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

Strategy for Mets Series

It's going to be a pretty laid back way week for the Cubs as they ready themselves for the playoffs. The only kink in that plan is they're playing two of the teams fighting for a playoff spot. Lou has already indicated that you wont' be seeing anymore lineups like Sunday:

"I can't let these guys all sit," Piniella said. "We have to use them to keep them as sharp as possible. We'll play our regular lineup in these games [against New York]. The worst thing that can happen is Major League Baseball calls us and tells us, 'Hey, you people have a responsibility,' and we're going to honor that. 

I'm not exactly sure that's the worst thing that can happen, the worst thing that could happen is that Soriano gets nailed with a fastball or Ramirez shreds a hamstring, etc, etc. But Lou is right that you just can't sit them for a week.  As I discussed last week, I think Lou should be weary of using his starting pitchers versus the Mets. When it comes to the question of unfamiliarity between a pitcher and a hitter, I think the advantage goes to the pitcher. The less a team has seen a pitcher, the bigger the disadvantage. Now I don't worry much about Jason Marquis going tonight since he's been in the league long enough that many of the Mets hitters have seen enough of him already and he probably won't pitch against them if they are the Cubs first round opponent. But the rest of the week has Harden vs. Johan, Zambrano vs. Perez and Lilly vs Pedro. First, let's applaud the Mets for having two pitchers who are simply known by their first names.

Second, I understand that you don't want to completely sit your starting pitchers and risk getting them rusty, but I do hope Lou sticks with a plan to limit them to 5 innings and no more than two times through the lineup. If you look at some of the numbers, Harden has only faced one Mets hitter at least 10 times and that's Carlos Delgado. Lilly is in much of the same boat, with only Delgado and Luis Castillo getting more than 10 AB's. Zambrano being a native National Leaguer, has faced most of the Mets lineup quite a bit more, including a one-run effort earlier in the season. 

All in all, it's probably not a big deal, but what else are we going to worry about this week?

Some random notes after the jump....

- The Cubs 2008 division champ hats are pretty sweet. I usually hold off until the Cubs playoff run is over before purchasing any merchandise to see how far they get. Who wants a 2008 division champ shirt if a 2008 NL Pennant or 2008 World Series Champs one is coming down the pipeline? But I might have to break my rule on that one.

- I was updating our Cubs 40-man roster page, and didn't realize that the Cubs practically called up the entire roster. 

- You can download Eddie Vedder's new Cubs anthem from the Pearl Jam website. I'm going to try and get it up on the sidebar over the next day or two.

-  Arizona Phil recently gave us his thoughts on the playoff roster and I think I agree with his rotation. Dempster for Game 1 seems like a no-brainer now, because not only does Dempster have experience in the bullpen for later in the series, but he's also been lights out at home. At the moment, I think I'd like to see Dempster, Harden, Zambrano, Lilly but that could change depending on the opponent and how they throw this week.

As for the rest of the roster, I'd like to see this:

C - Soto, Blanco

INF - Lee, Ward, Fontenot, DeRosa, Cedeno, Theriot, Ramirez

OF - Soriano, Edmonds, Fukudome, Johnson

SP - Zambrano, Lilly, Harden, Dempster

RP - Wood, Marmol, Samardzija, Cotts, Marquis, Gaudin (assuming he's healthy, which sounds like he is),  and anyone not named Bob Howry.

Sadly, I think Howry will make the roster and then it's just a matter if Gaudin is healthy and if Lou can stomach crushing the soul of Marquis for another season. I think Marquis has done enough down the stretch to shake those "he's a first-half pitcher" tag, so as long as he's not whining about being put in the pen, he'd be nice to have around in case our slightly fragile starting rotation gets hurt.

That also eaves one spot for either Micah Hoffpauir or Felix Pie. I actually think the Cubs need a righty bench bat like Casey McGehee, but he just hasn't done much. I'd probably give the spot to Hoffpauir myself. Although Pie offers more dimensions to his game, Hoffpauir might actually get a hit. And would anyone want to see Lou having to be forced to use Pie as a pinch-hitter? But that could all be subject to change when they figure out who the Cubs opponent is.

- I discovered a neat trick/tool for you Mac users. I've always had problems isolating MLB.com clips to store on my own computer because I'm weird like that. But I came across Tube TV and have been saving clips from the 2008 season that you can find at cubs.com. Just find the clip you want, paste the URL in the Tube TV browser and download it. You can then convert if if necesary for your Ipod or Apple TV, but that's not necessary.

 

 

 

Comments

I actually think Vedder's song is great. But it's a bit melancholy to be a rally song. I don't think anyone has better captured what it means to be a Cub fan. "When you're born in Chicago, you're blessed and you're healed The first time you walk into Wrigley Field" "We are one with the Cubs, with the Cubs we're in love Yeah, hold our head high as the underdog We are not fair weather but fall weather fans We're like brothers in arms in the streets and the stands" "In the same ballpark, our diamond, our jewel The home of our joy and our tears"

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

PJ records all their concerts, and they're available for download from their website the next day for like $9.95. It's actually a really cool deal. You can download the entire concert you just saw (or pick any other show that has a playlist you want). Not sure if they still do, but they also used to mail the discs to go along with it as well. Anyway, the point is, they record everything so that's why that song is now available for download.

