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 Week in Quotations

Commence the Season
"Hey, it's Opening Day. We've got some things to find out about this group, and we'll find them out relatively quick.'' - Lou Piniella

''Words can't describe how it felt. Just awesome.'' - James Russell on his major league debut.

Quote You Only Hear from the Losing Team on Opening Day
''Opening Day don't mean anything. You want to win ballgames early in the season. The more games you win now, the less you have to win later. But it's just a game.'' - Aramis Ramirez

Is There a Draft?
"We need Zambrano to shut the door." - Lou Piniella

Maddog Love
"This Spring Training for me is very special. To have Greg Maddux around, he's my guy. ... I was asking him the other day, 'How can I throw a backdoor sinker to a lefty?' It's unbelievable -- you ask him something, and the way he answers is ... wow." - Carlos Silva

"When Greg's on your team, you're better in any role. He's got a great way about him, and he's the most successful, non-promoting person I've ever met. We can all learn from Greg." - Jim Hendry

"In every sense of the word, he's someone I aspire to be. It's just how he's so personable and knowledgeable and doesn't try to force it on you. It's almost like he breathes excellence. It's pretty cool and pretty special having him around." Randy Wells

Except Steal Their Hearts
"I haven't done nothing for them." - Greg Maddux

A Land War in Asia?
"Those things shouldn't happen." - Lou Piniella on Chad Tracy getting doubled off first on Opening Day

I Want Answers!
''We've just played two games, sir. 'We're not in our 22nd game or our 42nd. We've played two games, for God's sake. What do you want? Roles changed in two games? - Lou Piniella

Once You Lose That Trust, It's Gone Forever
"Demp pitched a heck of a ballgame, and I kind of let everyone down. But you've got to come back tomorrow and go at it again. Once you leave this place, it's over.'' - John Grabow

The Other is Where to Hide Soriano's Body
''We're going to have to sort some things out here, period. I said that coming out of spring training. And one of them is the youth that we have in the bullpen.'' - Lou Piniella

Quicksand Jesus or Jason Heyward?
''I don't want to be more impressed than I was the first day. He's impressed me enough.'' - Lou Piniella on Jason Heyward

Maybe 3 Feet
“...2-0 you’re on top of the world; 0-2, you’re six feet under. - Lou Piniella

Like How I Forgot How to Throw Strikes Last Year
"We learn from our mistakes. We have tomorrow. He needs to forget stuff."- Carlos Marmol on Esmailin Caridad

And Make Routine Catches
Control yourself, and that's all you have to do."- Alfonso Soriano on Esmailin Caridad

Lies, Damn Lies
"We have a good bullpen. We just have to trust them." - Carlos Zambrano

Someone Should Hang a Green Jacket in Fukudome's Locker
"He's a Masters player. That's when they play the Masters -- in April, right?" - Lou Piniella on Kosuke Fukudome

"This is the year I feel he'll break out and have a nice solid offensive year. We know he can play defense."- Lou Piniella on Kosuke Fukudome

Funky Fukudome
"The country guys play country music, the Latin guys play Latin music -- Kosuke's on the team so he should be able to play his music." - Carlos Zambrano letting Fukudome choose the music the day he starts. It's customary to let that day's starting pitcher make the choice.

Can Lou Make It Anymore Clear that He Doesn't Like Soto's Defense?
''I like Koyie, the way he calls a ballgame. He's a really good defensive catcher. When a team isn't scoring many runs, the more defense that you have on the field, the better. Is he going to catch more? We need Soto to hit. I've said that before. That's the key to this whole thing, how well Soto swings the bat. And we'll leave it at that.'' - Lou Piniella

18 Million Excuses
"I took a couple steps then hit the grass, and as soon as I hit the grass, I thought I had two more steps. I took little steps, because I didn't want to hit the wall. You know, full speed into the wall can be very dangerous." - Alfonso Soriano

