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 121 Thread / Cardinals @ Cubs (1 of 4)

Game Chat Braden Looper vs. Rich Hill Lineups:
Eckstein SS Theriot SS
Ludwick LF Jones CF
Pujols 1B Lee 1B
Encarnacion RF Ramirez 3B
Rolen 3B Ward RF
Edmonds CF Murton LF
Molina C Fontenot 2B
Looper P Kendall C
Ryan 2B Hill P

Comments

New Orleans Saints - Soft focus story thwarted by Bears. Rick Ankiel -Soft focus story ... Come on Cubs, do your part.Nevermind about the Colts. We need the wins, dammit.

Wouldn't you want the 5-5 guy in your lineup? Isn't having the high PPA guy in the 2 hole advantageous? Wouldn't you want a RF'er that can run after a ball without his Achilles exploding?

Id much rather have Pie out in center and Jones in right instead of Ward. Ward is one of the slowest players ive seen in a long time

At least Murton hit the ball out of the damned infield. Only 3rd time that's happened today.

Hendry was just on XM Home Plate. I just caught a few seconds of it, but basically he talked about having a balance of high paid guys and young kids, mentioned how Theriot was having a great year, and at least indicated that it would be someone unlikely that he'll sign another big name in the next year.

JOCK!

So.... Jock somehow gave DLee the suck... and recieved all his greatness in return.... Now i get it...

Did Lee even have a chance to score on the 2B by Ward? I can't watch at work. Send 'em anyway!

If Fontenot is going to keep wearing #17, he's has to realize he needs to bang a fat chick to get out of a hitting slump.

Hey Tipsy, I think my favorite item on there is "The Riot" thong underwear. lol.

That was a fast inning... I was watching on Yahoo! Sports, it said Mid 8th, refreshed, then said Top of 9th. I would just assume Yahoo! was just behind, but I know how the Cub's lineup likes 3-pitch innings.

Did Lee even have a chance to score on the 2B by Ward? No... the double was just into the bullpen. Lee would have been thrown out if he tried to score.

Oops... it told me that the comment didn't go through, because I was posting too quickly. I guess I suck more than Howry, Dempster, and Jock.

Feel like sparring, stat guy? Since you brought it up... It's nearing the trade deadline, you have the opportunity to pick up a guy with this line: .227/.288/.319, but has a decent career line and 25 HR power. What do you do? This is the biggest problem with stats. It doesn't tell you what will happen... only what has happened. Obviously, the numbers are Jacque Jones in early July. August Jacque: .439/.475/.702 The funny & ironic part is the Cub's tried to trade him and couldn't.

Well, Howry did suck, he just got lucky. The outfielder had Ward's double into the left field bullpen before Lee was at third. Nice game Jacque. You're off my shit list (until the playoffs).

I didn't even hit 'Post your comment' twice, though I did post simultaneously on another thread.

This is the biggest problem with stats. It doesn’t tell you what will happen… only what has happened. Yeah I feel like sparring. I get to choose one player to hit three home runs in the Cubs game tomorrow, I am going to go with Pujols. You get to go with Theriot. The bet is $1 million. Are we on? All those home runs that Pujols has hit over the last seven years mean nothing, they're just stats. Theriot will bat leadoff so he will probably get more PA's, so you should probably give me odds.

Rynox... not sure what you really want to "spar" about. Jock Jones has been excellent this month, and very, very good since the all-star break. Did have he have a terrible first half? No question. Were there other players available that could possible out-produce him? We don't really know. And we really don't know what it would have cost either. And if you want to argue "stats" - we can do that to. You are right that stats only tell us about what has occurred in the past, but they are also good predictors of the future. Players go through slumps, even extended ones. But they almost always follow the old cliche - "the reversion to the mean." Jock's career line: .280/.329/.456 Jock's current line: .276/.336/.401 Those are pretty close to each other.