[ ]

In reply to by Mister Whipple

Nope sorry, the whiny list goes like this: Death metal Rage Against the Machine Bob Dylan Navigator Sarah Palin Manny (from here) Al Gore Rosie O'Donnell Colin Cowherd Cindy Sheehan Terrell Owens Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine

Funny, I thought the lockeroom division champ hat is butt ugly. Do you really want an "08 MLB" logo on the front brim of the cap? I purchased a different one on Cubs.com, just to have a momento. I'd happily pay a few extra bucks for a 2nd (and maybe 3rd) hat.

I'd hope to see Soto sit 3 times this week, and Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano sit 2 times each....just mix them up so only one is sitting at a time. I'd have to think MLB would accept that without question. I do not think it would be the right decision, but I fully expect to see Zambrano start game 1 and Game 5. I see Harden starting game 3. What I'd want: 1. Dempster 2. Zambrano Off 3. Harden 4. Lilly Off 5. Dempster (assuming a good game 1 start) What I expect: 1. Zambrano 2. Dempster Off 3. Harden 4. Lilly (Or Z on short rest, down 2-1) Off 5. Zambrano

[ ]

In reply to by blockhead25

That's 9 days off over seven days. It's going to be quite a trick to sit only one at a time. I agree with the thought though. I would like all the starters to get Saturday or Sunday off. With that and the 3 days until the start of the playoffs, they should be good. Theriot is getting overpowered by thigh high 90 MPH fastballs. He can rest 4 days this week, if they think that will get him going.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

also a good point....don't mind Z going Game 3 either myself. He could come back out of the pen for a couple of innings in Game 5 if necessary. You know they wouldn't risk that with Harden. Although they probably shouldn't be risking it with Z either.

Tough to nail this down though until you know the opponent.

-----

whoops, meant to reply to your other comment about Harden pitching Game 2.

Lord of the Dance? That clown doesn't stomp to slow stuff. The Vedder tune is a classic drinking song with the requisite repeated phrase, in this case, "Someday we'll go all the way" to be sung at the top of one's inebriated lungs. It's not meant to whip fans into a frenzy. I like a lot of Steve Goodman's songs but Go Cubs Go is, without a doubt, his worst. It makes Bear Down Chicago Bears seem like Stravinsky. Oh, and I doubt Marshall will be left off the post season roster. Seems like it's between Marquis, the Notre Dame guy and Howry.

Rob G , I meant Cubs fans. Don't be so anal. I stand by my suggestions. It's matter of taste. "Go Cubs Go" on its own is pretty lame; it needs aggression. I don't wah wah crying in my beer victimhood. No prisoners! That's the idea. Marshall should stay on the roster. Howry? Not so much.

Harden in game 2 makes a lot of sense, since you know the bullpen will be working 3 innings and they'll have Friday off.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Well, you may be right, but I would also expect Harden to be stretched out a little more in the playoffs. He has averaged 99 pitches a start since coming to the Cubs (and 97 pitches with the A's), but I would expect him to be pushed further than that in the playoffs. Of course, if he has the same control as he had in the last start, he will be lucky to finish 5 innings again.

Vedder is a poseur from Evanston who pretended to be from Seattle until it was convenient for him to be from the Chicago area. No biggie, but he's a whiny guy from the get - go; let's try for something else, please.

BTW, why does the song have to mention the Cubs specifically? "Jump" was a pretty good tune for the '84 team, and no one gave a damn that it wasn't about the Cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by Dmac

I think the best team anthems are the ones that arise organically. As much as I effing hate that the White Sox stole "Don't Stop Believin'" back in 2005, that one just started as a rallying cry for the team and stuck around. Trying to force Steve Goodman on us, and now Vedder's song feels just that - forced (and I love Pearl Jam, but I feel the song is a bit too slow/repetitive/sentimental to be a rallying song).

To each their own, I guess, but I love Pearl Jam, and I think this song rocks. Of course, I don't expect everyone to agree, it's just my opinion. I've been listening to it about every couple of hours since I first heard it. And I'll continue to listen to it at least for the rest of the season. As far as a rallying song - it's not great. It doesn't have the ring of a rallying song. It's more of a bar song that everyone can sing along with while drinking their beer.

I'm no great Pearl Jam fan, but I think the Eddie Vedder song is poetic, touching and real. I am a Cubs fan in large part because it connects me to my memories of my Dad, who died when I was 7 years old. "In the same ballpark, our diamond, our jewel. The home of our joy and our tears. Keeping traditions and wishes made new. The place where our grandfathers' fathers they grew. A spiritual feeling if I ever knew. And if you ain't been I am sorry for you." EV captures the pull of memories, our connections between the past and the present and our love of a place and a team and our hope within an epic struggle. You can hear in his voice that he means what he says -- and he sings it with true hope for the future. Yes, someday we'll go all the way. I listened to it about 5 times through and by the 5th time, when the words and the emotion of his voice had sunk in, I was in tears. Most sports team songs are just plain bad or embarrassing. This one is beautiful and moving. IMO. Good job, Eddie Vedder.

There's no point in arguing music, it's too subjective. Let's just get a college marching band and some hot cheerleaders and go at it.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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)

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  • 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...