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

Game 78 Thread / Orioles @ Cubs (2 of 3)

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP Matt Albers SP
*Ted Lilly
  3-2, 2.77, 25 K, 21 BB, 48.2 IP

7-5, 4.71, 91 K, 34 BB, 91.2 IP
       
2B
#Brian Roberts LF
*Eric Patterson
RF
*Nick Markakis
SS
Ryan Theriot
3B
Melvin Mora 1B
Derrek Lee
1B
*Aubrey Huff 3B
Aramis Ramirez
C
Ramon Hernandez
CF
*Jim Edmonds
LF
*Luke Scott
C
Geovany Soto
CF
Jay Payton
RF
Mark DeRosa
SS
#Alex Cintron
2B
*Mike Fontenot
P
*Matt Albers P
*Ted Lilly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albers gets the emergency start in place of the scheduled O's starter, Brian Burres.

Comments

stupid regional blackout. here in mid-NC we're in a BAL/WAS blackout area. also...here in NC we get 1 of 3 "local" channels BAL games are shown on and none that WAS games are on. result: unless it's on WGN, FOX Saturday, or ESPN i don't see any of those games except the 50-60 BAL games on the 1 channel i get. gee, i'm glad i'm not a fan of my "regional" team. i'd never get to see them. way to go MLB-EI.

Hurt, apparently. BTW, Lou said in the pregame he will no longer PH for Edmonds vs. lefties and will save Murton for PH duties later in the game. We're not the only ones pissed at Cedeno..

Off the subject, but do you think we will be players in the Fuentes sweepstakes? It sure sounds like Lou fell out of love with Cotts and Eyre after the Tampa Bay series.

[ ]

In reply to by Andrew

Wow, Shacon is a psycho I'm really amazed how stupid some of these pro athletes are. If your boss comes to you and wants to discuss something you should just go. Maybe Wade could have let him eat dinner and talked after that. And why would you throw a older man down to the ground (Pedro)? That's just tasteless and un-classy (Ron Burgundy). I'd DFA the bum tomorrow

Anybody know what's up with Ascanio? Is he hurt? Doesn't seem to be pitching at Iowa.

Marmol had it dialed in last night - couple that performance with the one a day earlier, and it looks like he's back in form. Lilly's living a charmed life so far - lots of rockets off him last night, but he still gets the W.

Fontenot played last night like he was still on the Orioles' payroll. Or owed someone money. Or lost a bet. Marmol didn't look like he was all the way back, but he's getting there. Can't imagine anyone wanting to face that guy. Wood made the three guys batting against him look like Ronny Cedeno, Corey Patterson and...Ronny Cedeno.

I don't think Fontenot has surprised anyone with his performance at the plate this year; after he turned back into a pumpkin mid - season last year, things have remained more or less the same. The question is why does Lou have such a fondness for the guy at this point? Can't imagine they don't have any other options from their farm system.

Submitted by Mitterwald on Wed, 06/25/2008 - 6:49pm.

Off the subject, but do you think we will be players in the Fuentes sweepstakes? It sure sounds like Lou fell out of love with Cotts and Eyre after the Tampa Bay series.

====================================

MITTERWALD: I wouldn't be surprised if the Cubs get either Brian Fuentes (COL) or Damaso Marte (PIT) by the 7/31 trade deadline as an 8th inning lefty set-up guy and alternate closer on days when Wood isn't available.

And also either Cristian Guzman (WAS) or David Eckstein (TOR) to replace Cedeno as the #1-A SS and late-inning bat off the bench.

I suspect Ronny Cedeno's PH K with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th Tuesday night might motivate Piniella to ask Hendry to replace Cedeno with a more-veteran type middle-infield option off the bench.

I believe Hendry would overpay and trade the entire farm system if he thinks it would give the Cubs a better chance to get to the WS in 2008.

Once the injured position players (Alfonso Soriano and Reed Johnson) return, I think it's entirely possible that Eric Patterson will take Mike Fontenot's roster slot, at least unless and until E-Pat is traded away in a deadline deal.

I dont know about the entire farm system, but I'm thinking that overpaying may not be such a bad idea at this point. We seem to have a pretty good shot this year.

What do you think the Cubs main needs are? I'd like to see them add 1 starter (someone to slot between Z and Dempster in a playoff series) and 1 reliever that they can count on in late innings. It seems that outside of Wood and Marmol Lou does not trust anyone to get big outs late in games.

[ ]

In reply to by Pat Kane

Agree about relief help. All of the AAA back ups (Roquet, Ascanio, Hart, Pig-man, Cotts) that I was counting on have not panned out for one reason or another. Wuertz has been very dissapointing. -and we have already seen a possible danger sign from Zeus. I also agree about a starter, -everyone in baseball would like a starter! -but you'd like C.C., not Trachsel. It looks like the Angels have a much better shot.