Now THAT was a satisfying win. I took a 3-hour lunch to watch that game, and it was worth it. I am still worried about Lee. He's pissed about half the strikes called on him and seems unable to make good contact with pitches on the outside corner (which is the only place they pitch him).

Go Cubs! Tied for first! Go Milwaukee! Go Milwaukee?!?! Not sure about you... but I am rooting for the Reds today.

I caught one of Lee's at bats when he took two strikes, and Santo said Lee is not seeing the ball well and start taking the ball to right. Which is what I was saying the pitches that he has been taking have not been pitchers pitches, just pitches that the 2005 Dlee would have crushed.

Not sure why Lee can't turn on an inside pitch, even slightly inside. Brenly was talking about it briefly the other day, talking about Lee needing to get his hips moving early, but he didn't seem to want to say too much. I don't think Brenly is as free with advice to hitters and pitchers as Santo is. I have some advice for the journalists who consider their job mainly to write up their notes after Piniella's postgame briefing. Go interview Gerald Perry. Ask him what's up with Lee and pulling the ball. Maybe we'll learn something about Lee, and also about Perry.

Based on Jacque's stats and only his stats up until July you would have to conclude that he is in decline. Sometimes players regress/progress to the mean, sometimes they don't. My point is stats tell us very little about what *will* happen. To say they are a good predictor of the future, well, that's only true sometimes.

My point is stats tell us very little about what *will* happen. But this is simply not true. Baseball stats have been shown over and over and over again to be a very good predictor of future success. It is not a guarantee, but it is a good predictor.

The Real Neal: Yeah I feel like sparring. I get to choose one player to hit three home runs in the Cubs game tomorrow, I am going to go with Pujols. You get to go with Theriot. The bet is $1 million. Are we on? All those home runs that Pujols has hit over the last seven years mean nothing, they’re just stats. Theriot will bat leadoff so he will probably get more PA’s, so you should probably give me odds. Ok... I did not say all players will perform equally, that's retarded. I could tell you Pujols will hit more home runs than Theriot just by watching the guys play the game. Try again. Here's a real one for you, though, you're managing a team at Comerica, you need a first baseman and you have two choices Prince Fielder or Adrian Gonzalez. Believe it or not, I pick Adrian Gonzalez. He's built more like a baseball player, in my opinion. Who do you pick and why?

Meaningful game with important ramifications and gratifying outcome in mid August- check. Beating the Cardinals - check Z re-signed - check. Friday night. - priceless.

But seriously... not really sure why we are having this discussion. I just made a smart ass comment about Jock sucking because people still say he sucks. Even today someone was disappointed that he didn't get hurt yesterday. Jock and A-Ram are in a neck and neck race for the Cubs 2nd half MVP, or at least the 2nd half best hitter.

He’s built more like a baseball player, in my opinion. Who do you pick and why? I could care less about how someone is "built." I want someone who can play. You probably wouldn't want Tony Gwynn, Kirby Puckett, Babe Ruth, or others on your team either, would you?

A good hitter gets a hit 30% of the time, a bad hitter gets a hit 25% of the time....a difference of 5%. Basically, in either scenario, there is a 65-70% chance of not getting a hit. I believe Stats in baseball are very useful in making predictions over a long period of time. But on any individual given circumstance, stats aren't very useful in my opinion...especially in baseball where great players make an out 60% of the time.

get Craig Monroe on this team RIGHT NOW! No joke. As the right handed pinch hitter off the bench. When Sori comes back, Foxy goes back to AAA.

Foxy probably goes back on Sunday when Floyd comes back. Monroe would likely take Murton's spot if he was brought in.

Today was a double Cub shocker for me. 1st, Jim Hendry TOTALLY gives me an unbelievable start of my weekend with Z's signing (the ONLY desireable FA who is under 30 in the 2008 market). Next, surrounded by fucking Cardinal fans (where do they get their tickets here?), the Cubs hang on in a great pitcher's duel, in spite of Rich Hill's only mistake. Its still Friday! So - now what excuse will Z have on Sunday night? I think he's due to step up in this series. IF we can take 3 of 4, it will mean a great deal now. 1st Place Cubs. Even if only for a few more hours, sounds damn nice!

