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

When They Pull a Knife, You Pull a Gun

UPDATE 4:56 CST: One of our readers tipped us to this fantastic piece on Rich Harden's mechanics (with video) by Carlos Gomez at The Hardball Times. Can't recommend it enough....


I've had a little time to digest the trade since my initial reaction and a little time to actually write about it now. I don't think there's too many warm-blooded Cubs fan out there who aren't happy about the deal...other than maybe a Chicken Little or two that are never happy with anything the Cubs do.

We all know the risks. Rich Harden has all the durability of a roll of toilet paper caught in a rainstorm. He was called up half way through the 2003 season, proceeded to make 31 starts in 2004 and has battled injuries ever since. The list is too long and complicated for me to dive into, so we'll wait for the good Dr. Hecht to chime in on that side of the trade. Harden's 13 starts this year are his highest total since 2005 and he spent almost a month of this year already on the disabled list. But in those 13 starts, he's gone 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA, 10.75 K/9, 2.97 K:BB and 0.58 HR/9.

He once had a fastball that could hit 100, although he seems to have dialed it back a bit this year. He compliments that fastball with a fantastic change-up and that's pretty much it. He'll occasionally throw a slider in there, but seems to have scrapped it for the most part this season. A quick and dirty comparison with some of the best in the game using career numbers:

Name ERA
ERA+
K/9
K:BB
HR/9
Harden
3.42 127 8.69 2.25
0.68
Santana
3.21
141
9.38 3.76
0.99
Sabathia
3.83
115 7.45 2.54
0.85
Peavy
3.26 121 9.01 3.14
0.91
Oswalt
3.19 137 7.44 3.61
0.77
Zambrano
3.37
132
7.69
1.90
0.72
Webb
3.24
142
7.31
2.46
0.63
Beckett
3.73
116
8.54 2.96 0.96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not bad company to be in and let us not forget that he's still just 26 years old. He signed a four-year extension in 2005 that includes a team option of $7 million for 2009 with no buyout. But, even if the Cubs decline that team option, they would still retain his rights as he won't reach six years of service time until the 2009 season. And of course, there's little chance they wouldn't pick up the option unless his arm literally blows up this year.

The "throw-in" of Chad Gaudin though is what makes this deal go from good to great. I'll let Buster Olney take it (sidebar):

On Sunday evening -- the same night when word broke that the Brewers had worked out a deal for CC Sabathia -- Hendry indicated to Beane for the first time that he would make Gallagher available in a Harden deal, but it would create a problem: If Gallagher was traded, the Cubs wouldn't have the kind of depth they needed to deal with an injury.

"Let me call you back," Beane said. Beane had an idea. He could fill Hendry's need for depth by adding veteran swingman Chad Gaudin in the trade. He phoned Hendry back on Monday night with the suggestion. "That could work," Hendry said, and the two general managers began piecing together other parts of the trade.
Okay, Gaudin isn't special and his stuff isn't nearly as electric as Sean Gallagher, but he is just 25 years old. His Rotoworld page seems to indicate he'll be eligible for free agency in 2011, but he entered 2008 with 3.044 (3 years and 44 days) of service time, which by my calculations makes him eligible to be a free agent after 2010. Either way, the Cubs have his rights for a few years. And for 2008, which after all is what this trade is all about, he's a good bet to equal or surpass the outputs of Gallagher or Sean Marshall. He'll start his Cubs career in the bullpen, but adds another arm that can move to the rotation if needed this year and can compete for a rotation job in subsequent years.

The Cubs didn't get off cheap though. Sean Gallagher had the makings of a top of the rotation starter. Maybe not quite ace material, but someone who could put together a couple of All-Star seasons. At just age 22, he was already getting major league hitters to look silly this season, albeit with all the consistency you'd expect of a 22-year old. Matt Murton and Eric Patterson were decent players with no place on the 2008 team and no place on the 2009 team either. I'm not sure where Patterson will fit in with the A's right now, other than to make Mark Ellis possibly available. Murton though should get a shot at left field as long as Frank Thomas is on the disabled list. Jack Cust will likely move back to a full-time DH I expect and then it'll be between Murton and Emil Brown. Josh Donaldson was the supplemental pick we received for Juan Pierre in the 2007 draft and someone our very own Arizona Phil ranked as the number one Cubs prospect to start the year. He struggled out of the gate this season in Peoria, but had started to turn things around ia bit in June. So now that Juan Pierre for Ricky Nolasco, Sergio Mitre and Reynel Pinto deal has evolved to Ricky Nolasco, Sergio Mitre, Reynel Pinto, Eric Patterson, Matt Murton, Sean Gallagher for Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin - phew, so much better!

