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 vs. Dodgers—Stacking Up the Stats

How the Cubs and their NLDS opponents stacked up in a variety of statistical categories. (Team's National League rankings appear in parens; "DER" refers to Defensive Efficiency Ratio and "RZR" refers to Revised Zone Rating. Throughout, * means stats are through Saturday, 9/27. ) 

CUBS
  L.A.
 Hitting
855 (1st)
RS
700 (13th)
184 (5th) HR
137 (13th)
.355 (1st)
OBP
.333 (6th)
.445 (1st)
SLG
.400 (13th)
 800 (1st)
OPS
733 (11th)
     
 Pitching
668 (2nd)
RA
645 (1st)
3.87 (2nd)
ERA
3.68 (1st)
2.30 (3rd) K/BB
2.51 (2nd)
711 (2nd)
OPS vs.
691 (1st)
66% (4th)
SV %
65% (5th)
     
 Fielding*
.706 (1st)
DER
.693 (9th)
.832 (6th)
RZR
.825 (12th)

 

Here's another interesting set of numbers—the performance of the Dodgers offense before and after the acqusition of Manny Ramirez:

PRE-MANNY
  POST-MANNY*
108
G
53
4.17
RS/G
4.70
.69
HR/G
1.19
3.10
BB/G
3.89
.321
OBP
.357
.376 SLG
.446
697
OPS
803

 

Baseball may not be a one-man game, but Ramirez, .489 OBP/.743 SLG/1232 OPS in 53 games for the Dodgers, is obviously one man who made a significant difference for his new team. The two Dodgers who have had the most plate appearances batting right in front of Manny, Jeff Kent and Andre Ethier, have been particular beneficiaries.

Jeff Kent
GP
OBP
SLG
OPS
Pre-Manny
91  .307 .406
 713
Post-Manny*
30
 .388 .455
843
         
Andre Ethier
 GP OBP
SLG
OPS
Pre-Manny
90
.338
.442
780
Post-Manny*
44 .442 ,640
1082

 

Funny thing is, both Kent and Ethier were able to punish the Cubs even without Ramirez this year. In 23 AB's, Ethier hit .348 with a .423 OBP vs. the Cubs, and Kent, in 19 AB, hit 2 HR, with a .421 OBP and an OPS of 1211.

 

 

Comments

Here is my concern. Look at what Sabathia and Santana did over the weekend. Dominating, complete game performances on short rest. That's what you need this time of year, particularly in the playoffs, and we don't have a starter who can do that. Our rotation overall may be the best in the NL, but that helps in the 162 game schedule. In some ways, the question over the course of the season is not how good your 1 and 2 are, but how bad your 3, 4, and 5 are. But in the playoffs, the question is how good your 1 and 2 are. And ours are good, not great. If we can hit our way through the playoffs that will make the difference, but we will see some good pitching. Dodgers in 5.

I'd say your assessment is pretty much spot on as far as the starters/course of the whole season as opposed to a 5 game set. But it's not as if the Dodgers have the CC/Johan type #1. Personally with the cubs lineup against Lowe/Billingsly/Kuroda/Maddux/Whoever they run out their in the 3rd game, i'm not too worried for this series. Cubs in 4, count it.

Has anyone seen the playoff roster? I cant find it on cubs.com or in the tribune...My hope is that howry is left off so he can practice a new grip for his fastball so it atleast moves.

I don't think the Playoff roster has been announced. Or else you'd see many Howry posts. Arguably, the 2nd half moves of Manny, CC, and Harden helped catapult their new teams into the Playoffs. Without the addition of Manny or Sebathia, neither Dodgers or Brewers would have made it. So, indeed, in these cases, one man DID make the difference. Can Sebathia just pitch every other day?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

If CC could pitch every other day, he would. Being a Tribe fan also, he was a gamer and as seen in MIL, he'll take the ball everyday if the manager would allow him. here's the question, i know its looking forward, but who would you rather see the cubs face in round 2? CC and Mil, or Johan and NYM? I'd vote for neither if I could, because i can see both of those being a very very tough series to win. Perhaps i'd rather see the Brewers seeing how familiar the teams are with one another. And Wrigley Field North will be rocking

[ ]

In reply to by CPH2133

While your hypothetical question is interesting...it is moot, the Mets are not in the playoffs and the question should be: Who would you rather face, the upstart Brewers or the Phillies with that mashing lineup and Cole Hamels? While the acquisitions of Manny and CC propelled their teams to the playoffs, Johan was unable to pulloff the same result with the Mets...Maybe they should have held him back until the second half instead of pitching him the entire season.

[ ]

In reply to by CPH2133

Absolutely. Hamels has been death for the Cubs this year, and while CC has also been pretty good against us, the Cubs have managed hold back the Brewers offense in those games. Plus, who pitches after Sabathia? What are the Brewers chances of winning playoff games not started by CC? I think the Cubs' deep rotation could potentially make a bigger difference in games against the Brewers than any other team in the post season. The Phil's rotation isn't amazing after Hamels, but their offense could make the Cubs rotation not look so "deep," especially if they can get to the bullpen.

