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, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* 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
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

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




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Rumor Mill: Iwamura, Bradley & Grabow

Submitted by Rob G. on

I'm not sure I'll get an offseason potential target up tomorrow, but with the World Series almost wrapping up and the Cubs organizational meetings next week, the rumor mill is beginning to warm up for the offseason. Let's blast through these real quick.

- Bruce Levine reported that the Cubs and John Grabow are discussing a two year extension and the Trib concurs that it appears likely he'll be back with the Cubs next year.

The two sides are talking about a two-year deal for anywhere between a total of $6.5 million and $7.5 million. Grabow's people would like a vesting option for a third year added to the contract.

There would also be incentives in the deal for games finished. Relievers and $3-$4M a year don't really mix in my opinion, but this sure isn't the first time Hendry's thrown money at the bullpen, or the second, or third or fourth or...well you get the point. 

- The same Trib article says that the Cubs have some interest in Akinori Iwamura - seems like some friendly blogger recently brought that up - and then the Trib suggests an Iwamura/Pat Burrell for Milton Bradley swap with the Cubs throwing $3-$4M into the pot. I guarantee it's not the Cubs holding up that deal if it ever gets on the table. If a deal with Iwamura somehow materializes, it could happen quickly as the Rays have one day after the World Series to decide about his option.

- As for the Bradley market, the Trib brings sobering news that attendance was down for 22 of the clubs in the league and expect most of them to be looking to dump salary making Hendry's job to unload Bradley without paying for it all the more difficult. The Rangers seem to have left the door slightly ajar for a Bradley return if they can get the Cubs to pay the freight.   

Tags
Akinori Iwamura
Cubs rumors
Milton Bradley
John Grabow

Comments

Submitted by Barry on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:25 am

If we're going try to pull of a deal with the Rays we should shoot for Upton or Crawford. I do not want Burrell under any circumstance (unless he's part of a three-way deal to another club). I'd rather keep Bradley. As for Iwamura, he's a nice little player but we already have more second basemen than Pfizer has pills. The Cubs need to get younger, faster and more athletic.

Submitted by Cubs Win on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:28 am

The only way we bring over Burrell is if we plan on flipping him to another team.....we have a Burrell - his name is Jake Fox and he gets paid $400k/year. Burrell can only play LF and we already have a LF who can't be moved to another spot. Good times.

Submitted by Seamhead on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:25 am

I believe that the organizational meetings run from today through Friday. Sullivan's article in the Trib (interview with Hendry) also reiterates that the Cubs are in the market for a "leadoff hitter with speed and a corner outfielder with power." The OF reference is interesting, as it implies that Fukodome will stay in CF and the new OF will play RF. The leadoff hitter, barring other moves, would have to play 2B. Iwamura doesn't seem to fit that bill, with a career high of 12 SB's. Perhaps the "corner outfielder with power" reference is simply a set up for the Burrell acquisition. An OF of Soriano, Fukodome and Burrell would make a lot of beer league softball teams look good.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:27 pm

Pitching for the AFL Phoenix Desert Dogs yesterday at Surprise, Nationals' #1 draft pick (and 2009 overall #1 pick) RHP Stephen Strasburg (San Diego State) was consistently clocked at 98 MPH+ and hit 100 MPH several times. (He threw 68 pitches, about 85% fastballs).

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:31 pm

Mark Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports that the Rays "are on the verge of completing a trade" of Akinori Iwamura. There was speculation earlier this week that the Dodgers and Cubs were interested in Iwamura, but Topkin writes that neither of those teams would be the destination. Tampa Bay holds a $4.85 million option or $550,000 buyout on Iwamura for 2010.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:15 pm

Why on earth are the Cubs talking about 2-3 year contracts with John Grabow? He is the epitome of the guy you offer arbitration and go year to year with. Hasn't Jim Hendry learned how fickle relief pitching and Lou is? Didn't we just pay Philly to take Stevie Ire just last year?

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:31 pm

I don't really see a reason to offer him anything more than arbitration which is yeah, probably somewhere between $3.5 and $4.5 if you're unlucky. Rob and others like to bash on the Hendry's signing of relievers, but he didn't do one last year and our bullpen was really awful, plus Howry, Eyre, Hawkins and ... Remlinger? didn't actually do that badly. The idea that you can just bring up arms from the minors that are going to get the job done in the 6th through 8th inning, one I used to subscribe to, just hasn't panned out for the Cubs. Offer him arbitration, let him shop around a bit, and if someone offers him three years and $12 million, wish him luck. If you can get him back for $2 million less than that, then consider offering him more than arbitration.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:59 pm

Rob and others like to bash on the Hendry's signing of relievers, but he didn't do one last year and our bullpen was really awful, plus Howry, Eyre, Hawkins and ... Remlinger? didn't actually do that badly. The idea that you can just bring up arms from the minors that are going to get the job done in the 6th through 8th inning, one I used to subscribe to, just hasn't panned out for the Cubs.

well I like to bash because he gives out multi-year deals to these guys and the last year seems to never work out....think he'd be better served just waiting to March and signing some 1-yr deals and guys getting kicked off rosters and stop filling roster spots with guaranteed deals so some of the youngsters who don't win a rotation spot can work out of the bullpen. 

As for not signing anyone last year, he already had Marmol in the set-up role and went the trade route with Heilman and Gregg instead. Previous years it seemed he already had his closer and decided to fill the gaps in the set-up role.

Submitted by Old and Blue on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:53 pm

Actually Rob I was most interested in your comment, "seems like some friendly blogger recently brought that up" I don't read that blog but I assume this implies an interesting strategy on the part of mainstream media. Build alliances with certain blogs that don't tend to slam the inept reporting so often found in, say, the Tribune, and the blog grows and gets "respect" from advertisers. It's actually rather brilliant. The Bears reporting, I've noticed, is much better than the Cubs. Maybe because a deep football knowledge is required. Haugh is an excellent analytical reporter IMHO. I can't even think of anyone on that level on the Cubs beat, except for that guy from the Daily Herald maybe. Can't remember his name as I write this and I'm sure as shit not gonna look it up in the middle of an 80 hour work week.

Recent comments

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

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