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

Greg Maddux and The Hall of Fame

Alright, we all know Greg Maddux will get in the Hall of Fame on his first attempt in 2014. We all agree on this, right? There's not one person thas ever read this blog - that wasn't looking for porn by accident - that wouldn't cast a ballot in favor of Maddux if they were given a vote, right? So my question, which of the 539 or so voters are going to go down as the biggest assholes of all-time? I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, as the 2011 results are just about to come filing in, but I already know I'm going to be angry about it. The top vote-getters of all time are Seaver (98.84% and all but 5 votes), Ryan (98.79% and all but 6 votes) and Cobb (98.23% and all but 4 votes). So which douchebag is going to self-righteously appoint themself as the guy that won't allow a unanimous Hall of Famer in?

In other news, today's Bears game is going to be about as meaningless* as the one in 2006 when Grossman shit his pants in the finale against the Pack and then they still went to the Super Bowl. I'm fine with that scenario if it happens again, although the Packers do look like the sleeper/surprise playoff team to watch this year.

*Barring some win-one-for-the-gipper upset by Carolina over Atlanta and Tampa upsetting New Orleans (thank you dear readers).

Comments

So who gets in the HOF this year? If I got a vote, my ballot would look like this: Blyleven Alomar Lee Smith Tim Raines Alan Trammell Barry Larkin Any thoughts on Dave Parker or Dale Murphy?

Maddux will be the first guy in a while that the writers don't think they have to punish, so it could be interesting. I wonder if they all know who is not going to vote for a guy, or if it's just a handful of old fuckers who take matters into their own hands so that a meaningless "record" is never broken. Hopefully those guys will die off before Starlin Castro comes up for his election.

According to the ESPN scroller, it looks like the Panthers and the Bucs need to win for the Bears to get home field advantage. Not sure what the 2nd tie breaker is, but it's obviously not divisional record.

There was writer from a crappy little city Cali newspaper who left Henderson off the ballot. There will be a..holes who do it just to get the attention.

I'm not convinced by ATL, and with Vick's suddenly exposed weakness to the aggressive pass rush and the fact he's banged up, the path is easiest for the Bears if the packers aren't in the playoffs. You have to admit Aaron Rodgers is pretty damn good, and that passing game is really scary. They abandon the run, go one dimensional, and they're fine with it. They showed NY that last week and it was embarrassing. Its simple: beat the Packers, then the Giants, with all their turnovers and Eli's silly decision making, make the playoffs instead.

Is this a total 3/44 moment? I somehow missed this Phil Rogers article, maybe because I tend to ignore everything he writes, but this isn't really half bad. I actually enjoyed this part:
Control is a huge issue for Samardzija, as is a fastball that straightens out, and he has a 7.73 ERA in his five career starts. But somehow he held St. Louis scoreless into the sixth inning at Busch Stadium last September.
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/12/your-morning-phil-32.html Obviously, nothing more, actually, quite a bit less than what I read here. I was just a little amazed that he managed to piece together something coherent.

Local HOF ballots: Bruce Miles: Roberto Alomar, Jeff Bagwell, Bert Blyleven, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Jack Morris, Tim Raines, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell (same as last year) http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5011 Paul Sullivan: Robby Alomar, Harold Baines, Lee Smith, Tim Raines other Tribune writers... http://tinyurl.com/22q8nf3 Mark Gonzalez: Robby Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Barry Larkin Phil Rogers: Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Barry Larkin, Jack Morris, Tim Raines, Alan Trammell, Larry Walker Fred Mitchell: Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Barry Larkin, Jack Morris, Tim Raines, Lee Smith Ted Greenstein: Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Don Mattingly, Tim Raines, Lee Smith Dave VanDyke: Roberto Alomar, Jack Morris, Lee Smith Phil Hersh: Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Jack Morris, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Alan Trammell, Larry Walker Rick Telander: Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven, Barry Larkin, Lee Smith, Tim Raines, Dave Parker, Alan Trammell http://www.suntimes.com/sports/3088812-419/palmeiro-ballot-hall-hits-vo… --- ...can't find: Gord Wittenmeyer, Joe Cowley, Scot Gregor

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Baines was a very good player for a very long time, but I never once thought of him as a HoF'er. But somehow he had over 1600 rbi's. Crazy. But in the pinball-like MLB of the last 20 years, there are going to be a lot of modern day players with excellent numbers that won't make it into the Hall. Or they're going to be accepting 900 guys. Which again makes them stiffing Santo's production in a pitching dominated era all the more annoying.

And, right on cue, Jay Cutler stunk today. Geez - like Old and Blue said, he is like "Wild Thing" Williams. Today was the "Bad Jay". Hope the good one shows for at least two games. I am not gonna hold my breath. This team does not have a Super Bowl offense now anyway, imo...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"...looked like they were playing with half their playbook tonight." Yeah, it did. Maybe they figured they REALLY prefer not risking having to face the Giants pass rush again and they don't want to give GB (or other playoff opponents) much to game plan on. If GB could play the Bears for the third time this year in the playoffs, the Bears may be reluctant to give them too much to scheme against.

