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

Iowa Cubs Edge Tennessee Smokies at Fitch Park

Matt Spencer raked a two-run triple off the CF Batter’s Eye “Green Monster” to key a three-run 1st inning, and Robert Coello struck out six in three innings of work, leading the Iowa Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the Tennessee Smokies in a six-inning intra-organization game at Fitch Park Field #3 this morning.  

LHP Ryan Buchter, LHP Scott Maine, and RHP Chris Carpenter followed Coello to the mound. Buchter walked the first man he faced and then struck out the side in the 4th, Maine threw a 14-pitch 1-2-3 inning with one strikeout and two 6-3 GO in the 5th, and Carpenter allowed a run on two hits in the 6th.

RHP Rafael Dolis got the start for Tennessee and struggled through his three innings, allowing three first-inning runs on four hits (two singles, a double, and a triple), before throwing shutout ball in the 2nd and 3rd innings.

Shortstop Jonathan Mota made three outstanding defensive plays for Iowa in the 5th and 6th innings, saving at least one run. Mota is a versatile utility infielder who learned to catch at Extended Spring Training last year, but he has the defensive chops needed to play SS for an extended period at Iowa if necessary.

Frank Batista and Kevin Rhoderick threw an inning each for Tennessee, although both are assigned to the Daytona squad.

The Cubs have released a number of players from Minor League Camp over the past few days, including RHPs Steve Grife, Corey Martin, Mike Parisi, and Carlos Rojas, INF Jake McAloose, 1B-OF T. J. Baxter, and OF Cody Shields.

Here is today’s box scores:

FIELD #3 (Iowa Cubs vs Tennessee Smokies)

TENNESSEE LINEUP:
1. Brett Jackson, CF: 0-3 (K, K, 6-4 FC, RBI)
2. Logan Watkins, SS: 1-3 (1B+E9, K, 1-3, R)
3. Josh Vitters, 3B: 0-2 (F-8, K)
4. Rebel Ridling, 1B: 1-2 (2B, K, RBI)
5. Kyler Burke, DH #1: 0-2 (E6, K, SB)
6. Michael Brenly, C: 0-2 (K, 6-3)
7. Jae-Hoon Ha, RF: 0-2 (K, 6-3)
8. Jake Opitz, 2B: 1-2 (4-3, 1B, R)
9. David Macias, LF: 1-2 (K, 1B)
10. Junior Lake, DH #2: 0-2 (K, 6-4 FC)
X-1. Rafael Dolis, P 0-0 (BB)
NOTE: Dolis took an insert-AB leading off the top of the 4th

IOWA LINEUP
1a. Lou Montanez, CF: 1-2 (1B, L-7 DP)
1b. Smaily Borges, LF: 0-1 (K)
2a. D. J. Lemahieu, 3B: 1-1 (1B, R)
2b. Nate Samson, 3B: 1-2 (1B, F-8)
3a. Matt Spencer, RF: 1-1 (3B, R, 2 RBI)
3b. Jim Adduci, RF: 0-1 (P-5, BB)
4. Bryan Lahair, 1B: 1-3 (2B, F-8, K, RBI)
5. Ty Wright, LF-CF: 0-1 (4-3, BB)
6a. Blake Lalli, C: 0-1 (4-3)
6b. Steve Clevenger, C: 0-1 (4-3)
7a. Ryan Flaherty, 2B: 1-1 (1B, CS)
7b. Jonathan Mota, SS: 1-1 (2B)
8a. Marwin Gonzalez, SS: 0-1 (K)
8b. Marquez Smith, 2B: 0-1 (F-8)
9. Chris Robinson, DH: 1-2 (1B, L-5)
X-1. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, PH: 0-0 (1-4 SH, 1-4 SH)
NOTE: Bibens-Dirkx took two insert-ABs, one between Montanez and Lemahieu in the 1st inning, and another between Samson and Adduci in the 4th inning
X-2. J. R. Mathes, PH: 0-1 (K)
NOTE: Mathes took an insert-AB between Robinson and Montanez in the 3rd inning

TENNESSEE PITCHERS:
1. Rafael Dolis: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 50 pitches (30 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
2. Jeffrey Beliveau: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 14 pitches (10 strikes), 3/3 GO/FO, 1/2 GO/FO
3. Frank Batista: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 14 pitches (10 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
4. Kevin Rhoderick: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches (10 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO

IOWA PITCHERS:
1. Robert Coello: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 6 K, 55 pitches (37 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
2. Ryan Buchter: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 22 pitches (12 strikes)
3. Scott Maine: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 14 pitches (10 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
4. Chris Carpenter: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 12 pitches (6 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO

