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 Recall Rapada, Send Murton to Iowa

The Cubs have recalled LHP Clay Rapada from Iowa, and have optioned OF Matt Murton to the same club. The side-slingin' Rapada has been the Iowa Cubs primary closer this season, but as shown by his '07 AAA splits, he is really more of a classic LOOGY. That is, he is death on left-handed hitters, but with his frisbee-style offerings that seem to come out of right field, you really don't want him to throw to MLB-quality right-handed swingers if it can be avoided. As for Murton, this move will give Orange Guy a chance to play everyday (probably playing RF and hitting 3rd in the I-Cubs lineup), and (hopefully) get his groove back, either forcing himself back into the Cubs starting lineup as the everyday RF at some point in the not-too-distant future--or at least making him more attractive as trade bait later this season or next off-season. Adding Rapada gives the Cubs a 13-man pitching staff, so expect a pitcher to get trimmed from the roster whenever the first position player (Blanco, Ward or Ramirez) returns from the DL (probably no later than a week from Friday when A-Ram is due back, if not sooner). However, the Cubs do have the luxury of having two pitchers (Carlos Zambrano and Jason Marquis) on their roster who can be used as a PH on days when they're not pitching. The Cubs bullpen has been used quite a bit over the past four games, so adding the 13th pitcher is probably just a short-term thing. This roster move (at least the Murton part) is probably part of Uncle Lou's long-stated desire for a "set" lineup and for a lefty run producer in the middle of the order... 1. Matt Murton gets optioned to Iowa where he will get regular playing time; 2. Jacque Jones goes into the Friendly Confines Witness Protection Program until Hendry can trade him; 3. Cliff Floyd (if he can stay healthy) plays RF and hits 4th or 5th most every day--LHP or RHP, doesn't matter--until further notice. 4. Angel Pagan serves as the defensive replacement in RF whenever the Cubs are trying to protect a lead late in a game.

Comments

Great! Cause maybe last night Rapada could have batted instead of Hill!!! Unreal. I'm no Murton fan but I don't see this as a smart move.

I understand the need to get another pitcher up, and even give Murton some regular pt in Iowa, but sending down a tired, ineffective pitcher like Ohman to get another fresh pitcher up might have made more sense right now. Ohman has options left according to AZ Phil's chart.

Absolutely the right call. When your pen is getting overworked every night. The thing you need to fix that is a guy who can get 1 guy out at a time. What are the chances of going to a 27 man pitching staff?

We do still have four right-handers to go with our three left-handers in our bullpen. Can't complain about that. We also have one less outfielder. Can't complain about that. Makes the already quick-triggered Lou a man down on the bench, though. Now we'll run out of bench guys in the eighth instead of the ninth. Can complain about that.

wes - didn't you know? barrett is responsible for all things that happen with the Cubs.

Also, what does this do to the lineup card against a lefty? Felix still plays and Pagan plays right? DeRosa in right and Pagan in center? Floyd plays anyway and Pagan plays center? Fontenot plays both center and left while also playing 2B?

Yea Wes... I mentioned that in the previous thread. Doesn't that excite you? The only decent option in RF against lhp would be DeRosa, but then Izzy has to play. And no one plays 3b. The Cubs will miss Murton.

Floyd... against LHP, 2004-2006: .218/.285/.379 Murton... against LHP - 2005-2006 (didn't play in 2004): .329/.404/.512

Agreed, AZ Phil. I'm all for Felix playing every day. If we're going to play this kid, then play him. I'm willing to sit through some 0-3 days against a good lefty. I wouldn't hit him second, though. Cliff's still hitting .300. And he's better than most left-handed hitters against left at 273/331/465 in his career.

He's not going away forever, dave. They didn't trade him. They didn't DFA him. He's going down to figure it out. Murton does have those nice numbers vs LHP in the last three, but you forgot to include '07 where he's 267/340/356. His current role is to hit left-handers. He's not doing a good enough job. I have a hunch that once Hendry finds a Jones suitor and Murton actually, you know, hits, he'll be back. And he'll have a much more defined role.

His current role is to hit left-handers. He’s not doing a good enough job. No... but he is doing better than any of the other options in RF.

