Leyland stayed close to his home outside of Pittsburgh, working as a special-assignment scout for the St. Louis Cardinals and spending time with his wife, Katie, and their children Patrick, 14, and Kellie, 12. By the time Dombrowski called about the Tigers job -- a call that amounted to, "Let's get the band back together" -- Leyland was ready. "I have found him to be a completely rejuvenated Jim Leyland, with the same passion he had at any point in his prime," Dombrowski said. "He's always had the leadership abilities. He's always been a great communicator. He knows the game inside and out. But I almost find him back to the point where he was in his heyday. It's almost like [managing] is new to him. He's as good as ever."...}

#41 of 52: By Scott (May 13, 2006 05:11 PM) AZ Phil: Any Manager you would recommend for the Cubs...? --- SCOTT: After serving as Head Baseball Coach at Creighton University for several years, Jim Hendry became Dave Dombrowski's "right-hand man," helping to build the Florida Marlins from scratch 1992-94. He served first as a special assistant to the GM (Dombrowski), and then as a manager in the Marlins' farm system in '93 and '94, before joining the Cubs as Player Development Director. So who would I like to see manage the Cubs? Just like Andy MacPhail took on the GM duties himself after Ed Lynch was "reassigned," Jim Hendry should name himself the Cubs interim manager, possibly for the rest of the 2006 season. He deserves the opportunity to manage the players he brought together this year, and prove one way or the other that the team he assembled for 2006 is better without Dusty than with him, capable of playing solid fundamental baseball, and at least losing with some dignity. Once he has proven that, he can choose a new manager. And if he can't prove it, he should resign.

AzPhil I wish I owned a company so could hire you.

I'd love to see Dusty and Rothschild both get the axe. Then bring Stone or Brenly in as the manager, if you give Brenly the job, then put Stone back in the booth with Kasper or make him the pitching coach. If you don't make Stone the pitching coach, then offer the job to Maddux and let him be a player/coach. Yeah, its all a pipe dream, but I think that's how I'd do things.

I think Hendry was more of Dombrowski's gofer than his right hand man. He lasted on year, then he coached their team in the rookie league. Then he was gone to the Cubs. Not sure he accomplished much of anything with the Marlins.

AzPhil: I like your recommendation. Yet, I'm not sure it will ever happen that way. Maybe Hendry should take charge as Manager and prove he can help the Cubs course correct...If he can't do it with HIS team, then he should resign. I just watched the White Sox get 2 bad calls in 1 inning as they are playing the Twins...Ozzie was mad and he went out and argued with the ref after the 2nd call and got thrown out of the game...I like a Manager that will fight for the team when he thinks it's necessary...The White Sox have given up their lead but they've proven that they often can come from behind and win close games...we'll see if that happens again tonight.

I keep ranting - BLOW IT UP! Do any of you agree with me it is time to just blow it up?! Does anyone feel that this team will finish .500 by the end of the season? My opinion, is 4th place is a STRETCH even with all the "stars" back. The four teams in front of the Cubs are GOOD TEAMS. The CUBS SUCK! I would be happy in the long run, as a season ticket holder, to frickin' trade every current player for young talent except DLee, Murton, Cedeno, and maybe Barrett. And, that's MAYBE. Then - FIRE all the coaches and the manager. Bring in Pinella, or the former old man of the Marlins who out managed our guy and Torre. IT IS OVER FOR 2006.

Yes, blow it up. Any team that has JHJr, Neifi and Blanco hitting 6 through 8 has MAJOR issues. I have been a fan of Hendry's in the past, and thought the bullpen moves were very good, but: -How can this team have had 3 rookie starting pitchers in May, 2 of whom have no business being in the majors at this time? - How can the Cubs have so little depth, and so little help ready at the AAA or AA level? - How did the Cubs scouts miss the obvious decline of Juan Pierre? - Henry Blanco, Glendon Rusch, Neifi Perez. I mean, my goodness.

