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

Gameday Open Thread/White Sox @ Cubs

The Cubs finish their Vegas tour with Aaron Heilman taking the mound. The game is on WGN television and WSCR radio and on MLB.com as well.

Comments

#33 Re: Afternoon Delight Submitted by The Joe on Thu, 03/05/2009 - 2:32pm. Uh oh. Juan Pierre is available. __________________________ Speed never slumps.

every year it's more and more ST games earlier and earlier... great 2 days of games on WGN... also...THERE'S MONSTERS OUT THERE KILLING OUR PEOPLE!!!!

Murton (Colorado) and Pagan (NYM) are tearing it up so far in ST! Maybe we can get one of them back! NOT!!

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090305&content_id=39…
"It just might be, when it's all said and done, we might have to have an extra infielder that can play first and third," said Piniella, following his team's 4-3 loss to the White Sox. "I'll tell you why. "Assuming that we stay the way we are, all of a sudden, we need to pinch-hit and we've got Miles or Fontenot or Theriot sitting on the bench. Once I use them, I've got no more infielders. We're done. And these kids here are our nice options to send up late in the ballgame because they're athletic, they can hit, they can run. But, boy, once you make a move, we don't have any more infielders."
The (DeRosa) Cubs (DeRosa) are (DeRosa) fucking (DeRosa) geniuses.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Ummmm... Miles can't play in the OF? Seriously, if Lou absolutely has to carry a guy like Gathright for speed/PR/late inning defense, then the reality is that he is going to have to go with 14 position players and only 11 pitchers (rather than 12), because he does need someone capable to back up Aramis if he gets hurt. If he can find another guy like DeRosa who can play 3B/OF, which I think we would have signed by now (or not traded DeRosa), then he would be able to carry 12 pitchers. FWIW, I don't understand the logic of trading Pie and keeping Gathright, since they would fill basically the same role and Pie is 3 years younger with more upside. I know he is out of options, so the only thing I can think is that Hendry wanted to trade him somewhere he thought Felix might be able to start or play regularly. At least Hendry traded most of these guys to AL teams, so they won't come back to bite us too much!

Think I've finally got 2K9 to a playable state. It doesn't play great, but it plays good enough for me considering how nice the other stuff about the game is. I've had like 4 or 5 good games in a row without a whole bunch of stupid shit happening. Apparently there's a fix coming for the rest of the crap that I can't fix (AI never taking a strike, stupid glitch with the first baseman not standing on the base, etc). Took some work, but at the point that I've got it, I'd recommend it to anybody else. Figured I'd say something about it since I pretty much drove the bus over it a couple days ago. Lots of positive stuff about the game that nobody's talking about because of the problems.

Marshall and Heilman slot 4/5 in the rotation, Marmol to closer, Gregg in the 8th inning and Harden as the highest-paid "fireman" since DeNiro made "Backdraft." Or flip Marmol and Harden if Richie Rich needs a more-structured timetable for warming up. Discuss?

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Harden 5th (skipping the 5th starter whenever possible) Masrh/Heil 4th, Gregg closer, Marmolade 8th/whenever needed to get out a jam, DJ Jazzy Jeff as the 3rd guy out of the pen. Z Dump Lillyhammer Marsh/Heilman Harden CL: Gregg SU: Marmol Long: Marsh (not 4th starter) LOOGY: Cotts Then in order out of the pen: Heil (if he's not 4th starter) Samninja Guadin Gooz/Vizciano/Hart/Whoever else they keep in the pen

[ ]

In reply to by CPH2133

Ignoring the Marmol/Gregg debate for a moment, you essentially say Marshall and Heilman will be the 4th/5th anyways once Harden makes his twice-annual trip to the DL. So why not set it up that way to start with, and have a volatile but extremely talented pitcher in the 'pen who strikes out a ton of dude and can never make it past 6 innings as a starter anyways?

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

I just remember reading somewhere that Harden takes forever to warm up, which isn't ideal for being in the pen. Marsh/Heil if they're in the pen will be able to switch to the rotation within 10 days (perhaps an emergency Ryan O'Malley start) to allow them to stretch out for their upcoming start. I just don't see the point in basically eliminating any chance Harden has at starting. If he's healthy he's one of the best. Hope for some health but have some backup if need be.

