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

2008 Cubs Roster and Payroll Projections

With Carlos Zambrano signing a multi-year contract extention today, here are some Cubs 2008 payroll and post-2007 off-season roster projections: CUBS PROJECTED 2008 PAYROLL (as of 8/17/07) x - player option SIGNED FOR 2008 (13): Henry Blanco - $2.8M Ryan Dempster - $5.5M + $800K in performance bonuses Mark DeRosa - $3.75M x-Scott Eyre - $3.8M + $300K in performance bonuses (player option) Bob Howry - $4M Jacque Jones – $5M Derrek Lee - $13M Ted Lilly - $7M Jason Marquis - $6.375M Will Ohman - $1.6M + $250K in performance bonuses Aramis Ramirez - $14M Alfonso Soriano - $14M Carlos Zambrano - $18.3M (estimate) TOTAL - $99.125M (plus $1.35M in potential performance bonuses), with at least 12 roster slots still to be filled (costing minimum $4.68M in additional payroll) POTENTIAL FREE-AGENTS AFTER 2007 (4-5): x-Scott Eyre (player option – likely to return in '08) Cliff Floyd (mutual option for 2008 - likely FA) Jason Kendall (likely FA) Daryle Ward ($1M club option for 2008 - might be retained) Kerry Wood (likely FA) ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE AFTER 2007 (4) Mark Prior (possible non-tender) Neal Cotts (possible non-tender) Roberto Novoa (will likely be “Super Two" - also likely DFA) Michael Wuertz ========================== POTENTIAL MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS AFTER 2007 (18) NOTE: None are likely to be added to 40-man roster Federico Baez, RHP Cory Bailey, RHP Oscar Bernard, RHP Gary Cates, INF Robinson Chirinos, INF Jorge Cortes, OF Adam Harben, RHP Ben Howard, RHP Geoff Jones, LHP Josh Kroeger, OF Mike Mahoney, C John Nelson, INF Mike Nannini, RHP Ryan O’Malley, LHP Carlos Rojas, INF Issmael Salas, INF Les Walrond, LHP John Webb, RHP ============================ ELIGIBLE FOR 2007 RULE 5 DRAFT IF NOT ADDED TO 40-MAN ROSTER BY 11-20-07 (28) NOTE: Players likely to be added to 40-man roster in bold + Can be Six-Year Minor League FA after 2008 season + Matt Craig, 3B + Brian Dopirak, 1B Darin Downs, LHP Sam Fuld, OF + Alberto Garcia, 1B-OF Adam Harben, RHP Kevin Hart, RHP Ryan Harvey, OF Jim Henderson, RHP + Micah Hoffpauir, 1B Grant Johnson, RHP Scott Koerber, LHP Tim Layden, LHP J. R. Mathes, LHP Casey McGehee, 3B-C + Adalberto Mendez, RHP Mario Mercedes, C Leonel Perez, RHP Jose Pina, RHP Tony Richie, C + Alan Rick, C-1B + Joel Santo, RHP Paul Schappert,LHP Chris Shaver, LHP + Jemel Spearman, INF Nate Spears, 2B Chris Walker, OF Randy Wells, RHP ============================= PROJECTED CUBS OFF-SEASON 40-MAN ROSTER underlined are players likely to be dropped from 40-man roster post-2007 bold are players likely to be added to 40-man roster post-2007 * bats or throws left # bats both PITCHERS: Rocky Cherry * Neal Cotts (eligible for salary arbitration – possible non-tender) Ryan Dempster * Scott Eyre (player option for 2008) Sean Gallagher Angel Guzman * Rich Hill Bob Howry * Ted Lilly Carlos Marmol * Sean Marshall Jason Marquis Juan Mateo Roberto Novoa (likely post-'07 DFA) * Will Ohman Billy Petrick * Carmen Pignatiello Mark Prior (eligible for salary arbitration – possible non-tender) * Clay Rapada Jeff Samardzija Michael Wuertz (eligible for salary arbitration) Carlos Zambrano CATCHERS: Henry Blanco # Koyie Hill (out of minor league options - likely post-'07 DFA) Geovany Soto (will be out of minor league options in '08) INFIELDERS : Ronny Cedeno (will be out of minor league options in '08) Mark DeRosa * Mike Fontenot Derrek Lee * Scott Moore Aramis Ramirez Ryan Theriot * Daryle Ward (club option for 2008) OUTFIELDERS: * Buck Coats Jake Fox * Sam Fuld * Jacque Jones Matt Murton # Angel Pagan * Eric Patterson * Felix Pie Alfonso Soriano

Comments

AZ Phil-- Regarding your list of minor-league FAs if not added to the 40-man, I look at that list and note one standout player, Geoff Jones. Hasn't he been tearing it up as a closer in the minors this year? What would be the rationale for cutting him?

