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 120 Thread / Reds @ Cubs (3 of 3)

Game Chat Bobby Livingston vs. Jason Marquis Lineups:
Hamilton CF Theriot SS
Keppinger SS DeRosa 2B
Griffey Jr. RF Lee 1B
Phillips 2B Ramirez 3B
Dunn LF Fox RF
Hatteberg 1B Murton LF
Valentin C Jones CF
Encarnacion 3B Hill C
Livingston P Marquis P
Hide the women and children if the Cubs lose this and get swept by the Reds at home. A loss also means the Cubs will be back at .500.

Comments

I actually really like this lineup. I have wanted DeRosa to bat 2nd all year. This would actually be lineup for the rest of year, with Soriano replacing Fox, Murton moving to RF.

I wanted Derosa 2nd for a while as well. However, since the calendar turned to August, he's working a 250/316/288.

However, since the calendar turned to August, he’s working a 250/316/288. True. BUT... I am sure the he is excited to hit in front of Lee and A-Ram.

I'm hoping Hill being in the lineup will cause all our batters to hit HRs. I also like our lineup though, outside of the aforementioned Hill. Today would be a good time, by the way, for Marquis to prove he can hit again. He has a 19 OPS+ this year, which is pretty horrific for a supposedly good hitting pitcher.

derosa's power outage has been really disappointing compared to earlier in the year. he's still hitting at least...and he can use those gloves.

I cant wait until Hank White comes back. That way we can pencil a shitty catcher in the lineup every day. Hank cant hit a lick. Therefore we will play better as a team.

I still didn't get an answer to my question last night: After showing Bobby Howry that he was not going to get a high fastball past Hamilton, why did he throw another? Next watch as I beat a dead horse: Great job Hendry for letting the Reds get Hamilton for nothing. I wouldn't even be mad if we got a decent but not great minor leaguer for him. But I can't understand for the life of me why you go out of your way to help a divisional rival. Sure Dave, risk/reward, but we were the catalyst. There was no reason to help them WHATSOEVER!

Great job Hendry for letting the Reds get Hamilton for nothing. meanwhile our can't-miss 'five tool guy' and his .220 batting average sits on the bench while our right fielder showcases in center.

There was no reason to screw them over either, this isn't the Red Sox/Yankees. As far as I can tell, it hasn't helped the Reds one bit actually.

As a matter of fact, we should have picked Hamilton and then if we couldn't keep him on the roster, return him! This way he stays out of our division! And there was no question that this kid can play baseball. The question was whether or not he could exorcize his drug demons. Everybody knew this kid has mad skills.

and Rob, fine. Maybe there was no reason to screw them over. But there was no reason TO HELP!!!!!!!! We didn't have to draft him. We could have just passed.

The question was whether or not he could exorcize his drug demons. Everybody knew this kid has mad skills. That wasn't the only question. He has only played 23 games above A ball, and those 23 games he had some pretty poor numbers. The bigger question was whether or not he could justify a spot in the bigs all year.

kind of a blessing in disguise for th Reds actually that they.. a) sucked and didn't need the roster spot b) Hamilton spent most of the year on the DL

those 23 games were not due to poor play. His poor play was due to his drug and alcohol problems. The question was, could he get his head on straight and play the way he knew how to. And again, maybe Hendry took the call and laughed. And thought, "Silly Reds! Do they really want that loser?" but still should have NOT picked him and see if it got to the Reds pick. We did not need to be involved in this transaction.

Who was the guy Len was interviewing before the game? I believe his name was Jimmy, and he puts the baseball,and the rosin bag on the mound before the game.

had — August 16, 2007 @ 12:18 pm As a matter of fact, we should have picked Hamilton and then if we couldn’t keep him on the roster, return him! This way he stays out of our division! ========================= CHAD: If the Cubs had drafted Josh Hamilton and then subsequently decided not to keep him, the Cubs could either trade him (and his new team would have to keep him on their 25-man roster for the entire season, as the Reds are doing), or else he would have to be placed on Outright Waivers before being offered back to TB, and the Reds could have gotten him by claiming him off Outright Waivers from the Cubs (unless an N. L. club with a worse record than the Reds also put in a claim). Obviously the Cubs had sub-zero interest in Josh Hamilton on Rule 5 Draft day, or else they could have just as easily brought him to Spring Training for a looksee, and then if they didn't like what they saw, or if they believed he wasn't ready for Prime Time, or if they didn't have room for him on their 25-man roster, then they could have traded him to CIN (or someplace else).

(DeRosa has no history of power at any level. Just doubles power.) I'm fascinated by Fox batting fifth, ahead of Murton. I'm not complaining, I just find it remarkable that in Piniella's eyes, Fox is better than Murton, period. And it's not even close, since Murton would normally get some veteran favoritism. I watched Fox run to first on a grounder yesterday and he seemed to have about Murton's speed. He's probably got as good a glove, it couldn't be much worse. I wonder if Fox and/or Murton realize what's at stake these next few days.