[ ]

In reply to by CPH2133

That's why I thought maybe in a defined role like closer - more of a structured time to warm up. Yes, he has a brilliant ERA and K/9, but if he can almost never pitch into the 7th, can we really call him one of the best? If he constantly has to be skipped to stay healthy and still gets hurt all the time, is he really one of the best? OK I'm done ragging. Just sayin', this hasn't really been discussed and at least at first glance seems to make some sense.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Eh, even if he only gives you 6 full innings at 3.00 ERA, I'm all for it. Some guys are able to consistently go into the 7th, 8th because their arms are just built like that, while others arms just can't. But bottom line is 6 innings at 3.0 ERA ball is better then someone giving 7 of 4.00 ERA. Even if he were to succeed as a closer, I still say he's only marginally better than Gregg/Marmol (some may say not even better than Marmol) but he's significantly better than Heilman/Marshall

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

So why not set it up that way to start with, and have a volatile but extremely talented pitcher in the 'pen who strikes out a ton of dude and can never make it past 6 innings as a starter anyways? Well.. maybe because Harden is twice the pitcher that either Marshall or Heilman are. And further, I would be willing to bet that it will be the very rare start where Marshall or Heilman make it past six innings.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Harden went into the 7th 4 times in 13 starts for the Cubs last year; Marshall once in seven starts. Given Marshall the chance to hold a rotation spot and not be a swingman, I would predict a better performance. Harden is twice the pitcher, sure ... but if it's only for half the innings, then that negates much of his positive.

SunTimes via Rotoworld http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?spo…
Cubs manager Lou Piniella said despite Mike Fontenot's impressive 2008, he hasn't settled on him as the everyday second baseman. Fontenot's 2008 line: .305/.395/.514 in 243 at-bats. "They're good numbers, aren't they?" Piniella said. "I'm not saying we won't [make Fontenot the every-day second baseman]. At the same time, when we rest [Aramis] Ramirez, I need somebody that I can put over there. You don't really want to be moving your regulars around too much." Sacrificing that kind of production at second base for more options at third base is a poor decision. Chances are, Piniella knows this, and Fontenot's playing time will reflect it. Mar. 6 - 10:05 am et Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Wherefore art thou, Mark DeRo?

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

Not that I have a problem with moving DeRosa, I'd like him to be on the team still, but that isn't what I'm going to ramble about. If the argument was that the Cubs needed to shed some cap room (I believe DeRo was on the books for about 6 M this season), I'm okay with that. But they paid Miles 2.2 M and for the extra 2.8 (especially for the cubs) isn't an issue. The comparison between the two isn't even close. Now if they felt DeRo couldn't match those numbers from last year, and actually sold HIGH for once, okay. But considering the track record I don't see that being the case. And if they didn't think they could sign him to an extension after this season at a reasonable amount, he would have almost certainly been a Type A FA (like Hudson was this season) and they would have gotten comparable talent with that (worst case scenario) sandwich pick then they did now. Being an Indians fan as well, the 3 they gave up weren't really in their long-tern big picture plans. I could have the whole type A thing wrong, I could be talking out of my ass, i don't know. I just don't accept the "we needed to cut salary" argument. 6 M for a guy who can play 2B, 3B, RF and hit like he does, is a steal.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

To me, it feels like a lot of the early offseason Cubs moves (trading DeRosa to shed salary and get some young pitching, signing Miles, trading for G. Olson) were done to set up a possible Jake Peavy deal. I think once it became apparent that the Peavy trade wasn't going to happen (maybe SD wanted more in return after the Winter Meetings, or different players, whatever), then the Cubs started getting rid of guys they were planning on using to acquire Peavy (Olson, Cedeno, Pie, Hill, etc.) and went to plan B, which was to acquire Heilman and get more starter depth. IMO, trading DeRosa so you could set things up to get Peavy makes a lot of sense. After the fact, with no Peavy and the prospect of Miles as our primary back-up IF, trading DeRo doesn't relly make a lot of sense. His salary isn't exorbitant and his abilities to play 3B/OF allow you to carry an extra pitcher if needed. I think Hendry believed he could get the Peavy deal done at the time DeRo was traded, and it blew up in his face...

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.