I think Hendry will clean house with all the staff at some point- unless of course they make a move to .500 some time halfway through the season. He will most likely name some shmo interim manager to finish out the season. Then come the offseason, it will be a relatively inexpensive guy. I think he realizes that the $4 million they pay Dusty a year is a waste of money since a first year manager could have the same, if not better record with this team at this point. I don't want Piniella- he would be too expensive and he would wear out his welcome after a year and a half of tirades for a shitty team. Kinda like people felt about Ditka in '92. Someone like a Willie Randolph type; a younger manager who came up with a winning organization. Girardi would have been perfect(his experience with the Yankees, not the Cubs) and I was disappointed that the Marlins snagged him up over the offseason- I was hoping he would hold off another year. I like the name of a Bud Black or even a Hershiser as pitching coach. Is Cito Gaston still around? Who are some other relatively recently retired pitchers or catchers you can think of?

I too was a fan of Hendry. But he has proven to be a one trick pony. He has made his most solid moves (Lee, Aram, Nomar[?] for example) when he was in a position of strength. He traded with the Pirates (a minor league team) and Marlins when they were looking to cut payroll (Lee). What moves has he made with any winning teams that were significant, and what free agents did he sign in the offseason over the last 3 years besides Maddux? Also, his offseason deals have been weak, pretty much because everyone was "in the game" rather than being out of the race in July.

AZ Phil, Have you heard this rumor? And it is truly a rumor as in a friend knows this guy whose cousin's friend is a doctor in Arizona who knows a doctor who examined Mark Prior. (or something like that. anyway, many degrees of distance) So, long story short - the rumor is that Prior's tendenitis is so bad that there's a good chance he will never pitch again. Again, just a rumor. Just wondered if you'd heard anything along those lines out in AZ.

#17: Why was Maddux taken out in the 8th, at 73 pitches, and only 4 hits all day? Were you watching the game? Maddux gave up two hits in a row (and a run) and was clearly showing that he was done for the day. He talked with Hank at the mound and proceeded to walk the next batter on 4 pitches (all low and away). He then looked hard into the dugout to Dusty and gave him the "take me out" signal. The pitch count wasn't it. The 4th time may have been part of it. Maddux new he had lost it for the day and HAD TO TELL Dusty to pull him. I'm not condemning Dusty for not pulling him, but a good manager would have seen his pitcher losing command and sent out the pitching coach.

#61 of 63: By Nazey (May 13, 2006 09:22 PM) I too was a fan of Hendry. But he has proven to be a one trick pony. He has made his most solid moves (Lee, Aram, Nomar[?] for example) when he was in a position of strength. He traded with the Pirates (a minor league team) and Marlins when they were looking to cut payroll (Lee). What moves has he made with any winning teams that were significant, and what free agents did he sign in the offseason over the last 3 years besides Maddux? Also, his offseason deals have been weak, pretty much because everyone was "in the game" rather than being out of the race in July. Respectfully, I think you're conusing cause and effect. Any negotiation comes down to a degree of desperation. Hendry moves in a position of strength are purely because the team was in a position of strength compared to the negotiating counterpart. Lee for HSC? Marlins cutting payroll, Lee due contract extension, pretty basic. Same for Aramis. Nomar deal - as much about frenetic pace as anything. Hendry signed Hank pre-arbitration offer so that the Twins could recoup a draft pick after being shorted accidentally in the trade. Boston was desparate to lose Nomar. The recent trades and deals are a result of the Cubs being desparate (compounded by lousy free agent seasons). Pierre, Jones: Pure desparation The only deal I can think of in which desparation was not the clear factor to decide winner/loser was the LaTroy deal. Hendry had no leverage (SF was moderately desparate for a reliever, but LaTroy barely qualified), and was able to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Plus Sabbean is a really wacky GM. I'm sure he's made other good deals/finds like including Murton and trading for Barrett. Right now Hendry is eating a shit sandwich.

The Trib is making money off of the Cubs--winning means nothing to them unless the fans suddenly do a major 180 that they've never done before in recent memory and abandon a loser team. Until the Trib sells this club to someone who puts the major emphaswis on winning you aren't going to see a sense of urgency in management...field manager or general manager to secure a winnning team. This club has a top tier salary team....with nothing significant to show for it. Contrast that to teams who go after value and quality and you can see the difference. The Cubs have no accountability for winning or losing...only for making dollars. If Baker is fired anytime this year I'd be amazed. MAYBE if the Sox sweep them you might see some moves made...but probably the coaching staff minus Baker. It's sad to see organizations with much less baseball history develop in a few years to WS championship and the Cubs look pathetic year after year .