Wes you make a great point. How is Pie ever going to learn to hit lefties if he never faces them? Let him play everday, and maybe sit him against the BEST lefties. When he's in the lineup against a southpaw, bat him 7th.

I do think, for Murton's sake, that he needs to get things figured out. I just worry about this team against LHP - especially in CF/RF.

A. Soriano lf F. Pie cf D. Lee 1b C. Floyd rf M. DeRosa 3b R. Theriot ss M. Fontenot 2b K. Hill c

Thanks for breaking the news, Phil. Sucks a little bit. I like Murton A LOT. But I understand the move. I'm hoping it's temporary (does he come back when Jones is traded? When Floyd gets hurt again?) I'm not sold on Rapada, though. Now we have TWO LOOGYs who SUCK against RHs. Remember that spring training game this year that he gave up three home runs to three straight RH hitters? That was awesome. Btw-- where's the Fontenot list?

did rocky cherry kick hendry's dog or something? he working on something in AAA besides 390ft. flyouts to CF?

Ariz Phil.... Can you give a rundown on our higher level catching prospects. Is Soto a legit option next year or are we resigned to scouring the FA market for a catcher who knows how to handle a staff, block pitches, and throw to the right bag?

Romero — June 13, 2007 @ 5:18 pm I’m not sold on Rapada, though. Now we have TWO LOOGYs who SUCK against RHs. Remember that spring training game this year that he gave up three home runs to three straight RH hitters? That was awesome. ============================= ROMERO: I remember it well. I was there.

Joe Sheehan: "The Cubs are wasting Matt Murton, both by not having him creating runs for them, and by killing his trade value by turning him into a part-time player. Most analyses of the Cubs focus on their need to trade Jacque Jones, but Jones is a 32-year-old platoon player with no arm and a .230 batting average. Trading is about perceived value, and Jones doesn’t have very much at the moment. Murton, however, would bring back more as a pre-arb, pre-peak player. While I wouldn’t recommend trading him, he’s the chip that can bring back a useful infielder, not Jones." Subscribe to BP to read the rest of the article.

He is better than Jones or Floyd against left, dave, but Murton's also hitting 243/325/324 against right. Floyd is hitting 298/360/423 against right. I'll take that 50/40/100 point increase the 5 days a week we face a right-hander and deal with the rest. Especially if Pagan will throw up a 281/343/531 against lefties, which he is currently doing. When you couple that with his defense, I think that makes him the best fit against left in rightfield. crunch, I'll take that order just about anyday when Rammy's not in there.

the best fit.. with Murton slumping.. that is. If Murton is swinging the bat at his career line, I want him out there. My apologies.

joe "i lub the cubs" sheehan... oh no..murton gets to go somewhere he plays everyday and all the cubs have left is floyd/jones.... hell, its not like he got sent down so pagan could play. let murton find his groove playing everyday (or nearly everyday) and use floyd/jones til you get rid of someone. seems...sane.

well, i guess sheehan's comment was with the premise he's still gonna be on the active roster...so well, yeah...

Iowa Cubs note: Ronny Cedeno is hitting .314 but has made 5 errors already in just 26 games at shortstop.

JF — June 13, 2007 @ 5:25 pm Ariz Phil…. Can you give a rundown on our higher level catching prospects. Is Soto a legit option next year or are we resigned to scouring the FA market for a catcher who knows how to handle a staff, block pitches, and throw to the right bag? ========================== JF: Geovany Soto is just a so-so defensive catcher. He is not very good at throwing out base-stealers, but he has OK receiving skills (although he's kind of stiff). However, he knows all the Cubs pitchers very well (he's been at ST and then at Iowa for three years running). Actually, I consider Soto to be a better hitter than he is a catcher (he developed a power stroke the last couple of years). I would project Soto as a future MLB back-up catcher, but since Henry Blanco is signed through 2008 (with a club option for 2009), and because Soto will be out of minor league options next ST, I don't think it will be with the Cubs. Jake Fox is a lot like Michael Barrett defensively, in that he has poor catching mechanics and receiving skills. However, he does have the best power of any player in the Cubs farm system. (He is a freakin' masher). Fox is the classic "first-ball/fastball" power-hitter (rarely walks except when the other team pitches around him, and he strikes out a lot). He is a much better RF, LF, or 1B than he is a catcher, however. Fact is, none of the Cubs catching prospects are really worth mentioning, although if you could find a Dr. Frankenstein who could put the best of each one (Jake Muyco's arm, Mark Reed's athleticism, Chris Robinson's brain, Jake Fox's power, Welington Castillo's stroke, and Geovany Soto's experience) together in one body, you might really have something.