222/264/373 this year for Monroe.... 94 K's/20 BB's been awful all year except May, but at least he's hit lefties 302/317/542 277/321/501 for his career Cubs probably could have had him by now if they wanted.

fine. With Floyd back you have two situations: 1. Floyd starts most games in right and Murton is our right hander off the bench (very likely) 2. Murton continues to start and both Floyd and Ward are repetitive left handed bats off the bench (not very likely) SO... Given that most would agree that scenario 1 is more likely and that most would agree that Murton needs to play every day (or at least and entire game to be successful) then Murton needs to go back down. The reason being is that late in a game, if we need a righthanded option off the bench to pinch hit, I want a veteran and not Matt Murton. begin flaming in... 3... 2... 1... FLAME ON!

Monroe has played 70 games in center in his career? Anyone know about his D? Maybe instead of Pie & Pagan?

in two weeks there will be nowhere to send Murton... I'm not against bringing Monroe in, plus we'll certainly carry an extra bat in the playoffs if we're so lucky. But if the Cubs passed on Wily Mo who I definitely know can handle CF, doesn't seem like a move they're interested in.

and rob since he's played 8 games in center last year and 33 the year before it sounds like he could play center if he had to. In other words, Jack plays center everyday for the most part.

well JJ came up as a CF'er, he only became a RF'er because of Torii. Nonetheless, I'm intrigued a bit and he was rumored earlier as a Cub target. We have someone who can throw 100 lying around or a scrappy middle infielder? Those usually get Dombrowski's attention... Ohman for Monroe actually makes a lot of sense except I wouldn't want to give up that much. Probably just wait out the 10 days.

No where to send him in two weeks? Even better. Then Murton can be the right handed platoon player while monroe is there as my right handed PH off the bench that I have wanted on this team for...well...all year really. (and Lou has too)

did we get the final details on Z's deal? So far i've heard no-trade clause, and a 6th yr player option for $19.5 million? Any ideas on the breakout or incentives?

found it on cubs.com. 6th year is a vesting option that will turn into a player option if it vests. Included in the $91.5 million figure is a $5 million signing bonus. In order for the option year to vest, Zambrano has to finish in first or second place in the Cy Young voting in the fourth year of the contract (2011) or finish 1-2-3-4 in the Cy Young voting in the fifth year of the contract. If either situation happens, the option kicks in and Zambrano then has the choice as to whether he wants to accept or reject the sixth year. There also is a stipulation that he has to be healthy after the fifth year.

I wouldn't mind seeing Monroe, but there are reasons that a team in contention gets rid of a seemingly useful guy. If he's still available in 2 weeks when rosters expand that would be a good fit as an extra bat.

#24 Its funny that you used Jock Jones as an example against statheads. If you would open up your mind a bit for about 2 seconds and go read some SABR, or more stat orientated blogs, many people on them were calling for a big second half for Jones. So I fail to see your point. There are legitimate counter-arguments out there that can be made against the SABR guys, but you failed miserably in your attempt. Anyway.........Cubbies win!!!!....First place feels good, even if it is a bit crowded at the moment. I'm going to the game tomorrow with 2 cardinals fans; PLEASE win tomorrow. I honestly don't know where Cardinals fan ever got the reputation of "best fans in the world". I personally can't stand talking baseball with the Cardinal fans I know.

I'm pro-Monroe. He's having a career-worst year in both average and power so one can buy low. He can play adequately in both left and right. For the little it would cost at this point it's a good thought.

no stat would predict or show the power outtage jones is having. his stats arent making him hit like he is.

jones with 3 of his 5 homers in august...that's at least a move in the right direction fwiw...he's been clipping his doubles with more authority lately, too.

fontenot 23 for 112 (.205) with a sub-.200 ob%. 2 doubles, 1 triple, 0 hr. love is over. seriously, though...not useless and no use sending him down just to bring him back up in sept. be nice if he can find a little something more in that bat.

that's july/august (to date) totals, btw...amazing his june was .397/.422 avg/ob% with 7 doubles, 3 triples, and 3 HR.