TENNESSEE ERRORS: 0

IOWA ERRORS: 2
Matt Spencer E-9 – fielding error allowed batter to advance an extra base on single
Marwin Gonzalez E-6 – fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely

TENNESSEE CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Michael Brenly: 1-1 CS

IOWA CATCHERS DEFENSE
Blake Lalli
: 0-1 CS, 1 PB

Comments

Cubs getting it done early, 3-0 through 2. 1-2-3 for Garza in first BB by Fukudome, 2B by Castro, sac fly Byrd, double Aramis for first 2 runs couple runners got on in the 2nd but Garza escaped another run in 3rd on a Fukudome sac fly after Barney single and Hill BB.

[ ]

In reply to by DavidP

Submitted by tim815 on Fri, 03/25/2011 - 7:18am. Just so I have this straight, that is pending his not playing above A Ball in 2011, no? Submitted by DavidP on Fri, 03/25/2011 - 10:05am. Phil will know better, but I believe that Peoria counts as a full season team, while Mesa and Boise do not. So if he plays the year at Peoria this year, it counts. ==================================== TIM & DAVID P: Peoria, Daytona, Tennessee, and Iowa are considered "full season" minor league teams, while Boise, AZL Cubs (Mesa), and the two DSL Cubs teams are not. A "full season" is defined as spending at least 90 days on the Active List (regular season roster) of an MLB or full-season minor league team, or at least 60 days on the Active List of an MLB or full-season minor league team followed by a stint on the Disabled List of an MLB or full-season minor league team where the combined time equals at least 90 days. For example, Rafael Dolis gets a 4th minor league option (as of right now) because while he did use an option last season, he has accrued only two "full seasons" (2009 at Daytona and 2010 at Daytona and Tennessee), which means the earliest he can accrue five full seasons is after the 2013 season (the 4th option is good for the entire season even if the player accrues enough time to hit five full seasons before the end of that season), so he was optioned in 2010 (option #1), he has been optioned this year (option #2), and he can be optioned to the minors in 2012 (option #3) and 2013 (option #4). But if he spends the 2013 season (for example) on the Cubs MLB 25-man roster and does not use an option that year, then the 4th option would not be available in 2014 because he would have already accrued five "full seasons" before he had a chance to use the 4th option. This happened with Angel Guzman a few years ago. Because he had lost a couple or three seasons to injury earlier in his career, he was in line for a 4th minor league option, but he accrued five "full seasons" (just barely) before he could use it. That's because he spent 60 days on the Active Lists of the Iowa Cubs and Chicago Cubs in 2007 prior to being placed on the Cubs 15-day DL on June 2, and then he spent the rest of the season on the DL. So he accrued his 5th "full season" in 2007, such that he did not have his 4th minor league option available in 2008. So he never used his 4th option. Or if Starlin Castro or Andrew Cashner had been optioned back to the minors last year and used an option, they still would have had three minor league options left coming into this season because both had accrued only one "full season" through the 2009 season, and the earliest either could have accrued five "full seasons" would be after the 2013 season. But because both Castro and Cashner spent the rest of the 2010 season with the Cubs after being brought up from the minors and were not optioned to the minors, the 4th minor league option is no longer available forv either player because both players have now accrued two "full seasons" and they will run out of time before they would (theoretically) have a chance to use a 4th option. What will happen with Matt Szczur is yet TBD, but if he spends the 2011 season at Peoria (or part of the year at Peoria, and part of the year at Daytona), he will accrue his first "full season" this year, and then if he is added to the Cubs 40-man roster post-2011, he will have four minor league options available (2012-15) until he has accrued a total of five "full seasons," and the earliest that can happen is the 2015 season. So the 4th option needs to be used prior to 2016. That is, unless he ends up back with a short-season team this season before he accrues 90 days on the Active List at Peoria, or if he gets injured and spends a season on the DL sometime in the next four or five years, that could delay the deadline to use the 4th option until 2017 (or even beyond that if he misses more than one season with injuries). A good way to think about it is that ALL players initially get four minor league options, but the 4th option can't be used if the player has accrued five "full seasons" before he uses the 4th option. And since most players have already accrued at least two "full seasons" before they are added to a 40-man roster and use their first option, very few players ever get a chance to use the 4th option. But it's actually potentially available for all players, depending on how the player's career develops. Losing a season or two to injury (like TJS) is the most common way it usually happens. Angel Guzman's byzantine career is probably the text-book example, if MLB wants to teach the 4th Minor League Option Rule (and all of its potential complications) to MLB GMs.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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.