DLee needs a rest. And not just one game--maybe a few. I think--just my opinion--that his mental approach is really suffering. Last night's game, 3rd inning, DLee up with 2 on base. He watches 2 fastballs right down the middle, then gets K'd on a nasty pitch that starts outside and curls back over the plate at the last nanosecond. That last pitch notwithstanding, DLee has to swing. I tell my 3rd and 4th hitters on my Little League team that they're not up there to get a walk, they're up there to drive in runs. If there are runners on base, and they can get to the pitch, swing. Then, next AB, bases empty, DLee swings at the FIRST pitch and grounds out weakly. I love DLee, but something is wrong.

I heard when he drafted Hamilton, that Hendry did it as a "favor" for the Reds with the intention to trade him right to the Reds. The reason for being so nice I don't know.

can i say how about a repeat of last nite. way to give it all back ,another crappy pitching performance, but hey the hitting is better.

Talk about your run-of-the-mill regression to the mean...it just continues.

"I didn't think it was physically possible for someone to suck and blow at the same time" Bart Simpson on Koyie Hill

Since, in order to discuss Matt Murton's obvious difficulty handling balls after they fall for hits his way, we must document them, please take a look at the (1)replay of the Valentin "double" in the 3rd today. And (2) that noted speedster Jeff Conine scoring from first without a play....indeed without the ball ever getting back to the infield.... in the 6th inning yesterday. It took Murton an interminable 11 seconds to run to the wall and deliver the ball to the cutoff man. Maybe it's just me, but I find it worrisome that Murton's fielding, much like Felix Pie's hitting, has stopped improving. Pie, btw, is nothing if not consistent. He was hitting ~ .220 befor going down to Iowa and he's 4/18 (.222) since coming back.

Pie doesn't swing. He studies the pitch, then slaps at the ball when it's too late to hit it. As soon as he starts swinging, we can schedule the first hitting lesson.

You're telling me there's REALLY no reason Geovany Soto couldn't hit 50-75 points above what we're getting from K. Hill, while providing more or less the same defense out there? I think the Cubs are shooting themselves in the foot leaving a slugging Soto in AAA.

but Felix Pie's numbers were so good in Iowa, I don't get how he could struggle in the majors. If only they had scouting reports for those kids. And Koyie Hill makes pitchers throw faster, that's why he stays.

"Pie doesn’t swing. He studies the pitch, then slaps at the ball when it’s too late to hit it." Maybe its time to clean house of all the geniuses down in the minor league system who turn "5-tool players" into crap (Kpat, Kpie) and wouldn't know legitimate MLB players (Theriot) if it hit them in the face.

IMO, I hope and pray that the new owners hire a really respected GM with a proven track record of REPEATED success running a MLB org. I mean STEALING one of the stallworths in the industry by offering them a boatload of money, and the chance to be a Chicago icon, should their plan for the Cubs come to fruition.

And Koyie Hill makes pitchers throw faster, that’s why he stays. Cute, Rob. At the risk of jinxing things, I should point out that the other team has scored in exactly one inning today. It must be because the guys who are pitching today, Marquis and Eyre, are better than the guys who pitched yesterday. The catcher is quarterback of the defense. I expected a better, more professional effort on the defensive side today and so far we're getting it. And the best part of Koyie Hill is that when he's one for four, his BA goes up!

DeRosa in the #2 slot -- that seems to work. The bats are back -- if DLee wakes up, it should be a wild weekend at Wrigley.

What did Marquis register on the gun today? 96? 98? I missed it... The catcher is quarterback of the defense. I expected a better, more professional effort on the defensive side today and so far we’re getting it. I saw how Koyie willed Derrek to make that leaping catch in the 5th, that was awesome. Lee would have never made that play with Kendall catching.

Hey, give credit where credit is due. Hill called for Marquis to walk the pitcher when he was down 0-2. Seriously, did someone put up a bounty on the dumbest statement to be posted on TCR? VA Phil is blowing us all away over the last few weeks.

What did Marquis register on the gun today? 96? 98? I missed it… Rob... you missed it because Marquis was throwing so hard!!!

hey everybody.....let's not ignore the fact that the offense absolutely lit up what is admittedly a poor pitching staff.....that's what i was most concerned about for the rest of the year. the pitchers aren't going to be awesome every day. smile! big series this weekend......go reds go (harang against the brewers on sunday). get those birds.

Good thing K. Hill was catching today. The Cubs would have never won today without him.

Seriously, did someone put up a bounty on the dumbest statement to be posted on TCR? VA Phil is blowing us all away over the last few weeks. Careful who you call dumb. I got this from Piniella, you know. He mentioned "16 and 8" a week or so ago, basically explaining why Hill was on the team. Do you know the significance of 16-8? It's 17-8 today. I don't like guys hitting .150 either. I was just explaining why Hill is on the team and sometimes gets in games. It's because Piniella and Hendry are as dumb as I am.

Look on the bright side. Marquis and his phenom level stuff is here for 2 more seasons. So we got that going for us.

