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

Prospecting: Jackson and Vitters Make Some Lists

Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com's minor league guy is running a list of top 10 prospects for each position in the minors leading up to his top 50 minor league prospects that will air on Tuesday on the MLB network. It appears he's gone through everything but the pitchers so far and two Cubs can be found - Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters.

Vitters #7 out of all minor league third basemen:

Chicago pushed Vitters up to Double-A when it had a hole to fill, and while he didn't put up good numbers at all, the organization was pleased with how he prepared and dealt with the adversity. He still has the great swing, bat speed and raw power that made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 Draft. He hasn't been so great at making adjustments and doesn't draw walks at all. He's not great defensively, but has a good arm and should be able to stay at the hot corner. The 2011 season could be a big one for Vitters.

Jackson #6 out of all minor league outfielders:

Taken in the first round in 2009, Jackson jumped on the fast track by making it to Double-A in his first full season. While his individual tools may not grade out as plus, he can do a little bit of everything. He hit 12 homers and stole 30 bases last year, and there should be more power coming. While he strikes out a lot, he'll also draw some walks and he's capable of playing all over the outfield. With Brandon Guyer gone, Jackson could be the first outfielder the Cubs call up from the Minors when the need arises.

C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF

I imagine Trey McNutt would be the only pitcher that could make the top pitchers and I don't think we'll see him there. For all the love of Hak-Ju Lee - and I do like him myself - he didn't even crack the top 10 shortstops.

Also, the Cubs will pick 9th next year in the first round of the draft.

Comments

still waiting on Felipe Lopez before supplemental picks are locked, but Cubs 2nd round pick will be 59th or 60th (8th pick of the 2nd round).

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Joe Sewell for the 1925 Indians is the most interesting - .400 OBP and played for a team with Tris Speaker. Of course their manager had Speaker, who put up a 1057 OPS that year sacrifice 11 times.. I guess he should have complained to his manager, Tris Speaker, about it. That team also featured Cliff Lee.

4/$27M extension I believe that one does net the Reds a FA season.

Doesn't inspire a lot of confidence for late-inning heroics, as the likely group of Fukodome, Barney, Hill, DeWitt (on days when Baker starts) and Perez/R. Johnson (both of whom have injury issues) doesn't have a whole lot of pop.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

It seems that there is a world of difference in how humbling .196 and .207 can be perceived. from QuietMan's link... RJ(regarding ARam): "I took a lot of stuff that I usually don't"
"If [Ramirez] wants to keep playing, then they'll compete and do something this year," Jaramillo said. "He should be motivated, but the whole key is does he want to continue playing? He's got all the money in the world. I think he'll do a lot better. Our rapport is a lot better. I took a lot of stuff that I usually don't, but I had to be patient and I think it'll work out in the end."
Both Ramirez and Lee said they felt they were their own best hitting coaches and, as veterans, knew their swing better than anyone. It took time for Jaramillo to build up a relationship with the third baseman. Ramirez also said he wasn't healthy last year, which contributed to his .207 average in the first half.
At the end of last season, Ramirez did go the batting cage more and asked for some assistance. When asked at the Cubs Convention about his relationship with Jaramillo, Ramirez said it was good. "I believe he trusts me more," Jaramillo said. "Some guys are harder than others."

The All-Underrated Team http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=6… ....over the last 50 seasons only two other 20-year-olds have had a season in which they matched or beat Castro's batting average (.300), on-base percentage (.347) and slugging percentage (.408). Good chance you've heard of them: Alex Rodriguez in 1996 and Kenneth Griffey Jr. in 1990. But even if you go all the way back to 1939, the only other guys who have done it are Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Al Kaline and Vada Pinson.

GO BEARS!!!!!!!! LET'S DO THIS, BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF THE PACKERS!! FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Cutler's flaws are correctable and seem to be getting corrected under Martz. The article Rob links to does a nice job of showing Martz's thinking towards Cutler and it's good to see he sees what even we Cutler supporters see. Cutler is a work in progress. So of course, I'm nervous about this game and again and am going to be worrying if we see the Good Jay or the Bad Jay. Last week he did throw what should have been a pick in the red zone. But he also tucked the ball in and ran with it a few times when earlier in the season he would have tried to force something, and he even threw the ball away a couple times. I was almost as glad to see those lobs into the end zone as I was the touchdown to Olsen.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

just talking out of your ass Actually, that would be you. You can't "prove" anything that you have said. You are completely making things up (10 stupid things, 3 stupid things, etc.). You are the one who continually points to made up stats about Cutler and isolated examples to attempt to make your point. I'm not making up stats. I'm not pointing to isolated plays to make a point. And for a guy who over and over again preaches about sample sizes, you sure like to pick isolated examples to "prove" that Jay Cutler sucks. I guess in your world, if Jay Cutler outplays Aaron Rogers tomorrow, Jay Cutler must be a better a quarterback.

Don't know if this is 3/44, but N Punto to Cards 1/750k. LaRussa is collecting slap-hitting IF's like Peppers collect holding lineman. Go FUCKING Bears!!!!!!!

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Vlad Guerrero reportedly close to signing with Baltimore, reportedly for dirt cheap. He hit .300 with 29 hr and 115 rbi last year. I can completely understand the fear of giving big bucks to a soon to be 36 year old, and the accompanying recent age bias among MLB GM's, but how he sat around all offseason waiting while far crappier players not only signed but got significantly more money is nuts. He's a Hall of Famer who is still producing at a nice pace, with plenty of room to decline and still be of value, unlike shitheads like Manny Ramirez. (I know some idiot is going to start arguing that Manny at $2 million is a bargain. May I point out that once Manny got busted for PED's, his power numbers completely disappeared. If you watched Manny with the Dodgers and White Sox last year you saw a player with a very slow bat and absolutely no pop, coupled with the long running asshole he's always been. And I think it's not a coincidence that those stud young stars with the Dodgers when Manny arrived are suddenly under performing assholes. Shit rubs off. Why Tampa would expose their kids to that is beyond me.)

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Manny can still hit. Between the Dodgers and White Sox last year he hit .298/.409/.460. The problem was, he was only healthy enough for 265 ABs all year. His HR were down last year. He hit a home run every 29.44 AB in 2010. Over the past few years, he's hit a home run every: 2009: 18.53 AB 2008: 14.92 AB 2007: 24.15 AB 2006: 12.83 AB 2005: 12.31 AB I don't know if his power went in the toilet last year and it will come back this year, or if last year was a sign of things to come. However, even based on last year, he can still be a productive hitter and could turn out to be a bargain if he stays healthy and simply repeats what he did in 2010.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

if someone would quit DDOS'ing their site i might be able to read it. ...wonder who they pissed off now. it's probably pete rose's thug friends pissed they're in year 8 of will carroll's "no, i'm right!" article, non-retraction and non-appology after insisting pete was returning to baseball and he'd seen the contracts and unicorns and etc. while burning up the airwaves being a guest on any show that would take him during his self-pimp-fest.

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.