"But at the last moment, I take my eyes off the ball and just think about the wall. One second, I took my eyes off the ball, and I dropped it." - Alfonso Soriano

"I've got to have a little stop, because I don't want to go into the wall. If you go full speed into the wall, it can be very dangerous." - Alfonso Soriano

Comments

Ricketts on WSCR this am- -been reading Bill James since late 80's -Wasserstrom is our sabre guy -Went to DR this winter to check on things there(willing to bet first cub ownership ever down there) -Hosts suggested that Hendry is "safe" this year and next due to previous Ricketts quotes, Ricketts reiterated that Hendry and Lou " are accountable" for this year -Believes player development needs to be strength of the team, rather than relying on free agents "so you are not stuck with big contracts" (looking at you Sori) -Knows Cubs have had dry spell with development(still in it) -Says there is "flexibility" with pay roll if needed during the summer -Does not have same options as Fenway regarding bringing in outside income(landmark status) -

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

It's good to know that they're willing to spend a little if, by some miracle, they are in contention in July. And also, I hate Albert Pujols. Edit: "Believes player development needs to be strength of the team, rather than relying on free agents "so you are not stuck with big contracts" (looking at you Sori)" That is an amazing quote. Clearly he's talking about Soriano. I agree with Ricketts on this point, but I would also say that having a good player development system does not excuse a big-market team from opening the wallet.

The Soriano error was terrible, but let's not let that error distract us from all the other bullshit that happened in that game. Loading the bases up in the first with zero outs and letting Cincy off the hook? A team that does that doesn't deserve to win. Ridiculous. Walking in runs? F' that.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Had Ramirez or Byrd done what Soriano did, we at least get a run. Byrd sort of sucks, that's to be expected, but the pitch that Ramirez swung at - and tried to pull - that's just not the smart hitting I expect from Aram-Ram. Rookie, making his ML debut - bases loaded and no outs in the first and they let him off the hook - who oculd do that other than the Cubs?

ss theriot, cf byrd, 1b lee, 3b ramirez, rf nady, lf soriano, 2b baker, c soto, p dempster vs. 2B Rickie Weeks CF Jim Edmonds LF Ryan Braun 1B Prince Fielder 3B Casey McGehee RF Corey Hart C Gregg Zaun SS Alcides Escobar LHP Doug Davis

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

2 starts, which is within the 2-3 games a week range that Piniella gave. I, however, think 2 is not enough. If they don't want to stall his development, he needs to start at least 3-4 and get into most of the other games off the bench as well, especially if he's going to sit against all left-handed pitchers.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Facing a southpaw today seemed to wake up the bats. The Cubs don't usually beat up on Doug Davis. (He's 9-6 against us lifetime with a 3.20 ERA.) Newcomers Byrd, Nady and Baker may present a problem for lefties. We may see fewer lefty starters than usual during the season. Colvin had another walk today, although he swung at a bad pitch (he likes those low ones) during the at-bat.

On a more positive note, although it's debatable whether or not getting more access to Cubs games is a positive, I subscribed to MLB Premium and can now watch the games from my iphone and was surprised at the good quality.

In the first inning, the Cubs work Davis for 27 pitches. I'm feeling good about that. 2nd inning, Soriano and Baker see a grand total of what, 2, 3 pitches? And they both ground out to the right side. Is there any game plan at all? Maybe we need a hitting mechanics coach and another hitting strategy coach. And somebody to press the button on the shock collar remote when guys err from the path without a good reason (like a hanging slider or fastball down the middle).