Nazey, I'm just returning to my computer. My memory is that Dusty made the comment about "clogging up the bases" and several other winners (e.g., "They don't call it walking average. They call it batting average.") during spring training 2004. I became a Braves fan when the Cubs let Maddux go in 1992 and I came back to the Cubs when he returned in 2004. I'd only seen Dusty a couple series a year and figured he was a good manager overall. (I did think he made one serious screw-up each, in 2002 and 2003 postseasons.) I was just horrified by almost every damn thing I heard him say during spring training 2004. Over and over, I pleaded with my television set for the Cubs to fire him. In mid-2000, when I heard that Jim Leyland and Joe Girardi wanted to manage, I was PRAYING that the Cubs would fire Dusty and immediately grab one of them. I had to admit that I thought Dusty was okay for the first few weeks of the season (not great, but basically harmless). But the day that D-Lee got injured, even before we knew the results, I was again ready to fire Dusty. His first real challenge, and he immediately set the wrong tone. Actually, come to think of it, he'd done a similar thing earlier in the season with references to Wood and Prior. A manager should say (and BELIEVE) that we can win with the personnel we have on the field and spend ZERO time talking about DL guys. I watched Bobby Cox year after year, and it's like night and day. In addition to bad tone/culture, bad coaching/preparation, bad lineups, bad in-game decisions . . . I think Dusty, intentionally or otherwise, deflects blame everywhere but to himself. Sometimes it's subtle and sometimes it's not. He also just lets stuff fly out of his mouth without consideration--like last year, when he suggested Maddux might retire at the end of the season. Then again, it's possible that was part of a strategy of deflecting blame away from himself. I wouldn't put it past him. I've watched Maddux for 20 years and Bobby Cox for 10+, and neither one has EVER deflected blame or called out another player (even when it was 100% deserved). The only thing close to an exception that I remember was early in Andruw Jones' career, when Cox thought he was being too lackadaisacal in the outfield and pulled him in the middle of the inning, without comment. And in that case, it was a message that needed to be sent and it was the only way left to communicate with the young outfielder. In sum, I am just so sickened by the subpar managing the Cubs get from Dusty. A good manager (e.g. Jim Leyland), with the exact same 40-man roster, could have done SO much better during the few weeks. In fact, he would have set a tone in spring training that would have required little adjustment on his part when D-Lee went down. In other words, "Okay, let's show our MVP what we can do without him" (with a smile) or no comment at all. Sorry for the ramble. It's just so frustrating to see season after season wasted by a useless manager who steals $4 million each year as well.

Umm, does Hendry have any managerial experience at all? Would we expect Walt Jocketty to do a good job in the dugout? Billy Beane? As satisfying as it might be to leave Hendry with the mess he's helped create, having him be an interim manager is about the stupidest idea I've heard.

Umm, does Hendry have any managerial experience at all? Umm...yes, he does. He was the head coach at Creighton for many years, as has already been mentioned in this thread.

Ummm, maybe I should read posts a little more closely before opening my yapper so that I don't look like a dumbass. I still don't think it makes sense to hire Hendry as a manager based on a modicum of experience 20 years ago.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    SF snags b.snell...2/62m

  • Cubster (view)

    AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24). 

    However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024: 

    * bats or throws left 

    Angel Cepeda, INF 
    * Miguel Cruz, P
    Yidel Diaz, C 
    * Albert Gutierrez, 1B
    Fraiman Marte, P  
    Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B) 
    Derniche Valdez, INF 
    Edward Vargas, OF 
    Jeral Vizcaino, P 

    And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.

    Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect. 

    F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season. 

    The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically. 

    Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).

    Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day. 

    Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will. 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.

    The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required. 

    They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).

    If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.

    If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option). 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil, 
    Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
    If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!  

    And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).