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 Sign Aaron Miles

Rob G: Sorry guys, the article Joe put up was just a cut and paste from the press release, apparently he didn't read the TCR Manual. :)

I kid because I care.

But as mentioned, the Cubs do sign switch-hitting infielder Aaron Miles for two years, the Trib says the deal is for $4.9M total and if it's an even split, that's $2.45M for this year. Miles hit 317/355/398 last season for the Cardinals after hitting 290/328/348 in 2007. He primarily plays second base with a 100+ games at short in his career. He's even dabbled in the outfield, but less than 10 games for his career including four in left field last season.

I think it's safe to assume an infielder is on his way out the door soon, most likely Mark DeRosa if yesterday's rumors are true, but possible that it's Ronny Cedeno or Mike Fontentot.

Comments

Brian Roberts he is not, but let us never speak the words 'Ronny Cedeno' and 'Cubs' together again.

There's your 2009 backup to Aramis (Miles), answering a question in the previous thread about what happens if DeRosa is traded to get more talent in a deal for he that shall not yet be named (Jake Voldemort?). I guess this is how they get more left handed. Certainly another lefty (and righty) off the bench which is nice. Of course McFail/Stockstill probably still have wet dreams about Ronny Cedeno and Felix Pie...too bad they took the desperation route of signing ol' crotch grabber to play SS (Izturis)...otherwise we'd be hearing Brian Roberts name crop up again. Oh, I guess we just did. And if they do sign Bradley that will give them 3 switch hitters (Z).

I like this pickup. Miles was one of my favorite Rockies when he was here a couple of years ago. I can't say I ever saw him playing anything but short or second, but if he is that versatile, great...

I don't get it. Even if we trade DeRosa he's going to be taking bats away from Theriot and The Fontenaught, but not out-hitting them. My memory of his defense at short is that he belonged at second, but I haven't watched him play all that much. I guess we can start two LH middle infielders now, but based on his career numbers he's not going to outhit Theriot from that side of the plate.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Was thinking the same thing, actually. Not the utility infielder I'd hoped for, but it'll work I guess. If (sounding more like when) you do dump DeRosa, the team is going to need 3B insurance. You can also run Miles out there at 2B against lefties and sit Michael Eugene Fontenot. He'll probably outhit Cedeno, and Cedeno might be gone anyway. Don't really have to worry about matching up in RF anymore since Bradley's a switch hitter. If/when he goes down, we could go Soriano-Johnson-Miles against left if you don't want to run Hoffpauir out there. Not the shining beacon of production, but it does give us another switch hitter. I dunno, I guess. He is very versatile. Can pretty much play everywhere but center. Probably shouldn't much more than a 350 AB's type guy, though.

Miles is definitely a lot more valuable bench guy than Ronny Cedeño will ever aspire to be.

How will we distinguish Aaron Miles (.289/.329/.364)from Ryan Theriot(.290/.362/.369)?

Dierkes says that Levine says that the Cubs and Tribe are close on a DeRosa deal. "According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio, the Indians are getting close to a deal for Mark DeRosa that would send two or three young pitchers to the Cubs. At least, that statement was attributed to him in the station's recent SportsCenter update. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/indians-close-1.html

[ ]

In reply to by Wes

The only position player that anyone wants from the Cubs played at SS A last year and we're looking for pitching prospects? I just can't believe Hendry is saying "Man, look at all these backloaded contracts I have biting me in the ass, let me trade the best contract I have so I can get another back loaded contract." Someone on this board said that Hendry backloaded contracts because he never figured he'd be around long enough to have to deal with it... I am starting to come around to that line of thought.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

That was me, and the more the merrier on this bandwagon. For the record, I think Hendry's done a pretty decent job, and most of his contracts that look ridiculous at the beginning ultimately look pretty decent by the end. However, with the economy and the uncertainty of future ownership, Hendry's painted himself into a bit of a corner. As it stands now, the 2009 Cubs are a downgrade from the 2008 Cubs. Fortunately, there are 3 months left until opening day.

Levine says that two of the middle infielders could be traded. DeRosa and Cedeno are the most likely to go, though I wouldn't rule out Fontenot. If the Cubs do trade two of them, who becomes the second reserve middle infielder? Spears isn't ready, Blanco is Cedeno-lite, and Scales, well, is Scales. Do they go after another FA middle infielder?

last year I remember him batting leadoff on occaision but it turns out that was rare (23 AB's), but he did bat 9th some (61 AB's) in LaRussa's goofy pitcher bats 8th lineup. ...but batting in the 2nd spot, Miles was: 163 AB/ .390 .444 .834 and that was his most frequent spot in the batting order. He batted 7th as the second most frequent spot (83 AB's) ...so he's a nice top of the order fill-in too. http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=milesaa01&year=2008

Didn't read all the comments, so if this is overly obvious or 3/44, lo siento. This signing to me is the first step in trading DeRosa to ____ for a couple (maybe 3) pitching prospects. Step 2 is trading Marquis. Step 3 is acquiring Peavey with the spoils of war plus whatever it takes. (I've never wanted to be SO right before--even tho my girlfriend would miss blowing me during DeRosa's at bats!)

Christopher Archer was with the single A, Lake County Captains (Eastlake, OH). a 20 yr old righty. 6'2", 180 lbs. 4-8, 4.29 ERA, 115 IP ...I believe he was Captain of the Enterprise Nx before that assignment

new post up on the DeRosa trade with links to their BR pages at least. I'll investigate further...

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)

    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...