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

Cubs Set Final Roster

The Cubs and Jim Hendry cost themselves $1.6 million today by releasing Chad Gaudin(assuming another team signs him). They also optioned Jeff Samardzija to Iowa and the 25-man roster is set. Angel Guzman and David Patton make the team and the Cubs will start with these 25.

Catchers - Soto, K. Hill

1st Base - D. Lee, M. Hoffpauir

2nd Base - M. Fontenot, A. Miles

Shortstop - R. Theriot

Third Base - A. Ramirez

Outfield - A. Soriano, K. Fukudome, R. Johnson, M. Bradley, J. Gathright

Starting Pitchers - C. Zambrano, R. Dempster, T. Lilly, R. Harden, S. Marshall

Relief Pitchers - K. Gregg, C. Marmol, A. Heilman, L. Vizcaino, N. Cotts, A. Guzman, D. Patton

Be sure to enter our '09 contest before first pitch on Monday.

Comments

The milb rosters should've been finalized this morning......just waiting for AZPhil or the Cubs organization to post the rosters.

Well it's not our money, but wouldn't the Cubs have saved that $1.6 mil if they had decided last Wednesday that Gaudin wasn't going to make the team? I believe that his contract wasn't guaranteed until that date, like all arbitration players. Not often a player goes through arbitration then gets cut, but it has happened (Todd Walker last year). But I guess we figured that a) we needed the extra few days to decide, and that b) some other team would think Gaudin was worth the money. Obviously all the scouts see what we have seen: Ever since that encounter with the dumpster last year (?), he's been terrible.

[ ]

In reply to by Q-Ball

That's an expensive mistake. I highly doubt they thought a couple extra days to decide was worth the $1.6 mil. That's completely irresponsible imo. I think Hendry has done alright overall, too, but this was a very stupid thing to do. 1.6 million is what, 10% of last year's Marlin's payroll?

Couldn't they have put Gaudin on the DL and let me him see if he could workout his issues during a AAA rehab stint before they wasted 1.6 million on him? I wonder if Jimbo would do have done the deal with Oakland know if he would have known how Gaudin and Harden would have pitched from about August of last year until now.

[ ]

In reply to by Chifan

Or the Cubs could have DL'd Harden and carried Gaudin as a mop-up reliever until he righted himself or gave them a reason to put him on the DL. Either scenario makes more sense than carrying an injured/ineffective Harden and getting nothing but a bill for Gaudin.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

You're not allowed to put players on the DL who aren't injured. Yes it can be done, but it needs the player's consent. Gaudin could see the writing on the wall with the Cubs. Now he has a chance to find a starter's gig with another (bad) team. It could be that Harden was just taking it easy in his final spring start - not wanting to ratchet it up and get hurt in a game that doesn't count. The Cubs may have though that the would find a taker for Gaudin (Rockies?), which didn't materialize, which caused him to be released.

Ugh. For the money spent/wasted on Gaudin, Aaron Miles, and Paul Bako we could have kept DeRosa. All in all I think Hendry has done a good job, but this short sightedness is remarkable.

Whoever had Brian McCann in the "who hits the first HR of the '09 season", is a winner

Couple of comments from the opening minutes of Sunday Night Baseball...Steve Phillips added, not a lot of baseball smarts but he actually knows who the players besides Gary Sheffield are and Jon Miller made mention of OPS during the first inning. I think neither is a coincidence and a reaction to complaints and the realization that the game and its analysis has changed.

Jordan Schaffer hits a HR in his first MLB at bat. 4-0 Braves. The Braves are hitting Myers as hard as he did his wife a few years back.

The weak links to this team look like Guzman and Fukudome. Gathright adds more value that Corey Fukudome. Cubs should start talking to Baltimore and Cincinnati now before Kosuke Bakayaru drops more in value.