It's the proverbial win-win trade scenario for the Cubs. The current starting staff already had the best ERA in the NL and they just added someone who would top all of them in that category. And just in case Harden does go down, the Cubs got his likely replacement in Chad Gaudin in the same deal. Yeah, they did lose some good players, some of them may even end up being great players, but none that were going to provide the impact and game-changing abilities that Rich Harden can in 2008.

Comments

While you always hate to see potential stars get traded away, gotta love the club's aggressiveness here in going for the whole enchilada. Get ready for Sutcliffe II - this time, it's personal!

The list is too long and complicated for me to dive into, so we'll wait for the good Dr. Hecht to chime in on that side of the trade. I swear to God, if his analysis involves "genetic looseness" I'll scream.

The way I look at it: Sabathia is Milwaukee's Zambrano, Harden is our Sheets. Gaudin doesn't make this a great deal. He makes this a safe deal. I won't be surprised if in the near future Gallagher is an Ace. I will be surprised if in the near future Harden is not on the DL. So, here's hoping he's done with DL this year, our Pennant Year. If Harden stays healthy I think we win it all.

"Okay, Gaudin isn't special and his stuff isn't nearly as electric as Sean Gallagher, but he is just 28 years old." Gaudin is actually only 25. Born in March of '83.

Carlos Zambrano's health tips for Rich Harden: * Eat your bananas * Dictate your email * Don't break bats over your knee * Don't punch random items in the dugout * Don't punch thick-headed catchers ... ?

I don't know - Gallagher could be a real star a few years down the road. Most of the scouts agreed that his stuff was "electric," and considering the kid's only 22, you'd have to assume that there's at least an equal chance he's going to be quite good soon.

Chad: Top of the rotation starter? Gallagher will never be more than a 3 on a good team. No way, bro. He's real solid. I wouldn't be surprised to see Gallagher represent Oakland on the 2010 American League All-star team.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

be interesting to see what gallagher does now that's he's not working with rothschild. roths has been cruicial in gallagher's development and mechanics. he really tightened up his weird/open motion and its led to a more controlled gallagher. he really helped him develop his changeup/fastball location...taking those raw tools and reigning them in. dont think he ever needed help with his curve...its part of why he was so damn promising. he had the fastball tools...he had a developing changeup, but he already had a solid secondary with his curve. he's not done developing, but it'll be interesting to see what oakland's coaches will do with him. control of his fastball is pretty key. he's come a long way from the kid that just thought he could throw everything past everyone and destroy people's brains with his curve making them swing at something they couldn't hit.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

roths has done a lot of work with him since 05 trying to get him do a ton of things...last spring (07) the focus was control. it doesnt show at all in his 04 numbers...or 05 numbers, really...but he was REALLY wide open with his motion and just relied on blowing everything past everyone. yes, i know its "weird" to think of a 90-93mph pitcher "blowing stuff by" guys, but we are talking about rookie league and A-ball here...and that's great stuff, especially if you already come pre-equiped with a curve. he didnt have much of a future just doing that, though...well, not a stable one. command has always been a struggle for gallagher no matter what the numbers show.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

Dated 10/13/2007 When you talk about the things you’d been working on, what all does that entail aside from the development your slider? SEAN GALLAGHER: As of right now, I’m actually throwing both of my breaking pitches. I’m back to throwing my curveball again. We decided I should probably keep my curveball instead of getting rid of it for now. I think I pretty much have those two pitches down; it’s just working on the mechanical aspect of everything that we were working on in Chicago with Larry (Rothschild). How rusty, per se, was your curveball once you started throwing it again? SEAN GALLAGHER: It was definitely a little rusty. I took probably two and a half weeks off, not throwing it at all and just going with the slider. But the curveball has been my pitch for a long time, so I think it’ll pick up again really quickly. I’ve still got it. Are you pleased with the development of the slider? SEAN GALLAGHER: It’s definitely come a long way since I first started throwing it. When I first started throwing it, it had a big, loopy, almost curveball-like break to it. Now it's actually smaller and tighter. What reason did the Cubs give you when they asked you to start throwing a slider and put your curveball on the shelf? SEAN GALLAGHER: I think it was more (to develop) a pitch that could feed off my fastball in the big leagues instead of my curveball, which has a tendency to change my arm slot. They want me to be able to have a pitch that comes out of my arm slot the same and look like my fastball until the last second.

