Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Sweep Giants at Fitch Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Larry Suarez threw four shutouts innings and struck out seven, and Jose Made smacked a bases-loaded triple, leading the EXST Cubs to a 4-2 victory over the EXST Giants at Fitch Park Field #1, in one-half of an Extended Spring Training simultaneous doubleheader played this morning in Mesa under partly cloudy skies.

In the other game on Field #3, ex-OF (now RHP) Andres Quezada threw three shutout innings and the Cubs rode the extra-base hitting of John Contreras en route to an 8-3 victory over a second squad of EXST Giants.

By throwing four innings today, the 19-year old Suarez became the second Cubs pitcher at EXST to go beyond three innings (RHP Marco Carrillo was the other one, but he was at Fitch Park on an injury-rehab assignment from Daytona).

Throwing a two-seam fastball that breaks bats and is clocked consistently at 94-96 MPH, a nasty breaking ball, and an occasional change-up (just to keep the opposition honest), Suarez is unquestionably the top pitching prospect at EXST. And at 6'4 255+, he bears a resemblance to another Venezuelan Cubs pitcher by the name of Carlos Zambrano.

Signed by Cubs scout Hector Ortega as a 16-year old out of Venezuela for $350,000 the first day of the International Signing Period in 2006, Suarez has been held back a bit by injuries (he had elbow surgery a year ago, and spent most of 2008 rehabbing and getting back into pitching shape), but he's 100% now. He should be the ace of the Boise Hawks pitching staff, unless he gets promoted to Peoria before Boise's season starts next month.      

In EXST Cubs roster news, OF Jericho Jones (2008 20th round pick out of Louisiana Tech) finally got his Letter of Transit out of Casablanca and has been promoted to Daytona, meaning probably either Tyler Colvin or Jonathan Wyatt (or even both, if Brandon Guyer were to get demoted to Daytona) will be moving up to AA Tennessee. 

I was only able to catch bits & pieces of the game on Field #3, but here is the abridged box score for the game played on Field #1:

LINEUP:
1. Jose Valdez, CF:       0-5  (F-7, 4-3, K, 1-3, K)
2. Juan Medina, C:        2-4  (1-3, 5-3, 1B, 1B - 1 R)
3. Logan Watkins, 2B:   1-3  (3-U, 1B, BB, K - 1 PO)
4. Chris Weimer, LF:     1-4  (K, 1B, F-7, E-9 -  1 R, 1 SB)
5. Alvaro Sosa, 1B:        0-3  (5-3, BB, 4-3, E-6 - 1 R)
6. Robert Bautista, SS:  3-4  (1B, 1B, 1B, K - 1 R, 1 SB)
7. Jose Made, 3B:          1-4  (K, 3B, 5-4 FC, 6-3 - 3 RBI, 1 PO)
8. Jae-Hoon Ha, RF:       0-0 (BB - 1 PO)  
9. NO DH - SLOT SKIPPED
NOTE: Jae-Hoon Ha is nursing a sore wrist, so although he played RF for the entire game, he took only one AB (and his left wrist was heavily taped). Also, what with Jericho Jones having departed for Florida, the Cubs didn't have enough position players available to have a DH in the game on Field #1, so the #9 spot in the batting order was skipped entirely.  

PITCHERS:
1. Jeffry Antigua -  3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 1/5 GO/FO
2. Larry Suarez -    4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 4/0 GO/FO 

ERRORS (1):
Throw bounced off the glove of 2B Logan Watkins on an attempted pick-off play at 2nd base for an E-4, allowing the runner to advance to 3rd base (runner did not score, however).

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Juan Medina:  0-3 CS

Tags
Jericho Jones
Larry Suarez
EXST Cubs
Jeffry Antigua
Jose Made

Comments

Submitted by falcon on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:05 pm

So glad to hear that Jericho Jones got this long overdue promotion and will get his career jump started in Daytona Beach. The Cubs minor league system is lacking in young righthand hitting power hitting outfielders, and hitting co-ordinator Dave Keller is pulling for this young man to succeed.Wish him the best.