[ ]

In reply to by mastrick

Fuku will be fine. I think the weak links are A. not having a legit SS and, B. Harden's health, and C. the mixed bag that is Milton Bradley. Bradley could be a huge help to the team and he could be a huge drag on the team. If spring training is any indication (which it usually isn't), he'll be great.

lol first love letter from JoeM to Gary Sheffield, can't figure out why the Phillies didn't bring in the big rightie to break up the all leftie lineup. 1) He's old 2) He's a malcontent 3) Steroids Back to you, Joe.

Milton Bradley recalling his first opening day, as an Expo in 2001 at Wrigley Field: "It was 25 degrees and freezing. Guys [in the bleachers] didn't have on shirts and were talking about my mom and telling me I'd be back in Ottawa in a couple weeks. They weren't too far off back then. I let it get to me. I know now it'll be a different experience being a Cub." http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090405&content_id=4133400&vke… Yep, MB, it'll be different, all right ... as long as you don't start out 6 for 50.

the cubs have to add at least 2 infielders to 40 man all infielders are on 25 man roster

[ ]

In reply to by rokfish

Maybe wishful thinking, but I wonder if something is afoot. The Cubs released German (a possible backup infielder) and Gaudin (without even trying to put him through waivers). Do they need those 40-man spots for something? Yeah. That's just wishful thinking.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

german needs a place to play...be in on a 25-man roster (doubtful) or in AAA as a regular. cubs just don't have room for him to advance his career with a position for him to play. sucks they took a bath on gawdy, but i'm happy to see guzman stick around.

Submitted by Rob G. on Sun, 04/05/2009 - 5:32pm. the Cubs can be dumb, but they're not that dumb...they wouldn't have waited a week to make $1.6M decision. Chances are to agree to the contract instead of go to arbitration, Gaudin's agent insisted it be guaranteed. ============================================ ROB G: It's one thing for a club to give a Greg Maddux-type pitcher a guaranteed contract to avoid the risk of losing millions in arbitration, but to give a middle-reliever like Chad Gaudin a $2M guaranteed contract (thus taking away the club's option to release him the last week of Spring Training and save a million-plus if he doesn't make the team) does not make $en$e.  If Gaudin and/or his agent wanted a guaranteed contract in order to agree to a deal on 12/12, Hendry should have told him (or them) to either take it to arbitration, or else the Cubs should have just non-tendered him. The only way the Cubs can save any payroll after releasing Gaudin would be if he signs a major league contract with another club, the new club has to pay him the MLB minimum salary ($400K), as happened when SD released Jim Edmonds last season and the Cubs only had to pay him the MLB minimum ($400K), with the Padres on the hook for the balance. . The only way the Cubs can save the entire $2M is if there was a bidding war for Gaudin's services, and some club was willing to pay him more than $2M. If that were to happen (and it's not too likely), the new club pays 100% of the salary.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

AZ Phil, thanks for clarification. I wondered if he got a guarantee, maybe we'll never know. Either way we're out $1.6 mil. How does this differ from a DFA? My understanding is that when you DFA a player, you have 10 days to trade, release, or you can assign to the minors IF the player assents (which a player would do only if they don't think they can get a ML roster spot somewhere else). Chances are, if offered Iowa or Free Agency, Chad would choose Free Agency, since I am pretty sure he will get a spot on a pitching hungry team. My other question: What exactly happened to him last year, or what are the rumors out there? I know something about a dumpster, and maybe a bit too much to drink? It's very strange......

AZ Phil, another question...I know Angel Guzman kept getting his option years extended due to injury. He spent a total of what, 8 years in the Cubs organization before he would FINALLY either get a ML roster spot or free agency? In his 9th year in an organization? Is that some kind of record? He signed with the Cubs almost two years BEFORE Mark Prior. TWO YEARS! And he is NOW finally getting established.

Submitted by Q-Ball on Sun, 04/05/2009 - 10:14pm. AZ Phil, thanks for clarification. I wondered if he got a guarantee, maybe we'll never know. Either way we're out $1.6 mil.

How does this differ from a DFA? My understanding is that when you DFA a player, you have 10 days to trade, release, or you can assign to the minors IF the player assents (which a player would do only if they don't think they can get a ML roster spot somewhere else). Chances are, if offered Iowa or Free Agency, Chad would choose Free Agency, since I am pretty sure he will get a spot on a pitching hungry team.