While I don't believe Beane's a genius regarding talent, I think he knows a good pitching prospect when he sees one (his track record supports that contention) - if what Hendry has been telling us is true, Beane would not discuss Harden unless Gallagher was in the mix. So has Beane been snookered, all of a sudden? I don't think so, and it would be foolhardy to suggest otherwise at this time. Give the man some credit, he's earned it.

So any word on when Harden will pitch? Tomorrow? He last pitched Sunday.

[ ]

In reply to by garsky

Yesterday they were saying Harden would start either Friday or Saturday.

Anybody else catch Hendry's interview on XM with Dibs. Said he'd been talking with Oakland about Harden for 2-3 weeks but Beane was insisting on Gallagher. Once Hendry explained to Beane that Gallagher was going to be the Cubs key middle/long relief guy that Beane then brought Gaudin into the mix to fill that role. From there the details worked themselves out rather quick. Also said that Cub's were trying for CC but simply didn't have the corner outfielder/infielder prospect that would be MLB ready next season.

[ ]

In reply to by Sonicwind75

Wonder if Matt Wieters, had the Cubs pulled the trigger on him instead of Josh Vitters in last year's draft, would have done the trick for CC? Wieters is a Boras guy -- ended up with a $6 million signing bonus. Does he have a no-trade clause in his contract with the Orioles? Don't recall how much Vitters was signed for.

Even if Harden were to break down, he'd probably could be brought back as a reliever. The A's did that last year and had very good early results. He eventually went back to the DL, but he seems to be healthier this year. Either way, it's a very good deal for the Cubs. I'm going to miss Gallagher; I've been one of his biggest fans since he got drafted and I saw some Jake Peavy flashes during his brief major league Cubs career. However, you can't argue with getting Harden and Gaudin at that very low price. Here's to a stellar Cubs career for Rich Harden. Hear hear!

The best part about dealing with Oakland in this trade, if Gallagher does turn into a top shelf starting pitcher in a couple of years, the Cubs can always trade again to get him back or sign him when Oakland lets him go as a free agent!

the tribune cubs poll...often a source of utter stupidity and "off-the-cuff casual fan reaction" voting got something along the lines i can agree with... Cubs get Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from Oakland, give up Matt Murton, Eric Patterson, Sean Gallagher and minor leaguer Josh Donaldson. You like the deal? Absolutely -- They filled a huge need and didn't give up much (10845 responses) 83.3% --- don't agree with the "didnt give up much" but like most cubs polls they tend to throw in a uselessly polarizing statment along with their option to pick that may or may not fully mean what you vote for...but it's the "best" one that fits.

on XM this afternoon, someone who covers the A's said that the "makeup" issues with Harden came from the end of last year when he was rehabbing from his shoulder strain problems and the A's wanted him to come off the DL sometime in september (supposedly on their end to showcase him for an offseason trade) and Harden didn't want to because the A's were out of contention and he didn't want to have a season end setback. Basically he was able to pitch 2-3 weeks in April and 2 weeks in June/July. That was his entire 2007 season in a nutshell. Not sure what to make of this but it sounded like the A's would have parted with Harden as soon as his trade value was sufficient to make a reasonable deal and they were hoping it was going to be last offseason moving both Haren and Harden. Without Harden pitching at seasons end, they had to wait until mid-season this year. Most of Harden's 2007 injury issues were called a strained right shoulder. I haven't gotten much research in yet but he didn't have a rotator cuff tear diagnosed and a strain indicates a muscle injury. He missed the season from 4-23-07 to 6-22-07 (2 months), then went back on the DL for the same problem two weeks later, ultimately being transferred to the 60 day DL on 8-22-07 which ended his season. I suspect it was just before the end of August when he and Billy Beane may have disagreed upon trying for a return in September, leading to move him to the 60 day DL. It's hard sorting out these pieces in such a delayed manner though. Here's Harden's 2007 DL data: October 08, 2007 Removed from 60-day DL August 22, 2007 Transferred to 60-day DL July 12, 2007 Placed on 15-day DL (Strained right shoulder) July 12, 2007 Placed on 15-day DL (Strained right shoulder) June 22, 2007 Recalled from minors rehab June 22, 2007 Removed from 15-day DL June 20, 2007 Sent to minors for rehabilitation April 23, 2007 Placed on 15-day DL (Right shoulder strain)

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.