Not very uplifting AZ Phil....but thanks! Looks like we'll be scouring the FA market next year or forced to trade for a serviceable catcher...........paging Damian Miller:)

JF: If there is going to be a platoon in RF at some point in the future, I'd rather the right-handed half be Jake Fox than Murton or DeRosa. Remember when Glenallen Hill hit that dinger on top of the building at Waveland + Kenmore? Fox has that kind of power. And he has the arm to play RF.

Yep, it was written yesterday, without the knowledge of Murton's demotion.

Sean Marshall has the best seat in the house, He must have enjoyed Ichiro's grounder that DLee fielded while he watched.

and Koyie Hill has his imitation of Barrett blocking balls into the dirt down pat, showing it twice in the first. Fortunately they (Marshall/Hill) lucked out with no damage.

Routine first inning. What are you talking about, Cubster? Inf single (pitcher doesn't cover), passed ball, 6-3, wild pitch, Ichiro baserunning mistake, out 5251, Guillen to 2nd, F8. Looks awfully vanilla to me.

carlos rubi said: " would bring back more as a pre-arb, pre-peak player." is that similar to a pre-op tranny?

so when blanco comes back do we send hill down and risk losing him i think there are no more options left.

Marshall is pretty much single handedly saving the season for the Cubs. I like the Murton and Rapada moves, though I disagree with AZ assessment that Rapada can only get lefties out, since he had no trouble with righties last year. I think one of the geniuses on the Cubs coaching staff got a hold of him in ST and did something stupid, which Rapada has now corrected.

I have been a huge Sean Marshall supporter since the beginning when he was drafted, I am so VERY happy to see him having some truly impressive success. I think it's noteworthy that Marshall has been pitching this well going immediately AFTER Rich Hill in the rotation, that can't be easy given their similar pitching styles. Zambrano, Hill, Marshall, I believe all three are under 28 yo. Incredibly, Mark Prior is just 25, isn't he? Gallagher gets his first cup of coffee here, The Don is the best lefty prospect in the Cubs' system. An awful lot of young pitching talent, let's hope they can all stay healthy.

This current Cubs team will miss Murton about as much as Turkey misses the 'Black Death' of the 13th Century. That's OF move #1. Move #2 will be when they trade/DFA Jacque. Murton is a LF playing for an organization that doesn't need a LF for the next 7 years. He would have to hit .320/.370/.500 against all types of pitching for me to put up with his defense in RF and base running if I was a ML manager. I agree with AZ Phil, if you want a RH hitting RF who will put up better #'s vs. LHP than Floyd/Pagan then bring up Fox. Good luck Matt M. in putting up some great AAA numbers so the Cubs can trade you for better value than you have now (which is slightly above a sore armed A level pitcher).

Regarding comment #7, bingo! Piniella seems like a dyed-in-the-wool American Leaguer whenever the Cubs are facing down extra innings. He seems to have no idea how to conserve his bench. Hard to believe he managed in NL for three seasons, and successfully at that.

Matt Murton in a good coaching system would be a joy to behold. Last year he showed good opposite field power, and there are not many players who can be "taught" a keen eye at the plate. However, a good coaching system CAN teach someone how to play the outfield. The Cubs' system, however, has not in the past been a good coaching system. There are some indications that may be changing -- Felix Pie comes to mind (2 walks yesterday makes me almost wet my pants in the way Sammy's blasts used to). Hopefully, the coaching staff is getting a little better and Murton can learn how to play the outfield. He's 25 and has the potential to be a good player. People who raved about him aren't stupid. They know a good natural hitter when they see one. Even if he does well in the minors he won't get much in a trade. Might as well hold onto him and see if Tyler Colvin or Josh what's-his name can beat him out for the right field job after Cliff gets his final injury.

Buck Coats is playing RF for Iowa right now. Hitting about .550 in June. Murton is now blocked at that level. Can they send him to the AA squad? Does Peoria need a RFer? Arizona here he comes.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • 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.