My other question: What exactly happened to him last year, or what are the rumors out there? I know something about a dumpster, and maybe a bit too much to drink? It's very strange

=======================================

Q-BALL: A club can place a player on the Designated List if it wishes to remove the player from its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) or MLB Active List (25-man roster) and needs some time (up to 10 days) before deciding what to do with the player. For instance, it takes two days for a player to clear waivers, so placing a player on the Designated List (designating a player for assignment) allows a club to remove a player from the 40-man roster while the player is on waivers.

Only players with at least three years of MLB Service Time or players who have been previously outrighted in their career have the right to refuse an outright assignment to the minors and become a FA. (Players with at least five years of MLB ST have the further right to refuse an Outright Assignment and remain on the 40-man roster, and players with at least five years of MLB ST also have the right to refuse an Optional Assignment to the minors and remain on the 25-man roster). A player who has the right to be a free-agent if outrighted to the minors can opt to be a FA immediately, or can defer the right until after the end of the regular season. If the player opts to become a FA immediately, he terminates his contract and the club owes him nothing. Which is why players who have the right to refuse an outright assignment who are outrighted during Spring Training or during the regular season usually will accept the assignment, and instead defer the right to be a FA until after the season (when the player's contract has expired).

BTW, a Designated Player does not necessarily have to be traded, released, or outrighted to the minors. A Designated Player can be optioned to the minors as long as the player was not replaced on the 40-man roster by another player while on the Designated List. The reason this might happen is some players need to clear Optional Assignment Waivers before they can be optioned to the minors, and since it takes two days for a player to clear waivers, a player who needs to clear waivers before being optioned to the minors can be be placed on the Designated List (and replaced on the 25-man roster) while on waivers.

A player with minor league options remaining must clear Optional Assignment Waivers before he can be optioned to the minors when he reaches the third anniversary of being added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster), or the two-year anniversary if the player spent one full season on Optional Assignment to the minors prior to being added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) for the first time, or the one-year anniversary if the player spent two full seasons on Optional Assignment to the minors prior to being added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) for the first time. For example, although they have minor league options remaining, Mike Fontenot, Aaron Heilman, Ryan Theriot, and Sean Marshall would have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers before they could be optioned to the minors because their debuts on an MLB 25-man roster were more than three years ago, Carlos Marmol would have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers beginning on June 4th (the third anniversary of his debut on a 25-man roster), and Jose Ascanio beginning on July 13th (just the second anniversary of his debut on a 25-man roster, because he spent one full year on optional assignment to the minors prior to his debut). Optional Assignment Waivers are revocable and can be withdrawn if a claim is made, but if a player is claimed off Optional Waivers and the waiver request is subsequently withdrawn, the player cannot be placed on Optional Assignment Waivers again for at least 30 days, and if a player is placed on Optional Waivers a second time that season and the player is claimed by another club, the waivers become irrevocable and the request cannot be withdrawn.

Gaudin is out of options, however.

The fact that Gaudin pitched in Saturday's game at Yankee Stadium means he had not yet been placed on Release Waivers (a player can continue to play in games while on Outright Waivers, but not while on Release Waivers), so technically he would have to be placed on the Designated List for a couple of days in order to get him off the 40-man roster while he is on Release Waivers.

Release Waivers are irrevocable and claims are rare, because a club would be responsible for 100% of the player's salary if it claims a player off Release Waivers, whereas if the club waits until the player clears Release Waivers and then signs the player as a Free-agent, the club is only responsible for paying the minimum salary ($400K), and the player's former team has to pay the rest. (That's what happened with Jim Edmonds last year, when the Cubs waited for him to clear Release Waivers, and then signed him for the MLB minimum salary). Plus, a player has the right to decline a claim off Release Waivers.

