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

Vote for Cubs 2011 MVP and LVP

It's that time of year again, your chance to vote for the Cubs 2011 MVP and LVP.

2011 Cubs MVP

Click here if you're having issues with seeing the poll within the post.

Previous winners include:

  • 2010 - Carlos Marmol
  • 2009 - Derrek Lee
  • 2008 - Geovany Soto

WAR values come from Baseball Reference, ranking is for team of course, not the league.

 

Player Stats Notes
Castro 307/342/431 111 OPS+, 2.2 WAR 1st in BA, H, 2B, 3B, R + 2nd in SB, 4th in OBP
Garza 10-10, 3.20 ERA, 198 IP, 197 K, 118 ERA+, 2.5 WAR, 1st in ERA, W, K, WHIP + 2nd in IP for starters
Marshall 2.26 ERA, 5 SV, 34 HLDS, 173 ERA+, 2.5 WAR 1st in ERA, WHIP and HLDS
Ramirez 306/361/510 136 OPS+, 3.6 WAR
1st in RBI, SLG + 2nd in BA, H, R, HR, OBP
Ricketts   Fired Hendry, spent a lot on the draft

2011 Cubs LVP

Click here if you're having issues with the poll within the post. Previous losers were:

  • 2010 - Lou Piniella
  • 2009 - Alfonso Soriano

Player Stats Notes
Jim Hendry   left team with little rotation depth, and lots of dead weight on contracts.
Carlos Marmol 2-6, 4.01 ERA, 34 SV, 10 BSV, 98 ERA+, 0.9 WAR blew league leading 10 Saves
Mike Quade   acted very confused, consistently...
Alfonso Soriano 244/289/469 104 OPS+, 1.4 WAR if you care to concentrate on the value portion of LVP, Soriano gave little bang for the buck
Carlos Zambrano 9-7, 4.82 ERA, 145.2 IP, 81 ERA+, 1.4 WAR similar to Soriano, money paid grossly overstated to  performance given. May have kicked a puppy.

I'll leave it open through the end of the week. Comments always appreciated.

Comments

Garza lost 0.4 WAR for his hitting and Z gained 0.7 WAR for his hitting if that helps anything. The numbers above reflect that, but you may want to ignore it depending on your preferences.

sportswriters like to smoke fat rocks in BOS, too... "According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, Bobby Valentine is not a candidate for the Red Sox managerial opening." ...evidently the other hot "okay, really?" name popular in their press is joe torre.

Really, people? Zambrano? He would've probably outproduced Soriano in WAR if management hadn't sent him home, and it's Hendry and Rickett's that screwed the pooch by locking themselves into a "he's not coming back" position. (I also suspect Zambrano could've outproduced Soriano at the plate and in the field given the chance.)

if I were to rank.. MVP 1. Castro 2. Garza 3. Ramirez 4. Marshall 5. Ricketts LVP 1. Hendry 2. Z 3. Marmol 4. Soriano 5. Quade

AZ PHIL: What was the deal with Al Albequerque, again? Did the Cubs trade him to the Rox in some phantom deal, or was he not designated for the 40-man ever? I recall you discussing his arm on occasion, and had seen him on your various AFL lists, etc. I am happy for his success this year with the Tigers, and just was curious what it took for his light to get switched on. Or, did we blow it on another prospect?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

After being traded to the Rockies for Jeff Baker in July 2009, Alberto Alburquerque was added to the Rockies 40-man roster post-2009, was outrighted in May 2010 (nobody claimed him off waivers - anybody could have), and then he became an MLB Rule 55 Six-Year Minor League FA post-2010 (again, available for anybody who wanted him) and he signed a minor league contract with the Tigers with an NRI to Spring Training.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I don't know why but people are always accusing me of liking Sam Fuld. Fuld was the last thing in my thoughts when he went in the Garza deal. It was only when Fernando Perez washed out and Fukudome slid into the leadoff spot that I thought, and said out loud, that we always had Fuld for this situation and it was odd timing to have traded him now along with Guyer, someone else who could have led off. Tony Thomas: you got me there. I did grow to like him after 2010--as did the Red Sox. Second basemen with speed and pop have two advantages over, say, Barney. But I've really gotten to like Coello and wouldn't trade him today for Thomas. But that's a prospect for a prospect. I'd probably trade Garza today for Lee, Archer, Guyer and Chirinos, with or without Fuld. I'd certainly trade Baker for Alburquerque and Harden + Gaudin for Donaldson. With Donaldson's HR power (35 in last two seasons) and 38% caught-stealing pct., I think he would catch for the Cubs next season. And of course I would trade Grabow and Gorzellany for Josh Harrison, who could play third next year. So I generally favor squawking when they trade a nice prospect. Almost invariably, it's selling low.

Rob has the MVPs right, but my LVPs are Byrd and DeWitt. I just hate those ugly swings. DeWitt is supposed to have been drafted for his swing but I just don't see it. When he hits the ball hard, it's a golf shot headed for the foul pole. Not to sound like one of those villainous scouts in Moneyball . . .

note Az Phil's post on the Baker for Alberquerque thread...#96: As for Alberto Alburquerque, he has had arm problems (elbow and shoulder) for much of his carerer, but he's finlly healthy this season and was throwing in the mid-90's at Daytona. I would compare him to Marcos Mateo (but Alburquerque has a better fastball), and as of right now, I would have rated Alburquerque as one of the Top 5 minor leaguers most-likely to get added to the Cubs 40-man roster post-2009 (along with Welington Castillo, Steve Clevenger, Tyler Colvin, and John Gaub). --- Cubs have gotten mileage out of Baker, wasn't he Quade's favorite cleanup hitter vs leftys? ((facepalm)) 2011 split vs LHP (.314/.349/.463/.812)

Recent comments

  • 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... 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 (only 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 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 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)... so for the game he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes (in fact he is almost a strike-throwing machine)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't ake 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... 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 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 South Bend 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 and not enough strikes to be a SP... 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 South Bend 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 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.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Because Jorge Alfaro somewhat surprisingly opted out on Monday (he had a contractual opt-out, but it was thought he would wait until his second opt-out on May 1st to elect free-agency), the Iowa Cubs left Arizona with just two catchers, so another catcher could be added to the I-Cubs roster prior to AAA Opening Day (catchers Pablo Aliendo and Caleb Knight were moved-down from AAA Iowa to AA Tennessee at Minor League Camp today).  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Cubs 2023 3rd round draft pick INF Josh Rivera has been moved-up to AA Tennessee from Hi-A South Bend at Minor League Camp, and he will be the Smokies primary SS. So Josh Rivera and Cubs 2023 1st round pick INF Matt Shaw are the only two Cubs 2023 draft picks who will be starting the 2024 season at AA. 

    At present, RHSP Will Sanders (4th round), CF Brett Bateman (8th round), 1B Jonathon Long (9th round), RHRP Ty Johnson (15th round), and 1B Brian Kalmer (18th round) are the Cubs 2023 draft picks who are assigned to Hi-A South Bend.  

  • bradsbeard (view)

    Don’t think Smyly should be too upset about the move to the pen. The Cubs did him a solid last year letting him start long enough to get those bonuses way past his effectiveness as a starter. 

  • crunch (view)

    neris 89-91 on march 25th isn't exactly making me feel good about him this season.

    he's more of a 91-95 type.  other stuff is down, too, but not like the fastball.