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

Vizcaino DFA'd

As had been rumored, the Cubs have gone and designated Luis Vizcaino for assignment and promoted Jeff Samardzija. Vizcaino has 72 hours to clear waivers and then the Cubs have 7 days to trade or release him. Vizcaino is owed $3.5M for 2009, some of which has already been paid by the Cubs, plus he had a $4M option for 2010 with a $500K buyout, which I believe the Cubs are still responsible for.

Muskat's article suggests that Jim Hendry was trying to deal Vizcaino - possibly to the Washington Nationals - but he was unable to finalize anything, so they decided to DFA him instead. Which makes me ask, what's the fucking rush? A Trib article that Cubnut linked to in the previous post  that I can't seem to get to work now, suggested Vizcaino got in Lou's doghouse by showing up late on Opening Day, but that's hardly enough to burn $4M. As far as I know, Jeff Samardzija bobblehead day wasn't scheduled yet, so I don't know why he needed to be called up by April 23rd at the expense of Vizcaino. And you know, Vizcaino hasn't sucked so far, say like one Neal Cotts. A matter of fact, you could say he's been good with 3.2 IP, 3 K's, 0 BB's and 0 ER. And let's not even get into the Cubs burning over $5M between Vizcaino and Gaudin (if they don't find someone to take Vizcaino's contract) and then crying poor all offseason on why they didn't want to resign Kerry Wood and had to move Mark DeRosa and Jason Marquis.

But, the Cubs and Hendry have 10 days still to do something with Vizcaino so I'll save flying off the handle until the final end game is clear, but at the moment this series of moves sure looks like some of the most serious roster blundering since the day they resigned Neifi Perez.

 


The other bit of news is that Milton Bradley will sit until he's 100% and when he comes back he'll be batting 6th in the lineup. Anyone who watched the game last night could see that Bradley was still favoring his groin, so probably the right move, although the Cubs probably should have just DL'd him from the beginning to start saving themselves from that third year option that is contingent on days on the disabled list. With Bradley struggling and Micah Hoffpauir hitting, probably not a big deal in the short term. I'll be curious how this will affect the lineup though.

 

Comments

Interesting lineup change today. Fukudome, the hot hand, gets to bat 3rd, and Theriot and his .400+ OBP bumps all the way from 8th to 2nd. Soriano Theriot Fukudome Lee Ramirez Hoffpauir Soto Fontenot Zambrano Hopefully we get effective Zambrano today.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Taveras, Dickerson, Votto, Encarnacion, Bruce, Phillips, Hernandez, Gonzalez, Harang for the Reds

Shouldn't Soto get a day off today?

Lou said Bradley would bat 6th on his return, so I'm guessing he just slots where Hoffpauir is hitting and that'll be the lineup for awhile.

Have to wonder if any DL decisions regarding Bradley, now or in the future, automatically become contentious because of their potential impact on that option year. Not saying Bradley would necessarily raise a stink, but I'm sure his agent would be on the phone if Bradley felt he could tough it out and the Cubs wanted to DL him anyway.

This afternoon's lineup by way of Wittenmyer/Twitter: sori, riot, fuku, lee, rami, hoffp, soto, font, z

 

DL'ing monopoly guy seems to be the popular move, but I disagree. All you gain by DL'ing him is a roster spot so you can bring up some scrub from Iowa. I say let him sit day-to-day, who knows, maybe he'll clobber a game winner one of these days. Plus, it would be a good time for him to serve his 2-game suspension as long as he's active. And the Cubs, geesh, throwing money around like Timothy Geithner. Still Vizcaino represents the past, Samardjiza is the future... ... yea that was sarcasm.

"Bradley was unavailable after Piniella's remarks. A Cubs spokesman said Bradley had no comment" -- Sullivan Apparently Milton missed the part of Lou's nice chat where he suggested MB talk to the media.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

I guess he should just do his thing and talk to the media, but to be honest, I don't really give a shit if he does or not. He's a ball player, not the mayor. I think the media thing is blown out of proportion.

