Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

So How Bad Was That?

Submitted by Cubnut on
It was this bad: The Cubs just scored 5 runs in 3 games (plus an extra inning) against a team that had yielded 67 runs in its previous 7 games. The Cubs hit one home run in three games against a pitching staff that shared the NL lead with the Phillies in most homers yielded per game. The Cubs went 2-for-34 with men in scoring position, both of the hits coming in the 8th inning of the series finale, long after the game and the Houston sweep had ceased to be in doubt. Ironically, the Cubs have been at or near the top of NL in batting with RISP for much of the season. The Cubs still trail the Milwaukee Brewers, a team that was, itself, outscored in the past three days, 36-10; a team that has lost eight of its last nine road games and since its last visit to Wrigley Field has gone 17-21. The Cubs are about to play four road games against a talented young team after being embarrassed by a very poor one. Bad. Very bad. Side note: Today, the Hardball Times chronicled the pitch-by-pitch batting tendencies of 32 top minor league hitting prospects. Among those listed, Felix Pie swung at more first pitches than all but three. As we were reminded tonight, this skill has made the trip with Felix from Iowa.

Comments

Submitted by Jordan on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 08:40 pm

That was really disgusting. I'm seriously pained by getting involved again with this team. I let myself, in 2003, get emotionally connected to the team. That year was disappointing, but warranted. This year, for a moment, I felt it was warranted. I'm not sure what has happened to these guys, but during the winning streak when we were scoring runs via single after single, I was concerned. A team showing a lack of power can not be dominant in the modern game of baseball. While our run was fortunate, it was not driven by all-around solid offense, and this foretold the lack of offense we are experiencing now. I hope we can turn this around, but things seem to have gone from bad to worse.

Submitted by Rishi on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 08:49 pm

Remember when everyone complained that the Cubs were scoring too many of their runs off homers a couple years back? Those were the days.

Submitted by ZHL on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 08:55 pm

If Milwaukee could've just won the last four games I'd have my mind on Bourbonnais by now. Good news is, we're somehow still in this thing, even if we've taken it across the chin in the WC standings the last four days.

Submitted by MadTown on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 08:32 pm

This is bad. From the Trib: "It didn't help that Aramis Ramirez was a late scratch with a sore right wrist, hurting an offense that already has been handcuffed by the loss of the injured Alfonso Soriano. Ramirez will return to Chicago on Thursday to have his wrist examined." Returning to Chicago? Grunt. I'm going to start rooting for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Submitted by chifan3887 on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 08:06 pm

Seems stupid to send him back to Chicago to get tests done. I think Denver has one of the better hospitals in the country. Some interesting notes from the A's game: * Shannon Stewart did not start, but got into the game as a pinch runner. The MLB trade rumors guy has him pinned as a Type B frre agent meaning we would get a sandwich pick bewtten rounds 2 and 3 if he left as a free agent. Given that he is a low salary guy it would make good sense to offer him salary arbtraition as even if he accepted he would a nice 4th or 5th outfielder to have. * Rob Bowen hit 2 Home Runs.

Submitted by rokfish on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 08:13 pm

i think you sit jones and floyd both tomorrow, floyd has been awful lately start patterson ,pie, murton,derosa ,theriot,fontenot ,lee,and kendall. shannonstewart? maybe three years ago

Submitted by Jason on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 08:05 pm

Stewart has something like 35 rbi and only 54 runs scored. he's hitting for average but he only has 9hr and 13 doubles. he's losing whatever extra base pop he once had. why does hendry only become interested in these guys when they are clearly on their downside? i think some of our kids could do as well or better and not cost anything in trade.

Submitted by cubster on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:28 am

http://tinyurl.com/2h974v Trib's Paul Sullivan gives alot of medical updates including: Soriano tells close pal Felix Pie that he's improving quickly and is targeting an earlier return (before Labor Day) Daryle Ward to join the team today and should be reactivated soon Hank White's left shoulder is better, and a minor league stint will happen in a week (or so) Angel Pagan's (colitis) has a bleeding ulcer and he was told to bedrest for a week with medication for the ulcer.

Submitted by dave on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:30 am

he’s hitting for average but he only has 9hr and 13 doubles Jason... those nine home runs would have been the second most in the starting lineup last night.

Submitted by Jedi Knight on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:10 am

Ugh! I hate abandoning all hope for a game after the other team gets to three. We need offense. And if there's not going to be any offense, at least put up a good defense so there's a chance. I'm tired of seeing Floyd stumble around in RF. I'm a stats guy and I love OBP, but when it's attached to a slow player with no power and zero defensive ability it's not the only thing. Lineup I'd like to see with Sori out (assuming Ramirez can play as well) SS Theriot LF Murton 1B Lee 3B Ramirez 2B DeRosa (RF against lefties) RF Jones (Pick a 2nd basemen against lefties) CF Pie C Soto Pie should eventually resolve his struggles. Even if it's not this year , it's not like anyone else is hitting. At least put a good defense in there and a catcher who has caught more than 0% of base runners.

Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:04 am

"Angel Pagan...has a bleeding ulcer and he was told to bedrest for a week with medication for the ulcer." I believe with this continued Cub slump, many of us will be in the same condition. There is no more Barrett to punch. No more Lou tirade.

Submitted by MrCarr on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:08 am

I vote that Zambrano punches Koyie Hill. It worked before. Why not punch another worthless catcher? If that doesn't work, at least it will get Koyie's bat out of the lineup.

Submitted by carmenfanzone on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:14 am

The Cubs were due to cool off. If Ramirez's injury is serious, then the sky is falling...Lou really needs to sit Floyd and Jones in Colorado. Play the best defense available and put some energy in there. The team looks flat and is really pressing-or depressing depending on how you look at it. The good news is the Brewers are playing worse and I don't think St Louis is as good as either one of these teams. I'd vote yes on picking up Shannon Stewart.

Submitted by tbone on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:16 am

"Pie should eventually resolve his struggles. Even if it’s not this year" And the sun will eventually go super nova and swallow our entire solar system. Neither seems likely to happen in time to ease my pain this season.

Submitted by MrCarr on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:18 am

As much as I hate to say this, I think that DLee may need to take a game off. Once we get Ward back, I say we sit him a game to rest because he has been looking terrible the last few games. Swinging at garbage and letting pitches he should smash go by without even a glance. We need him to find his mojo (or whatever he has) and start hitting the shit out of the ball. IMO

Submitted by ARM on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:29 am

Cooling off is one thing. This is beyond that. The team seems to be in a free fall. It is not over, of course, by any stretch of the imagination. But it reminds me of the printed statements on rear side windows, you know, objects are closer than they appear. Well, I am thinking of the opposite of that printed statement. It does not feel like we are really one game out, that we are really that good. The Cards have their problems, too. But unlike the Cubs, they seem to have some position players who are really stepping it up as the pennant race heats up. It seems like the central division is ripe for the taking by the Cards once again. What is the psychology with our team right now? Cooling off just does not seem to describe what is going on. The guys just look less confident. If it is losing Soriano then I do not completely understand it because it was not like Soriano was anything close to being on fire when he got injured.

Submitted by Horatio on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:38 am

Here's my thought provoking analysis of Felix Pie: Pie sucks. Here's my thought provoking analysis of our catcher situation: Bring up Soto.

Submitted by jacos on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:52 am

Well with alot of changes since opening day, I imagine Lou will try something dramastic(Scottie Pippenese) in Colorado this week end. I threw up in my mouth when they couldn't get to Woody Williams on Wednesday. Woody Williams!!!!!!!

Submitted by MrCarr on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:00 am

Thanks for bringing that back up jacos. I just threw up in mouth again at the memory of that tragic event.

Submitted by Old and Blue on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:35 am

We need Pie in center because I'm sick of watching our guys standing and watching stuff go over their heads. This is currently the worst outfield in the majors. And DeRosa isn't a right fielder. Fontenot has cooled off considerably. Give DeRosa 2nd base, where he belongs, and get some consistency into this lineup, for chrissakes, lou.

Submitted by Johann on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:44 am

I definitely would like to see DeRosa just take over 2B now, Murton take over LF, and Soriano take over RF when he comes back. I am getting really tired of lineup changes and to me it hurts the batters much more then it hurts them.

Submitted by Dave_in_Pittsburgh on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:48 am

well after the second big dip in the year was corrected, and we got back to just over .500,(about end of June) I projected that the rest of the year would consist of another long dip followed by a long correction, OR the inverse (which is what it seems to be now). So I'll still stand by my personal expectation that if we've peaked and are inexorably sliding, if we end up at or above .500, I'll be grateful for a year in which at least for two months, we had either "hottest team in MLB" or "hottest team in NL" status.

Submitted by aaronb on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:48 am

Agreed on Fontenot. True he is a good bet as a .275 avg .330 obp guy off the bench. He isnt solving the problems this offense currently has. This lineup needs all hands on deck. Murton/Jack Jones/Floyd need to start in the OF on a daily basis. I don't know how he found it. But Lou has dug up the Dusty Baker lineup generator and is having far too much fun with it. Matt Sinatro needs to distract Lou while Trammell buries that damn thing in the IVy.