Not adding someone to the 40-man roster is not the same thing as cutting a player. You simply cannot add everyone to the 40-man (probably why it is called the 40-man). You have to make tough decisions in 40-man roster moves.

Sheffield/Cornelia — August 17, 2007 @ 11:46 am AZ Phil– Regarding your list of minor-league FAs if not added to the 40-man, I look at that list and note one standout player, Geoff Jones. Hasn’t he been tearing it up as a closer in the minors this year? What would be the rationale for cutting him? ========================== SHEFF: Geoff Jones is a 28-year old AA pitcher who has does great at AA, but got creamed when he got promoted earlier this season (for a while) to AAA. I believe the most-likely candidates to be added to the Cubs 40-man roster post-2007 are Sam Fuld, Kevin Hart, and Grant Johnson, and that's why I believe all three will probably be going to the AFL, to help Hendry decide if any of the three should be protected.

Phil, do you really think they'll let Prior go? Isn't the upside of seeing his recovery progress worth at least some bargaining and performance-laden contract incentives? I also really hope they keep Wood. Maybe its nostalgia, but I would like to see those two as real Cubbies next year, even if its four years too late. Also, Mark DeRosa is a freaking STEAL! Wow.

Jordan — August 17, 2007 @ 12:01 pm Phil, do you really think they’ll let Prior go? Isn’t the upside of seeing his recovery progress worth at least some bargaining and performance-laden contract incentives? I also really hope they keep Wood. Maybe its nostalgia, but I would like to see those two as real Cubbies next year, even if its four years too late. Also, Mark DeRosa is a freaking STEAL! Wow. ============================ > JORDAN: Unless they non-tender him an then re-sign him, the Cubs can't cut Mark Prior more than 20%. And I don't think the Cubs want to commit a minimum of $2.725M (the maximum allowable pay cut) to him next season. Now, if he gets non-tendered, the Cubs can re-sign him for any amount, and would probably offer him a $1M base plus incentives deal, but as a non-tendered FA, Prior would also have the option to look elsewhere (like maybe his hometown San Diego Padres?).

$2.725M is peanuts when you weigh the risk factor involved in Prior making a comeback for another team.

I let Prior go. Bring bag Wood for $3 million with closer incentives if he finishes the year healthy. Jones, Kroeger and Fuld I put on the 40 man.

This is not the right place for this post, but for the stretch run I had a suggestion for a free agent acquisition. How about Hank Aaron? This signing would kill three birds with one stone. The Cubs would have a power righthanded bat off the bench, they would add an outfield arm in the absence of Soriano, and if he happened to hit 8 or 9 bombs it would wipe that stupid smile off Barry Bond's face.

AZ Phil-- Great work, here. What do you predict happens to Josh Kroeger? I know he just got back from an oblique injury. What happens if he continues to rake for the next couple of weeks? Do they put him on the 40 for a possible stretch-run? Would Kroeger replace Floyd and/or Ward's spot on next year's roster (for the major league minimum)? Also-- do you think Sam Fuld replaces Angel Pagan next year (or Felix Pie for that matter)? Also-- is there any way (outside of a trade) do avoid having Scott Eyre around next year for 4 million bucks? you rock, ROMERO

Romero — August 17, 2007 @ 4:46 pm AZ Phil– Great work, here. What do you predict happens to Josh Kroeger? I know he just got back from an oblique injury. What happens if he continues to rake for the next couple of weeks? Do they put him on the 40 for a possible stretch-run? Would Kroeger replace Floyd and/or Ward’s spot on next year’s roster (for the major league minimum)? Also– do you think Sam Fuld replaces Angel Pagan next year (or Felix Pie for that matter)? Also– is there any way (outside of a trade) do avoid having Scott Eyre around next year for 4 million bucks? ===================== ROMERO: I don't think there will be room for Josh Kroeger on the 40-man roster after the season unless the Cubs decide not to exercise their club option to retain Daryle Ward, and even then, the Cubs will need to make their decision on Kroeger before October 15th (when he will be a minor league FA), and the MLB free-agency filing period (when the Cubs would decline their 2008 option on Ward) won't be until after the conclusion of the WS. So if Kroeger isn't added to the Cubs 40-man roster in September, I doubt that he will be. If he's not, he will be a minor league FA, and he could get another minor league deal with an NRI to ST in 2008 from the Cubs, or he also could get that from another club.It would be up to him to decide where his best interests lie. Personally, I think Kroeger could probably do what D. Ward does, but for less money. As for Sam Fuld, I absolutely believe he would (as things stand now) be the best choice for 4th OF in 2008. I would take Fuld over Angel Pagan right now, although I wouldn't jettison Pagan totally, I would keep Pagan as a spare OF and option him to Iowa. Unless Scott Eyre opts to exercise his option to be a FA after this season, the Cubs are probably stuck with him for 2008.

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...