So now it looks like, what, we got zippo for Marquis except giving away millions to a guy who won't be around for even one month? Man, I know a lot of people felt Marquis was nothing but he was not all that bad as a # 5 starter. Hendry obviously has had the touch with some moves but this has to rank as one of his top ten worse moves.

[ ]

In reply to by blibli5

if a deal can't be worked out in the 10-day window, the Cubs will be on the hook for Vizcaino's salary minus whatever he signs for with another team (chances are the league minimum). If that's how it goes down, the Cubs will have saved a grand total of $1M plus the pro-rated league minimum on the deal.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

technically it's $9.875 for Marquis and $875K to the Rockies plus the $4M they owe Vizcaino, but still $5M in savings on the deal.

But you're right, I was assuming they'd need to spend money to replace Vizcaino, but at the moment, it's on someone they're already paying.

Wasn't there talk of giving Soriano and Theriot the day off today? At least Soto, day game after a night game.

Top ten favorite memories from the Luis Vizcaino era? So many to choose from, it's hard to know where to start. Beyond bizarre. Cotts has been a disaster (but not a surprise), they send Shark to Iowa to stretch out as a starter, Vizcaino has a 0.00 ERA --- so the logical move in April is to cut Vizcaino and move Shark to middle relief, where he will get inconsistent work, and keep Cotts because any lefty is a good lefty. Oh, I get it. No, wait, I don't.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Are you really surprised? He showed up out of shape and seemingly out of touch with his role on the team. We're talking about a guy who's been inconsistent his entire career. I wish we had the cash to just work him into a platoon situation so they can try to give him some months off here and there..

Lordy, they're talking about the bat issue again... geez... Probably because of the ump who got smacked with the bat and had to be taken to the hospital. Well if it was anything like the umps we've seen in the past week or so he probably got hit with the bat because his eyes were closed or he was drunk or something. Bleh... Want a safe sport? Go golf.

Is today April Fools Day? I mean Hendry can't be serious can he? I know, I know I hate Hendry so anything I say is biased. But when he does stupid shit like this it is obvious why so many people don't like him as a GM. He releases a guy who has a 0.00 ERA making $3.5MM while keeping a guy who has a 3.33 WHIP and .354 BAA only making $1.1MM. Why cry poor the past 6 months, but then throw like $10MM down the shitter releasing/trading players? This seriously makes ZERO sense. There has to be some part of the story we are not hearing as it makes no sense to release Vizcaino over Cotts. What a fucking joke!!!

[ ]

In reply to by mannytrillo

Len and Bob alluded to some "tardiness issues" during the telecast today, which leads me to believe it wasn't a one time thing on opening day. Seems like the Cubs are trying to go the ATL route and make sure everyone in the organization does things the right way (although signing MB would seem to contradict that theory). Anyway, all of these issues will become insignificant once half our starting lineup gets out of their current slumps (Bradley, Soto, Fontenot, Lee).

The Cubs are almost unbearable to watch right now.

Did Theriot get thrown out on a strike steal or a botched hit and run?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

Straight steal, he had a great jump and had it stolen if not for the fact that it ended up being a high fastball on Hernandez's throwing side. He was standing up to catch it and then threw a perfectly placed ball to second. Any other pitch he would have been safe. But it was a total rally killer regardless.

Wow, Neal Cotts is a fucking bum. Can we just throw at Votto's head every time he's up? The dude kills us.

Cotts just gave up HR to Votto...HA HA HA HA HA Neal FUCKING Cotts Amazing...Absolutely...Amazing!!!

I see Vizcaino is available. Maybe Hendry can deal Cotts for him....

I think The Joe was kidding, but it's true, I'd rather see Cotts make the guy earn runs over walking them on base. Of course better yet, I'd prefer to just not see Cotts pitch at all. I'm willing to cut him some slack, though, because he's white.

Yeah, sure is great to have this guy back... More gas for the fire!!!

You really can't make this shit up. The Cubs decide to release Vizcaino, keep Cotts and bring up Samardick. Cotts gives up a HR to a lefty and Samardick gives up 4 hits and 2 runs in an inning. And sometimes I wonder why this organization hasn't won a title in 101 years now.

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.