Submitted by Jedi Knight on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:59 am

I think we're all starting to see Lou's blind spots now. I loved his creativeness earlier in the year and I think everyone here applauds Theriot over Izturis, but lately he's been stuck in his ways. Floyd would be a great bat off the bench, especially when we needed to get a runner on base. I hate Floyd as anything other than a part time LF/IB starter. I was getting frustrated with Barrett, but somehow I think I hate Kendall more. From what I've seen of Soto he can locate the 2B/SS's glove on throws and he can't be any worse offensively than what we've had out there lately. Defense is important. Our outfield is horrible now. There's a LF playing CF, and a 2B and a statue splitting time in RF. I've seen more bad routes and balls hit over guy's heads than any fan should ever be subjected to. No matter how you slice it, this team kind of sucks at scoring runs. At least put some outfielders in who don't turn flyouts into doubles and we may have a few more 2-1 wins instead of 5-2 losses and an overworked pen.

Submitted by Dmac on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:00 am

No question about it, they've reached new levels of suckitude recently - hate to admit that the experts were right all along, but this is the worst division in baseball, no matter that the team that won the WS last year happens to be in it. Least - worst ballclub takes the division title, once again...this is not a recording.

Submitted by aaronb on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:20 am

I wonder if Barrett could clear waivers? Maybe the cubs can re-aquire his bat to help out.

Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:28 am

"Floyd would be a great bat off the bench..." Floyd is not a good PH. Daryl Ward is better in the last few years.

Submitted by Jedi Knight on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:39 am

E-Man I too would rather have Ward up given the two choices, but my intended point was everytime I see Floyd, RF I shudder.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:32 am

Pinheadiella ignoring over a hundred years of statistical evidence: "I'm putting the wrong lineups out there," he said. "I've got to figure out who's going to get the timely hitting done." I guess if you get paid that much money you think that the team's success depends mostly on the way you arrange the lineup. Going to Colorado for 4 games? I know a right handed hitting right fielder who is hitting .349 .425 .758 for his career there and available for an A ball middle reliever. That article with the minor league batters is interesting, maybe pointless, but interesting.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:35 am

Oh yeah, I meant to agree that our defense should probably be Murton, Pie and Jones over the weekend, or maybe Patterson if he is any good. Balls in Coors Field fall faster than in lower altitude parks, so the more ground they can cover the better.

Submitted by Mr. Whipple on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:56 am

I'm not keen on LouPa's work these days, but Neal, the nickname "Pinheadiella" is probably the worst I've ever heard.

Submitted by cubswinthepennant on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:52 pm

our defense should probably be Murton, Pie and Jones over the weekend, or maybe Patterson if he is any good. Actually,what does it say about the pathetic state of our minor league braintrust (the same guys who told the Cubs that Theriot couldn't play SS in the ML and Fontenot needed to be benched so Patterson could play 2B at Iowa) that EPatt came up to Chicago as an outfielder when he spent his entire minor league career at second base. As AZ PHIL has said many times, Patterson should have been moved to the outfield two years ago.

Submitted by Virginia Phil on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 08:30 pm

Jedi Knight said: Floyd would be a great bat off the bench, especially when we needed to get a runner on base. There's something to that. When Floyd comes up with men on base, he's murder. But he does get a lot of walks. Pitchers are frightened of him, even though he's toothless. I think that's how Floyd keeps his average up without doing much hitting. If you go 1 for 3 with a walk and then 1 for 4, you're .285. Use him as a leadoff pinch hitter and then run for him.

Recent comments

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Cubdom needs to prepare themselves for Wicks to be sent to Iowa for Taillon to come up.
    Ben Brown has 4 appearances. Wicks has 4 appearances.
    Ben has 16.1 IP.  Wicks has 17 IP
    Ben was a 1.1 WHIP.  Wicks has a 1.7 WHIP. Wicks does have significantly more SOs. 
    Ben has been better, though.
    I love Wicks. I think he's a fighter and his stuff has improved.
    But, Jed isn't ditching Hendricks just yet. He should. But he won't.
    Hendricks should go to the IL and Taillon-Imanaga-Assad-Wicks-Brown should be the rotation.
    Wont' happen though.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil,
    Did you agree with the demotion of Luke Little? He'd been pretty good up until the AZ/wild pitch appearance. I know that can't jettison Smyly (just yet) so they didn't need another LHRP. Especially with Leiter effectively being a LHRP. I still thought he deserved to stay. It's not permanent. He'll be back. Lots of moves to come with Taillon, Steele and other guys coming and going.

    Also, do you see Hodge being able to "control/command" his stuff to get a chance this year?
    Is Arias better than Hodge?   Thanks

Click HERE for the last 50 comments