From Carrie Muskat's blog comments: Question the Cubs currently have 41 players on the 40 man roster since the signing of Kerry Wood. How can they do this? Are they going to make a corresponding move soon? Wood's signing hasn't been officially sanctioned by MLB because their offices have been closed for the holidays. I'd expect a corresponding roster move this coming week. By muskat on January 2, 2011 12:22 PM http://muskat.mlblogs.com/archives/2011/01/1111_happy_new_year.html

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Q-MAN: The MLB offices were closed last week because of the NYC snowstorm, so it appeared as though they were "closed for the holidays" but that was only because the snowstorm occurred during the days between Christmas and New Year's. Ordinarily the MLB office is closed on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, so it should have been open Monday through Thursday of last week. (The MLB office is open every day only during the month of March because of the number of roster moves involving waivers that are made during Spring Training).

Alomar, Raines, Bagwell, Blyleven, Larkin, Trammell,, L. Smith Then there's the whole McGwire/Palmeiro angle and it looks like Bagwell is probably gonna get grouped in with them as well.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Like them all except Smith--and him I'm considering more than in years past. Nothing personal on him, I'm just not impressed by relief pitchers and don't know what to do with them, for the most part. On the other hand, closer is a position now, and Smith was a fine closer. Plus: former Cub. Minus: former Cardinal. Also, I'd add Larry Walker.

C. Gonzalez handed an extension, not sure on specifics but mlbtraderumos mentions something about close to $20M for the FA years it's allegedly buying out. Goodness gracious. Clay Rapada off the Rangers 40-man to make room for Webb/Rhodes signing along with catcher Max Ramirez. Jim Callis responding to a twitter question on Chirinos http://twitter.com/jimcallisBA/status/21973726258012160 Could be a starter, though probably not w/#Cubs w/Soto on hand. Terrific No. 2 catcher @carl9730: What kind of upside does R Chirinos have? BA Top 10 Cubs prospects out tomorrow.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Rothschild didn't have a lot of success with young pitchers, unless you like Marmol's approach, or Zambrano's approach these last nine years, or Wuertz's success with the Cubs. The veterans seem to like Rothschild. Maddux and Silva come to mind. But I don't see that he's helped the rising pitchers. Look, my point is that the Cubs don't have to rely on Hill much longer. I've been trying to explain Koyie Hill's role on the Cubs, which nobody else is able to do or cares to try. It seems obvious to me that he has some pitching-catching concepts that the team has otherwise lacked. But now they're under new management.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

Right, I was not on his bandwagon for eight of those years. But I was still early. When nobody was talking about Chirinos, I wrote this in my blog on 12/03/09:
Chirinos would be the biggest loss [in the upcoming Rule 5 draft], a power-hitting catcher with strong defensive skills to go along with years of experience at second and third base. Chirinos is in winter ball in Venezuela, where he maintains a .330 BA and a .957 OPS.
After the draft, Hendry admitted that they had worried about losing Chirinos. I also remember saying on TCR, "I like Robinson C. better than C. Robinson." Chis Robinson was a catching prospect who lacked power, so not a real prospect.

[ ]

In reply to by Stevens

The article says they're not voting, but that implies that they're not voting, which is different from sending in blank ballots. If they're sending in blank ballots because they can't be bothered, then they shouldn't be sent ballots. If they're sending in blank ballots in some sort of protest - that's OK with me, they've "earned" the right. I am getting a little tired of all the pro-roid nonsense while Rose and Jackson don't get to get in, anyway.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Blank ballots were thought to be an issue on the veteran's committee (that is, when the VC was comprised of the Hall of Fame members) for years. Since VC ballots were secret, it was hard to tell for sure. The Hall has disclosed the numbers of blank ballots filed in BBWAA elections, but has not done so for VC elections, to my knowledge. Ballots are secret for the BBWAA, so unless the voter goes public with how he/she voted, we don't know.

via rotoworld: The Reds haven't had any recent contact with free agent outfielder Laynce Nix. "We thought he had signed with Seattle," said Reds general manager Walt Jocketty. "But I guess he hasn’t." ...lulz.

about to happen, Young to DH and super-sub on the infield.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

well they had to pay Young regardless and not having him play defense is probably a big net benefit for them. Bigger issue is they seem to think Beltre will be good or as good from ages 32-37 when he's been mostly an .800 OPS or lower player the last few 6 years. It's not like you don't regress on defense as you get older as well. Dumb deal imo, although probably does make them better in 2011. Would have probably gone Vlad, Manny or Thome for a year instead, but if they really think Young's defense is that bad and Beltre's is that good, then guess it makes some sense.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

That is amazing. I keep thinking that Ricketts is going to be able to get into the thick of the FA pool next year. But really, I am not holding my breath on this guy. What sucks, as we know, is the WGN and Comcast deals approved by Zell keeps the revenues at a small trickle compared to the Yankees and Rangers TV deals. This is something that is just hugely important to the team moving forward and wanting to get into play with A+ FA's - especially pitchers. As I recall - the team is not out of its current deals until 2014.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I keep thinking that Ricketts is going to be able to get into the thick of the FA pool next year. --- reminds me of the Wizard of Oz when Toto pulls the curtain on the Wizard and his Great Oz Machine. Only instead of getting Dorothy to say: "There's no place like Home"...we've been instructed to say: "We're a big market team" When we wake up will Soriano be in Kansas (City) and WGN will broadcast games in B&W?

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.