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/Angels @ Cubs; Bullpen Rumors

The Angels show up in Mesa today sending prospect Nick Adenhart to the mound -  Sean Marshall will go for the Cubs. Here is the lineup according to Muskat:

LF Alfonso Soriano, CF Kosuke Fukudome, 1B Lee, RF Micah Hoffpauir, 3B Aramis Ramirez, 2B Mike Fontenot, C Geovany Soto, SS Ryan Theriot, P Sean Marshall.

Other than Hoffpauir in there for Bradley, it's pretty much what we should expect to see on Opening Day.

On the rumor mill, Paul Sullivan says that Chad Fox will head down to Iowa after the Cubs vs. Yankees series which leaves Patton, Gaudin, Guzman and Samardzija for the final two spots in the bullpen. Sullivan says a trade would have to go down by Wednesday and it looks like the Cubs are trying to move Gaudin or Guzman. Also, Lou said, "There will either be a trade, an option.... anything but (putting one of them through) waivers."

So with Fox going to Iowa and Samardzija with options, that leaves three players (Patton, Guzman and Gaudin) with two spots left. The article says the Cubs would like to keep Patton which leaves one spot left for Guzman or Gaudin. Before we get to that, Hendry could try and work a trade with the Rockies, but Patton would first have to go through waivers and be passed on by the other 29 teams. Considering the spring training he's had, that probably wouldn't happen. So it would be best to have Patton make the team, see if he can make it in the big leagues and if he shows he's not ready - but the Cubs would like to keep him - then put him through waivers. Most clubs by that point probably won't take a chance on Patton and then Hendry could work out a deal with the Rockies to try and keep Patton in the Cubs' system.

As for Guzman or Gaudin, if Lou is serious about not putting any of them through waivers, the Cubs are going to have to accept pretty much anything a team offers and chanes are they'll get more for Guzman who doesn't have a $2 million price tag next to his name and possesses a more dynamic pitching repertoire and all-important "upside". Gaudin though has been kinds of awful all spring and for much of last year with the Cubs, so I would think they just might as well release Gaudin (unless they can of course actually get something for him) and raise the beer prices by a dollar to cover whatever they lose. I mean if you're dumb enough to buy an Old Style for $9, you'll buy one at $10.

UPDATE: Bruce Miles makes it clear that the Cubs will not put Patton or Guzman through waivers, preferring to trade Chad Gaudin and that the competition will go through the weekend.

Comments

So if I understand this correctly... OPTION 1: Trade Gaudin, option Samardzija; Guzman and Patton make the team. OPTION 2: Trade Guzman, option Samardzija; Gaudin and Patton make the team. OPTION 3: Release Gaudin, option Samardzia; Guzman and Patton make the team. OPTION 4: Trade Guzman and either trade or release Gaudin; Samardzija and Patton make the team. I suppose they could trade Patton and his Rule 5 rights, but I doubt that's really on the table.

[ ]

In reply to by dc60124

I've never heard from the Cubs about putting Harden on the DL, just our theories around here, but they could buy a week or two by putting him on the DL to start the season and then all three could make the team, so I guess that's OPTION 6.

OPTION 1: Trade Gaudin, option Samardzija; Guzman and Patton make the team.
OPTION 2: Trade Guzman, option Samardzija; Gaudin and Patton make the team.
OPTION 3: Release Gaudin, option Samardzia; Guzman and Patton make the team.
OPTION 4: Trade Guzman and either trade or release Gaudin; Samardzija and Patton make the team. OPTION 5: Trade Patton and his Rule 5 rights, option Samardzija; keep Gaudin and Guzman OPTION 6: DL Rich Harden, option Samardzija; keep Patton, Guzman and Gaudin until they need Harden.

This game is on MLB.com right? The video player won't load and when I go to the audio-video page for MLB it shows three games available but they are grayed out and I can't click on them. I just watched a game a few days ago, so I don't think its my system or account. Anyone else having problems or is there something I am missing?

OK I'm relaxing...this game doesn't count. Repeat after me....it's an exhibition. At least the new mlb at-bat 2009 application, and gameday works well. It's slightly ahead of the mlb.tv feed. It has an audio button but I don't think that will work until the regular season starts. DLee 2nd hit of the day, a dooble after a Fuku F7

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I hope Victornio likes running, because if he sandwiched bewteen Ibanez and Sheff he will be doing alot of it. If its a trade of Gaudin or Guzman that happens, it will be interesting to see who Jimbo gets as he tends to do well with dump off/minor trades like: Sosa for Fontenot Aardsma for Cotts Twalk for Ceda Bynum for Hart Lawton for Berg Monroe for Deeds Anytime you can dump-off a guy for a fringe prospect who logs some MLB service time its a good job.

Spring after spring, season after season (when they square off), the "LA Angels of Anaheim" always pants the Cubs. I thought for sure they would be in the World Series last year. And the year before...It seems as if they are the AL version of the Braves in their heyday.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"Theriot has strong range up the middle and good hands, but he has occasional trouble when he backs up on groundballs instead of attacking them," the author states. "His arm is an asset when turning two or completing a tough play. He is tremendous on any kind of ball hit in the air, both line drives and pop-ups... A favorite of veterans and rookies alike, Theriot brings a steady glove to the Cubs infield." i wonder if this guy will sell me some weed.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

the arm thing was intriguing, everything else seemed fair. His range seems better to his left than his right imo.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

i'm not that confident on his range to his left, myself. the guy throws his body into too much stuff rather than being there with his glove. dive/block/stop/etc...at least he can actually block and knock down, though. ...and the defender at 1st probably saved riot a good 5+ errors (being generous because it was WAY more chances) with riot's arm. his penchant for low throws is getting pretty predictable on whole. and yes, im happy with riot at SS...and he's more than adequate for now...so let's no one go there because i don't think the guy's D is worth applauding...much less celebrating.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I agree with you completely on this, crunch, he throws himself at balls up the middle--and he doesn't throw himself very far. You want range, check out Barney or maybe that Castro fellow. As for popups, I think he has Theriot confused with Fontenot, who is excellent on balls in the air. Lou's first spring training, they tried Theriot in centerfield. That didn't last long: too many balls falling harmlessly to earth. I do think his arm is decent, though. And I have a hunch that Theriot is well above average in positioning himself on defense.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

It wasn't just a spring training experiment. Theriot played 5 games in LF and RF in 2007 in the regular season, and had a 1,000 fielding percentage to boot (5/5)! I was in Milwaukee for a Sunday game in April 2007 with seats in RF and Theriot got the start there. Seemed to do ok.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

no he was pretty terrible, misjudged a lot of baseballs I rememeber...

of course that has nothing to do with his ability to judge pop-ups from the infield.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"seemed to do ok" refers only to the game I was at... Other than that I don't really remember, but I wouldn't expect him to be good at it since he is an infielder.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Since he didn't play the infield, I guess we'll never know how Willie Mays would have handled pop flies.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Huh? How is that relevant? If you don't think that handling balls in the air as an infielder is different than as an outfielder, I am not sure why we should listen to you about anything baseball related.

I would say option 3 has the most chance of actually happening. Teams have the information available...There is no market for him (gaudin). RIP Herman Franks. The '77 Cubs were one of my favorite teams. Everything was great until Bruce Sutter got hurt... Dallas McPherson available for anyone looking for a 3b...

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.