Submitted by toonsterwu on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:13 pm

AzPhil - How has Antigua looked this year? What was his velo today? IIRC, he was a low 90's fastball guy last year, but with some expectation that he might build up some more as he gets older? Daytona sure could use any sort of offense. I gotta think it's the Colvin bump - he's been in the field already, and has had enough time since, um, whatever his injury was a few weeks ago. If it's a Wyatt bump, I guess it might be a last chance to succeed bump, because Campana's been more intriguing and at least has the plus speed. Funny how 2 years ago Wyatt was about to break with AA, IIRC, but since then has struggled in A ball. Well, Cales got sent back to Daytona. He was struggling in Tennessee. Is there any news on our pursuit of the DR kid? Sano (sp?)?

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:35 pm

Submitted by toonsterwu on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 3:13pm.
AzPhil - How has Antigua looked this year? What was his velo today? IIRC, he was a low 90's fastball guy last year, but with some expectation that he might build up some more as he gets older?

========================

TOONSTER: Jeffry Antigua still throws in the low 90's, but his breaking ball has improved a lot. He struggled with his command today, though, but last time out he was just unhittable. Of course he's only 18, so I hardly expect to see a polished pitcher throw when Antigua is out there, but he does have unusual poise for kid that young. He should be a rotation starter at Boise in 2009.

BTW, the Cubs have a nice collection of pitching prospects at EXST this year. Besides Suarez and Antigua, there's Su-Min Jung, Jon Nagel (looks like he's going to be a rotation "horse"), ex-OF Andres Quezada (three more shutout innings today), and hard-throwing Julio Pena, and I like what I have seen of Melvin Vasquez as a lefty reliever. And as I mentioned yesterday, ex-OF (now LHP) Ryan Sontag is looking VERY good, and ex-INF (now RHP) Gian Guzman is showing some promise, too.

And don't rule out The Animal (Julio Castillo). He has more lives than a cat, and I could see him morphing into a really nasty power-closer (presuming he can stay out of jail).

[ ]

Submitted by toonsterwu on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:56 pm

I'm really pleased with our develop pitching depth up and down the system. I'd like to see a few more power arms, and our lefties seem to be thinned out a bit right now (relatively speaking). Here's hoping some of those bats develop. I had been thinking that this draft would be more like 2007 for us due to our developing pitching depth, but considering this is a draft that's stronger on pitching, I'm not sure anymore. AzPhil - Here's a question for you, or anyone else for that matter. How close do you think we are to replicating our 2003 pitching depth, if that can be quantified? IIRC, several publications had us as one of the top 3 pitching systems that year, even though most of the talent was, like it is now, in the lower levels. I'm really pleased with our developing arms, though I'm not crazy enough to think that we're actually near 2003. Actually, another question if you have the chance - considering how well Jay Jackson is pitching, is he getting to the point of being the top arm in the system? I tend to think so, but I'm curious what others think.

Submitted by falcon on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:01 pm

Great to hear about Sontag and the other pitching prospects in EXST. Animal definately has big league stuff. I heard that he grew up in a very poor backwoods invironment so is lacking in many social skills.I don't know if the Cubs system is set up to help this guy adapt here. Hope so.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:07 pm

In addition to signing minor league FA OF John-Ford Griffin to replace the released Richie Robnett at AAA Iowa, the Cubs have also acquired 28-year old veteran Venezuelan switch-hitting IF-OF Anderson Machado (the poor man's Jose Macias) from the Pirates for "future considerations" (which could be almost anything, like maybe cash, or perhaps a PTBNL, or possibly a Best Buy gift card or a dinner for two at Olive Garden).

Machado has been assigned to Iowa, where an additional infielder was needed after Andres Blanco and Bobby Scales got called up to Chicago. Machado has hit 221/333/324 in 24 big league games over several seasons (PHI, CIN, and COL 2003-05).

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:15 pm

our leadoff hitter with the bum leg for the 3rd season in a row who happens to be the biggest power hitter on the team is nearing that .300 ob% mark. on the flip...he's only had 1 xbase hit (double) the past 2 weeks.

Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:03 pm

best offense in the league has scored 2,1 and 0 so far this series...go pitching. Bullpen hasn't given up a run since Monday.