[ ]

In reply to by Pat Kane

I want one more starter, and I'm going to tell you why. While Jason Marquis has hit a nice little run here in his last few starts, we're approaching the All-Star Break. As we all remember from last year (ERA 2 runs higher in the 2nd half), and from 2006 as a Cardinal (ERA 1 run higher in the 2nd half) and from his entire career (ERA almost 3/4ths of a run higher in the 2nd half), that's when the Jason Marquis ERA Watch becomes America's favorite action-packed thrill ride. Maybe that's a bad analogy. The Jason Marquis ERA Watch after the All-Star Break would be like getting on a roller coaster, and then going up the big hill. Then the big hill keeps going. And going. And then you never go over the the top. Just keep going higher and higher until it's over. Worst. Ride. Ever.

Only problem with E-Pat taking Fontenot's spot is that there was a big deal made about Fontenot being able to play shortstop. I don't think Patterson can?

Submitted by Jeff_Pico on Thu, 06/26/2008 - 10:58am.

Only problem with E-Pat taking Fontenot's spot is that there was a big deal made about Fontenot being able to play shortstop. I don't think Patterson can?

==============================================

Jeff P: If it's a question of who would be 3rd on the depth chart at SS if Eric Patterson replaces Mike Fontenot on the 25-man roster, I would think Mark DeRosa could play SS in a pinch. Mike Fontenot was never considered anything more than an emergency SS anyway.

And of course Eric Patterson played both 2B and SS at Georgia Tech, so while he would be a definite liability there, E-Pat actually does have considerably more experience playing SS than does Fontenot, and Patterson also has better range and a stronger arm than Fontenot.

The problem with Michael Wuertz is that there is a certain "boom or bust" aspect to his performances, where either he is very good or he is very bad. And I suspect Piniella doesn't particularly like that. That said, unless the Cubs can get a reliable and proven right-handed set-up type guy to replace him (and acquiring a first-class rotation starter, a quality lefty reliever who can close in a pinch, and/or a veteran middle-infielder to replace Cedeno, are probably higher priorities), I don't think Wuertz will be replaced.

BTW, if Michael Wuertz is optioned to the minors for at least 20 days, the Cubs buy another year toward free-agency with him (right now he'a scheduled to be a FA after 2010, but it gets pushed to post-2011 if he is optioned out for at least 20 days). So that could be a secondary reason to send him out for three weeks (and replace him with somebody like Jose Ascanio, for instance) if he continues to have inconsistent performances out of the pen.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo on Thu, 06/26/2008 - 12:25pm.

I thought Wuertz had to clear waivers in order to be sent down? Or is that just a formality?

=================================

DOUG D: Michael Wuertz only has to clear Optional Assignment Waivers (which are revocable) in order to be optioned to the minors. Optional Assignment Waivers are almost always just a formality, because there is usually no point in a GM blocking the move other than to irritate another GM.

The one time you might see it happen is in a scenario like this:

Let's say the Brewers and the Cardinals are getting ready to play in a big five-game weekend series in St. Louis which includes make-up DHs on Friday and Saturday. So the Brewers want to add a 13th pitcher, but they only have one position player with options left, and he has to clear Optional Assignment Waivers in order to get sent to the minors to make room for the 13th pitcher.

In this particular case, the Cards GM should make a waiver claim on the Brewers position player who is placed on Optional Assignment Waivers, because that would be a good tactical move (and not a nuisance claim) and would force the Brewers to either place some other more-valuable position player on Outright Assignment Waivers or Release Waivers (both of which are irrevocable), or else play the weekend series with just 12 pitchers.

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 06/26/2008 - 1:51pm.

AZ Phil, With what you said about E-Patt last night, that he often has more trouble making the shorter throws because of his over-the-top throwing motion, why haven't the Cubs considered him as a SS?

He's got the range for it, so if he's got the arm, I'd think they would try it

====================================

CHARLIE: Eric Patterson probably wouldn't be any worse at SS than he is at 2B, but he just doesn't have the ball-handling skills to be a frontline middle-infielder whether you play him at 2B or SS.

Arm-wise and range-wise, he probably can play SS. But he also has the "yips," and there isn't as much time to recover if a "Shaky Jake" like E-Pat bobbles a ground ball at SS compared to bobbling a ground ball at 2B.

That said, if he HAS to play middle-infield, I'd probably play him at SS. But he's going to hurt you defensively long-term no matter where he plays in the infield.

He needs to play CF and really learn the position. Even then, he's never going to be a good defensive outfielder.,The idea is to make him passably-average, where he at least makes the routine plays.

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.