PLAYOFF ROSTER - here is a bit from Muskrat's late last-night entry: "Whether DeRosa is ready will not affect the final decisions on the playoff roster, which will be announced Tuesday. Piniella was to meet then to set it with general manager Jim Hendry and assistant general manager Randy Bush." Also, DeRosa is claiming "he'll be fine" for Wednesday's start...

An overlooked factor in the Pre- and Post-Manny Dodgers, and their offensive improvement, is that around that time they stopped playing offensive sinkholes like Andrew Jones, Pierre, and Nomar. Benching Andrew Jones alone had to be worth many runs. He would have been released in ST if not for the financial commitment.

I'm trying not to be doom and gloom here. I am concerned with D(ouble play)Lee's hitting propensities, particularly with Derek Lowe on the mound. I thought hitters made in-game adjustments to pitchers? I just hope this team can get itself back up if they find themselves behind the 8-ball (a'la 2004 RedSox). This post season is not going to be a cakewalk. If we beat the Dodgers, I'm not so sure we can beat the Phillies when we not only have to deal with Cole Hamels, but Jamie Moyer(!?), who shut us down. Jamie Moyer is not supposed to be tough but he is to us. Their offense is downright scary too. I'm not on the ledge, but somebody talk me out of this.

That's a good point on D-Lee, but I worry alot more about the bullpen. If we lose this series, I predict it will be in the 6th and 7th innings. Wood and Marmol are good, but beyond that as you all know, we have been struggling. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have Saito and Broxton late, plus Kuo, Wade, Park, Bemiel....lots of RH/LH solid guys, with some strikeout guys, for those middle innings. We definitely need someone to step up in this space, be it Samardzija, Marshall, or someone else. Gaudin's back problems really hurt us, because he was pitching well until then, and providing that solid middle relief.

to charge a good $30 in bullshit fees for 2 tickets to a major league baseball game? F U Frank McCourt. And I still have to add an extra $15 each day for parking.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Yup, I about screamed when I saw how much fees were being added to the tix. Although some of that is ticket master. FYI, I have tickets in the all you can eat pavilion on Sunday too. Would have prefered to buy my own food in cheaper seats.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I'd say gouging customers is pretty normal behavior for a crook. Frank McCourt was born, to Malachy & Angela McCourt, in Brooklyn. Unable to find work in the depths of the Depression, the McCourts returned to their native Ireland in 1934, where they sank deeper into poverty. McCourt's father, an alcoholic, was often without work, and drank up what little money he earned. When McCourt was 11, his father abandoned the family leaving Frank's mother to raise four children. After quitting school at age 13, Frank alternated between odd jobs and petty crime .... --- wikipedia So, he just graduated from petty juvenile crime to bigtime bring the country to its knees kiss your 401k goodbye "legal" crime, i.e. Real Estate Investment.. Where's it going?--- http://www.newsmeat.com/sports_political_donations/Frank_McCourt.php me, I'm gonna riot if they run out of food in the RF pavilion.

released... Yovanni Gallardo going Game 1 for the Brewers.

The Cards give Kyle Lohse a four-year contract. As a Cubs fan, I'm tickled. Now they're stuck with Lohse, who had a career year in '08, through 2012. Didn't they realize that Lohse was trolling for work during spring training? And didn't they give Pineiro a long-term deal last year? As long as they have Pujols, they'll win 85 games or so, but by signing Pineiro and Lohse, we won't have to worry about them winning 100 games anytime soon.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I have a hard time faulting A-Ram too much for not hitting in the three games the Cubs played last October. Pretty small sample size. Who DID hit that series? Derek Lowe does worry me, though. I'm hoping the Cubs patience will help them squeak out a few runs and they'll somehow avoid grounding into too many double plays. I'm also hoping Dempster can shut down the Dodger's offense.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

To answer my own question like a jerk: Soto went 1 for 6 with a home run and two of the Cubs 4 total RBI. Lee was 4-12, all singles, plus a walk. DeRo went 3-9 (singles) with two walks. After those two the next highest averages were Theriot, Kendall, and Murton with .250. Jacque Jones and Geovany Soto accounted for the only Cubs extra bases (a Soto homer and a Jones double). They did manage 13 walks in three games, which isn't terrible, but the power and the averages were not there. The pitching was less than amazing, but not as bad as the hitting. No wonder I've forgotten most of that series.

It finally dawned on me that game times aren't pacific time and that I'll miss half of Wednesday's game and all of Thursday's because of class. Fuck. Also, I don't have TBS so I'll have to watch the games on a shitty feed from China on the internet. This might be good luck for the Cubs, though.

carol slezik in suntimes today headline so its been a hundred years since the cubs have been to the world series have you heard huh dont they proof read these things she should be sent to the wood shed. how emberrasing to cub fans everywhere.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.