I got this from Piniella, you know. Funny... because Hill has now played in 3 a games in August. LouPa must think really highly of him.

When Patterson came up, I was excited, but my friend said he was Ty Griffin all over again. Now I'm beginning to think that about Pie.

"FWIW, I wish we had Barrett back." You and Jake Peavy are the only ones who feel that way.

From Rob's link:
One person who has helped in the adjustment department is new Cubs catcher Jason Kendall. Wuertz said the veteran seems to know how to get the pitchers back on track. "It's nice having a guy like that who can see something right away," Wuertz said. "He makes you feel comfortable out there, and he takes a lot of pride in that."
Hmmm... VA Phil's opinion? Or Wuertz's opinions?

its absolutely f'n obsurd to say a catcher can make a pitcher throw harder right outta the box. ...that somehow for some reason a pitcher wont go 100% because they dont trust the guy behind the plate or whatever. anyway you wanna mix it up, kendall actually catching the ball isn't much of an issue. now if he could only throw the damn ball...that's what scares me. not his recieving skills, calling skills, or how many singles/walks he can rack up.

VA Phil's comments regarding the catcher position may be a bit extreme, but there's definitely something to the notion that a catcher can make a pitcher more/less comfortable on the mound thus affecting his performance. I didn't pitch above HS ball (Wes, care to chime in on this topic?), but I definitely found certain catchers called better games/blocked more pitches/inspired more confidence in general than others. Yes, the pitcher can shake a catcher off, but when you're both in synch, you feel much more relaxed on the mound. When you're not in synch with your catcher, it's somewhat frustrating, and I think it can definitely affect your performance. None of this is earth-shattering news to anyone who's ever pitched before, and I have no idea how it applies to Kendall or Hill specifically, but it's not exactly crazy to think that catchers can have an impact on a pitcher's performance. (Throwing harder, I'm not so sure).

Do pitchers feel more comfortable with certain catchers? I don't doubt it. How big a difference is it over the course of a season? Mostly negligible. Thinking Koyie Hill is a better defensive catcher/game-caller than Kendall? ridiculous...

Marquis and Lilly, by the way, have both pitched the best with Barrett behind the plate. So, this proves that Barrett is the best defensive catcher on the team.

Nope, Hill has slightly better numbers with Koyie behind the plate. Of course, that's only 3 games and his #s were great with Barrett behind the plate. You can add Sean Marshall to that list though. So basically, except for Zambrano, everyone has done overall better with Barrett behind the plate. I conclude that Barrett is a great defensive catcher and all our pitching issues have arisen from getting rid of him.

Eric Patterson - I just hope he doesn't become another Corey, including theat smile on his way back to the dugout after each strikeout. No reason to believe players won't excel unti you seem them with at least 600 major league at bats.

*I mean STEALING one of the stallworths [sic] in the industry by offering them a boatload of money, and the chance to be a Chicago icon, should their plan for the Cubs come to fruition.* Yeah, that worked so well for Dallas Green, didn't it? Unless I missed the statue of him last time I was at Clark & Addison.

Uber uns: "ACG Logistics" beschaftigt sich auf dem internationalen Markt mit Dienstleistungen in Sphare der Logistik seit mehr als 15 Jahren. Durch das Vertretungsnetz in 15 Landern Europas und in den USA, gewahrt der Unternehmen das breite Spektrum an Dienstleistungen, einschlie?lich Lagerdienstleistungen, Beforderungsdienstleistungen beliebiger Waren (Meer, Luft, Eisenbahn- und Kraftverkehr), sowie an Dienstleistungen der Zollerledigung. Heute ist "ACG Logistics" einer der weltumfassenden Fuhrer in der Guterverkehrssphare. Au?erdem verwirklicht der Unternehmen seit 2003 die Grosshandelslieferungen der elektronischen Ausrustung und arbeitet mit 50 bekannten weltumfassenden Produzenten zusammen. Dank den Bemuhungen des Personals "ACG Logistics", hat der Warenumsatz die Summe im Wert von 8 Milliarden Euro in dem Jahre 2005 gebildet. Unsere Gesellschaft sucht nach den Manager fur die Arbeit mit den Kunden. Die Hauptforderungen zum Kandidaten: das Alter ab 18 Jahren, die Arbeitsfertigkeit mit den Programmen Microsoft Office und Outlook Express Internet der Kandidat soll ehrlich und verantwortlich sein. Seinerseits "ACG Logistics" gewahrt: das stabile monatliche Gehalt von 1000 Euro kostenlose Ausbildung/Weiterbildung monatliche Pramie bis zu 100 %, je nach den Ergebnissen der Arbeit die Uberlassung der sozialen Programmen, um den Lebensniveau der Mitarbeiter zu erhohen Die Hauptpflichten, die der Manager erfullen soll: die Annahme und die Bearbeitung der Paketen Verkauf dieser auf den Online-Handelsplatzen wie Ebay usw. Operationen mit den Geldmitteln [b]Schicken Sie bitte Ihre Bewerbung an [email protected][/b]

Recent comments

  • 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. 

  • 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...