I hate Byrd's swing. Anybody know if he has any power at all to RF? He looks like he shouldn't.

nothing like a good blowout to cheer us up (don't blow it Dempster) Lee grimacing when he swings, hurt his right wrist it sounds like

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

on cue, Nady to 1b, colvin in, lee out -edit- right thumb inflammation

Some comments on watching the game: After he singled to left in the 2nd, I saw Soto shaking out his left hand as he returned to first after his turn. It was his left hand/wrist that he hurt at the end of 2008, wasn't it? I wondered if that was a manifestation of that same injury or was it just a stinging from a "bees in the bat" situation. Or possibly both? I know there has been some speculation about whether Soto is still having injury problems with his hand. A left hand injury would definitely affect one's power. Something worth watching. What were they thinking? On Soriano's single off McGehee in the 4th, Vargas had a 1-2 count on him and had just got him to swing and miss on a (what else?) slider low and away. The next pitch? Zaun, the catcher sets up INSIDE and Vargas throws a thigh-high fastball on the inner third of the plate, which Sori smokes on a line off 3B McGehee's body for an infield single. I don't know if they just missed location on the pitch and intended to waste a fastball off the plate inside, but why they (or anybody) wouldn't just throw him another slider low and away, I just don't know. I know you got to mix things up sometimes to keep from being too predictable, but I would wait until Sori actually starts to HIT that pitch before I started mixing things up.

Another Soriano- related question: Has anyone EVER seen him successfully check his swing and not be rung up by the umpire? I've just come to the conclusion that he is constitutionally incapable of doing so.

Alfonso Soriano is turning into the Michael Barrett of 2010.

I bring up these things about Sori even though I like the guy. He's just like a damn Ferrari -- great capabilities but quirky as hell, VERY high maintenance and a lot of work to get it to perform at its best (so I hear). I wonder if he has ever been checked out for ADD or ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). Stuff like the "hop" before catching a routine fly helping him concentrate sounds very much like classic ADHD coping behavior. If he does have it, some medication may help him decrease some of that "scatterbrained" behavior. Now that the Cubs have a psychiatrist on staff, they may have someone who could look into that (if he is very familiar with classic ADD/ADHD symptomology).

with Roberts going on the DL...apparently Izturis is there other option. Can you short a baseball team?

Walked! I seem to recall that many on this site didn't think this would happen until July...

"Mark McGwire drew a standing ovation before the Cardinals’ home opener Monday, a clear sign many St. Louis fans have forgiven the former home run king for using steroids." http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-cardinals-mcgwire More like don't care that he used steroids, while playing for them.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

there's a lot to learn from the roid-era... ...most specifically that you'll still get paid, whatever team hires you will still love you, and you'll be welcome back to coach the game. i'm sorry...what am i supposed to learn from all these roid commercials besides my balls might shrivel up? all i'm learning from the real world is you get paid and you might not make the HOF. these roiders are not only not shunned by our community, they're forgiven and celebrated. jason giambi is an embarrassment to the game, yet no one has an issue giving the guy work. mark mcgwire is a cheating piece of shit who dragged others through the mud while he waited over a decade to come clean...standing O, yall.

A source familiar with the talks tells Jon Heyman of SI.com that the $180 million contracts handed out to Mark Teixeira and Joe Mauer are considered "mere starting points" for a contract extension with Prince Fielder. allegedly looking for north of $200M over 8 years... when they replace 1b defense with a weigh-in, he might have a shot at it.

GO Cubs!!! Aww man, they need to just get rid of everybody. @#$@!! Yay!!! Cubs win!!! !#%#@ bullpen... f* this... Awesome win! #$@@#!@ Soriano. What a bastard.... Go Cubs!!!

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

WHATEVER. this turnaround is ___________ (insert coach's name) victory in spite of the faults of ___________ (insert coach's name). if __________ (insert other team's coach's name) was here then __________ (insert 3-4 player's names) would be competing for MVP/CY right now. fire ____________ (insert a slew of names of dudes 50+ years old).

CUBSTER and I in Attendance. The Good: The offense! Soriano with a SINGLE! The X-Man commeth today. Decent relief by youngsters. Soto nails Weeks. Best weather I can remember for an opener since HS. The Bad: Doug Davis turns every AB into a ten minute affair. Theriot trying to steal 3b on a ground out to Fielder.

i just noticed the pitching chart on the right. that is really cool. What a great usage of google docs.

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • 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.