The Cubs could have placed Gaudin on Outright Waivers instead of Release Waivers, though, and I'm not exactly sure why they didn't. If he got claimed off Outright Waivers, the claiming club would be responsible for $400K of Gaudin's $2M salary, and the Cubs would have to pay the rest (same as if he was released). If Gaudin had cleared Outright Waivers without being claimed and the Cubs outrighted him to Iowa, Gaudin (who has four years-plus of MLB ST) would have had the option to be a free-agent immediately or defer the option until the end of the season (unless he were to be added back to the 40-man roster sometime prior to end of the season, in which case he would not have the option to be a FA at the end of the season). If Gaudin was outrighted to the minors and exercised his right to be a FA immediately, his contract would be terminated and the Cubs wouldn't owe him anything. So if he had cleared Outright Waivers, Gaudin would almost certainly have accepted an outright assignment to Iowa, although the Cubs would have had to pay him $2M even if he were to spend the entire season at Iowa.

Submitted by Q-Ball on Sun, 04/05/2009 - 10:22pm.
AZ Phil, another question...I know Angel Guzman kept getting his option years extended due to injury. He spent a total of what, 8 years in the Cubs organization before he would FINALLY either get a ML roster spot or free agency? In his 9th year in an organization?

Is that some kind of record?

===========================

Q-BALL: I believe it probably is a record. Of course it helps that he was on the DL so often. It's not easy to accrue five "full seasons" when you're on the DL for most of several seasons.

When they teach the intricacies of minor league options at MLB school, they probably use the Curious Case of Angel Guzman as a case study.

Jose Ascanio is following the Angel Guzman Plan. When the Cubs optioned Ascanio to Iowa last month, that was his 4th minor league option.

Listening to Mike & Mike on the way in today -- they kept referencing a scary comment Olney had made about Harden's shoulder -- but they never said what the comment was. Anybody hear it?

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

It was nothing new if you have been paying attenion to the team since August, Olney was talking about Harden's lack of velocity and that he was pitching with 85-90 MPH velocity Saturday agnaist the Yanks.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Apparently the WSCR guys hate Fuku more than Rob hates Samardjiza. I don't understand it. Fuku will be fine. I predict Fuku will outproduce (OPS) Fontenot this year. And he'll do it with great CF defense.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I like WSCR, well almost everyone except Murph, but they are more a pro-Sox station. B&B say they are tough on the Cubs because they haven't won a ring and the Sox have in recent times, but it doesn't help that they are the Sox flagship. That said, there is a lot that can be said for the Cubs and their fans loving certain guys regardless of realities. The rest of the country tends to think Fuku is not good, and to this point he hasn't really shown an ability to hit MLB pitching IMO.

Seeing as how it is Opening Day, I should mention that Tuffy Rhodes will starting his 13th season in Japan (Orix Buffaloes).

I'm not at all for wasting money but here's another way of looking at the loss of $1.6- Most first or second round draft picks get a signing bonus, which usually exceeds $1.6 So, the Cubs got Patton, a 24 yr old draft pick, who earned a spot on the team for the low, low price of $1.6 Yea, I know it should have been $50K but it's still a bargain.

Peoria roster from www.oursportscentral.com Pitchers, Aaron Shafer, Chris Carpenter, Chris Huseby, Chris Archer, Kevin Kreier, Jeff Beliveau, Ryan Buchter, Alberto Cabrera, Eric Hamren, Marcus hatley, Mike Perconte, Jose Pina, Josh Whitlock. Catchers,Luis Flores, Mario Mercedes. Infielders, Rebel Ridling,Josh Harrison, Junior Lake, Josh Vitters, Ryan Flaherty, Davis Macias. Outfielders, Nelson Perez, Cliff Anderson, Tony Campana, Kyler Burke.

I certainly don't expect Fukudome to be like he was last April, but I also dont' expect him to be as bad as he was in the second half last year. I think the guy can reasonably hit .260 and given how much he walks he'll have an OBP probably around .380. If he can do that with some stellar CF defense, I don't really see it as a problem. I think the biggest concern has to be health of Bradley and Harden, and then Fontenot proving he can be an everyday player.

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.