"be nice if he can find a little something more in that bat." I was there today and he hit the ball well twice. Once, the LF made a very nice play on a sinking liner. I have said this before, but everytime I think he is turning into a pumpkin, he goes on a little streak. Go figure...

and Fielder hits into a Doubleplay, end of 1st interesting that the former top of the Brewer order, Hart/Hardy are now hitting 7/8. I think Dusty sent in the Brewer lineup tonight.

I have said this before, but everytime I think he is turning into a pumpkin ----- mmmm, pumpkin pie...

mmmm, pumpkin pie… ------------------ Waffle run off ....mmmmmmmmm

I would also be in favor of adding Monroe. He is a solid defender and a power bat. He'd be a better option in Right vs. Righties than Floyd (Monroe's D makes up for whatever the hitting gap is bewteen them) and could play CF vs. LHP have Derosa in RF and Cedeno playing 2b vs the southpaws the rest of the month and when rosters expand have Fox play RF.

Actually if Soriano's back in September you would have in left with Murton facing southpaws then. I know the Pirates allegdly wanted Monroe in the Jack Wilson talks before the deadline so the Tigers could send him there in a Wilson and pit pen guy for Monroe and pitching prospect trade. Monroe passed through waivers and Hendry said this morning on Waddle's show that he claimed about 11 guys so I doubt he wants him.

Yeah..we'd better hurry to bench Murton, who is hitting .313/.365/.542 in August, with 3 HR, and 7 RBIs...great.Let's get Floyd's .382 slugging in there as quickly as possible...yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoo-Hoo!!!!!

Griffey just hit a little league home run on a chopper to third. 2 errors on the play. 6-1 Reds.

Wow... talk about death spiral. Milwaukee has only won 4 games so far this month. And they are trying to lose the game tonight, too. Cub's have only won 6 games so far this month (that includes today's win... *sigh*) Cards have won 8. What an elite group... lol

Chad, I would agree with you I don't want Murton coming off the bench to PH, because he sucks in that role. Start or bust.

Jared Burton pitched out of a mess made by Arroyo and Bill Bray. Had Braun and Jenkins had the plate as the tying run and they both flew out. Going to the 9th. Still 6-3.

Thanks Wes - shoulda refreshed before posting. What's funnier than a gross donger? A pooholes donger?

Dunn to the third deck. Maybe the farthest homer I've seen in that ballpark. 8-3.

Webb's streak at 42 innings.... take him 3 more starts to break the record...

But, I suppose they deserve it, the way they have been playing lately. The Cards really haven't been playing very well. They are 8-8 in August. People seem to be really excited that they one 7 of their last 8 (before today), but everyone forgets that right before that they lost 6 of 7.

Wrong thead, but -- Hendry has his plusses and minuses, but he keeps those he wants to keep. Cubs have ponied up serious $$ for Lee, Ramirez, Wood (back in the day) and now Z. Apologies for using "Wood" and "Z" in the same sentence.

#98 brandon webb hopefully has 9 more scorless innings in him next week vs. brewers,if i figure right the cubs should be lucky and not face him.

Look out below, here come the Brewers. WHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could be a fun weekend: Reyes (2-11) v. Marshall (5-6) Wells (6-13) v. Zambrano (14-9) Pineiro (3-2) v. Lilly (13-5) Today's win was very key to a theoretic series win. Of course, I that's what I thought about the last Dbacks series... if I recall, the only game the Cub's won was the game v. Webb. Crazy sport.

433. that is a great moment. i am envious. i love experienced knowledge like that.

"he said quietly, almost to himself, “He is going to hit a home run here, he has him measured nicely.” And he then loosened his white belt holding up his cut off jean shorts and Spezioed himself in front of every one.

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.