Submitted by Cubster on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:30 pm

It did irk me when Heilman pitched the 9th and was untrustworthy again even in a 7-0 game. He let the first two men on, including a walk...which in itself wasn't what pissed me off...Heilman is the lead candidate for the 2009 Bob Howry Sucking Sound Replacement Award. What upset me is that Heilman's badness led to Marmol getting up and throwing 20 + pitches in the pen, in a game he clearly didn't need to warm up Marmol warming up in the 9th with a 7-0 lead... and the bullpen hasn't given up a run since monday. Something just doesn't seem right.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:26 pm

Submitted by toonsterwu on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 3:56pm.
AzPhil - Here's a question for you, or anyone else for that matter. How close do you think we are to replicating our 2003 pitching depth, if that can be quantified? IIRC, several publications had us as one of the top 3 pitching systems that year, even though most of the talent was, like it is now, in the lower levels. I'm really pleased with our developing arms, though I'm not crazy enough to think that we're actually near 2003.

Actually, another question if you have the chance - considering how well Jay Jackson is pitching, is he getting to the point of being the top arm in the system? I tend to think so, but I'm curious what others think.

======================================

TOONSTER: I have Josh Vitters, Jay Jackson, Jeff Samardzija, Andrew Cashner, Jose Ascanio, Jake Fox, Dan McDaniel, Casey Coleman, Welington Castillo, Larry Suarez, Chris Carpenter, Darwin Barney, Randy Wells, Esmailin Caridad, and Steve Clevenger (in that order) in my Cubs Top 15 Prospects for June (using the Baseball America criteria for "prospect" which is 50 MLB IP cut-off for pitchers and 130 MLB AB cut-off for position players, disregarding service time, so for instance Micah Hoffpauir no longer qualifies), so that's ten pitchers in my Top 15.

Submitted by toonsterwu on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:16 pm

Interesting. Same top 3 for me, but I imagine it's that way for most Cubs fans. I was having a debate with someone, forget who, about where to place Dan McDaniel. I thought a case could be made for him to be top 5, although anywhere from 4-8 or so was fine for me. I just love the arsenal, production, performance, and upside, and think he's the type of arm that could have a shot to develop into a solid "2" type guy. Coleman in the top 8 is interesting. I had him on the outside, 11 I think, last time I went through it a couple days back. I was having a tough time with him. I really like him, but unless he develops that cutter/slider he was working on, he seems like an end of the rotation arm. My question with Barney is, what's up with the errors? He just isn't consistent enough, it seems. With Caridad, his walks concern me. A couple weeks ago, Tony Thomas would've been close to a top 10 slam dunk, but since then, his plate discipline has horribly collapsed. Has Flaherty disappointed you that much, or are there things you are hearing? From statistics alone, doesn't seem like a huge concern, although disappointing. But if there's something else going on ... As a side note, I wouldn't be surprised if Randy Wells passes the 50 ip mark by July. He has to be one of the better stories this year, going from a possible rubber/all-purpose arm to an effective end of the rotation option. Oh, no Starlin Castro?

Submitted by rokfish on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:39 pm

It is time for soriano to sit on sunday then a off day monday lou needs to give him a rest and there is no way that rest should be in atlanta where he has hit at a .362 clip. He has had a 3 homer game there and i do believe was hit in first next night, in which ted lilly retaliated and got kicked out, on a sunday nite

Submitted by jacos on Sun, 05/31/2009 - 05:37 am

Dempster dealing with blister all season according to South Bend Tribune, (I'm on vacation). 10 points if you can name the Beatle who screamed that at the end of "Helter Skelter".

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 05/31/2009 - 05:16 pm

if Veal goes on the 60 day DL...we can hope boy scout badge winner for mastery of the 60 day DL (Hendry for his use of Chad Fox) can find this option appealing for young Jedi, D. Patton Leathershoes. In fact, it might lead to consideration for an Eagle Scout badge.

Submitted by Q on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 06:56 pm

Soriano is looking really shitty in the field. He is throwing a leg to the side when fielding grounders. Either his knee must be bothering him

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18.  We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
    But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
    I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
    Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
    I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
    Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
    With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.

    My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
    It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
    I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
    We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
    But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.

    If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.

    Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.

    Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose  that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.

    Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.

    When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?

    But I digress…

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

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