Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Soriano, Lilly Lead Cubs Over Astros

Submitted by Cubnut on

In Houston, Ted Lilly straightened himself out after a ragged beginning—four-pitch leadoff walk to Kaz Matsui, gopher ball to Miguel Tejada; Miggy's first home run in 116 at-bats this season—as the Cubs beat the Astros, 8-5, to sweep the two-game series at Minute Maid Park.

The Cubs have now won six of seven and have climbed to four games above .500 for the second time this year, heading into a weekend series in Milwaukee.

Alfonso Soriano paced the offense tonight with a pair of home runs. The second shot, coming in the ninth inning, helped break open a 4-2 game. The Cubs would go on to build an 8-2 lead before Chad Fox, just up from Iowa, allowed the home team to creep back in the game a bit. Kevin Gregg ultimately had to come in to record the final two outs and lock up the victory.

Aside from Lilly, who yielded just two runs and four hits over six innings, and Soriano, who has hit four of his nine home runs this year in Houston, other Cub bright spots on this night included:

— Aaron Heilman and Carlos Marmol, who recorded one scoreless inning apiece as the Cubs tried to hold onto a 4-2 margin. Marmol allowed a leadoff double to Tejada, before fanning Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, and Hunter Pence in order.

Marmol's last three outings have been stellar: 3 shutout innings, 5 K, no walks, 2 hits allowed and just 39 pitches needed to get through those nine outs.

— Among the position players, Aramis Ramirez (3-for-4), Ryan Theriot (2-for-4), and Micah Hoffpauir (2-for-4, including a clutch, two-out RBI single in the first inning) all had multiple hit games. Hoffpauir was again subbing for the ailing Derrek Lee.

Picked off: Ryan Theriot committed yet another gaffe on the bases, getting picked off third with Aramis Ramirez at bat and just one out in the opening inning. Hoffpauir's run-scoring single removed some of the sting of Theriot's carelessness.

Chad Fox highlight: I would say that the high point of the evening for the veteran, making his first appearance since his recall yesterday from Iowa, was not getting strangled by Lou Piniella when the manager came out to replace him with one out and two runs already in for the Astros in the last of the ninth. Fox, who allowed two hits, a walk, and three earned runs in just one-third of an inning, will go to sleep tonight with an ERA of 81.00, but at least he'll be sleeping on a Major League pillow.

About our man Milton: Bradley did come through with a bases-loaded single to score a run, his first Cub RBI that didn't result from a home run. In the eighth inning, however, he took a third strike with men at second and third and none out. He looked tentative and defensive at the plate; he looked like a .143 hitter which right now, he is.

 

 

Tags
Ted Lilly
Game Recap
Chad Fox
Ryan Theriot
Milton Bradley
Alfonso Soriano

Comments

[ ]

Submitted by Cubnut on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:09 am

Rob,

In all honesty, I believe Andrew Ladd was scoring the game-winning goal in OT at the exact moment Gathright and Soriano misplayed that fly ball—a failure in reportage on my part.

I'm going to demand that my wife allow me to buy her a tv with picture-in-picture capability for Mother's Day. It would make her so happy...though she doesn't realize it.

As far as Lou strangling Fox, I was thinking back to a shot of Lou in the dugout right after Fox had thrown his fifth consecutive ball at the beginning of that inning. Too bad Gregg couldn't get a night off when the Cubs go into the last of the ninth up six runs.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:30 am

Fer gawd's sake, when are Bradley and Soto going to start hitting? 7 more men LOB for Geo tonight. They're killing us. Quiet message to D Lee--no rush back from that neck pain, dude. Take your time. Is the Gooz in Lou's doghouse somehow? His one little X in that sidebar box looks mighty lonely. Cubs really need a 4th reliever that Lou can count on. Lefty would be ideal. Hopefully Hendry can find an AL team that needs the big bat of Jake Fox and can send back a relief pitcher. Or maybe the Cubs could just get a do-over on dumping Mike Wuertz? Because that was dumb. I nominate Joey G for the Death Watch. He's gotta go, plain and simple.

[ ]

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:52 am

Well, Gooz was warming up in the 8th when the Cubs were threatening with runners on 2nd and 3rd and nobody out. Three straight K's ended that. So they still went into the bottom of the 8th with just a 2-run lead, thus Marmol. Since it was a 2-run game Gregg was already warming up for the 9th. Then when the Cubs busted it open in the top of the 9th, Lou went with his mop-up guy - Fox - but when he couldn't hold the lead and it got close again he brought in Gregg who was already warm.

[ ]

Submitted by Andrew on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:41 am

Wait, we should have kept Marquis? I think that's what Whip was saying. I agree with Dave that most of Hendry's mistakes have been on the cheaper fringe guys. We'll see what happens with Fukudome and Bradley, but his other big signings have turned out pretty well. However, he's also seriously mis-managed the roster a few times this season, has made some hasty personnel decisions, and has cost himself several million dollars, money which could have been used on acquiring a player at the deadline that could help. The chances of that now are diminished due to payroll restrictions. Which is ironic, since although that's been a complaint for acquiring guys like Peavy all along, it seems like only now is it a possible reality.

[ ]

Submitted by Mister Whipple on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:03 am

Yeah, it's a little soon to call MB Todd Hundley. One full season needs to elapse before we make that judgment. If for instance, he's still not performing near where we wanted through August and he tears it up in September and in the playoffs (PLAYOFFS??!) there's still room to give Hendry a good grade for the pickup. This is baseball. 162 games. Six full months of regular season. Judging a move by the first month of a multi-year contract is just silly.

Submitted by Cubster on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:28 am

Reed Johnson would have made that catch that Gathright messed up. The bill of RJ's cap would have flipped up as Soriano bounced off him. Bradley also has been practicing that play (with the umpires).

Submitted by The E-Man on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:43 am

peavy k'd 12 or 13 his last start. I think they still lost? the gaudin loss - meh , tough call: hevstunk the end of the year, hurt himself, and stunk in ST. The Cubs are not in a "rebuild year", yet, so I understand it somewhat.

Submitted by Rob Richardson on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:46 am

I am kind of surprised that the results of Bradely's hearing haven't been released.

Submitted by billybucks on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:32 am

Uncle Milty is a mess -- runners on 2nd and 3rd, no outs, crap reliever on the mound, and he takes a called 3rd stike on a fastball down the middle. He looks lousy from the RH side -- maybe he should pull a Theriot and bag switch-hitting. Fun game -- try to count how many MVP trophies have been awarded to confirmed juicers since 1996: 4 for Bonds, 3 for A-Rod, Giambi, Tejada, Juan Gon, Caminiti, etc. Also -- Sammy and Pujols (2), who seem likely but are not confirmed. Pretty freaking amazing.

[ ]

Submitted by big_lowitzki on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:59 am

Also -- Sammy and Pujols (2), who seem likely but are not confirmed. Really not sure where the Pujols is a juicer idea comes from. Would it surprise me? No... but I don't recall anything linking him to any PEDs. But yea... for the most part, the MVP/PED connection is "pretty freakin amazing." Or just sad. Or just a statement that a lot of people are or were using them, along with the pitchers. Or all the above? If everyone is on them, is it really cheating?

[ ]

Submitted by Ryno on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:59 am

It would be shocking... outrageous... and amazing if Pujols is not juicing. Deep down we all know he is. We'll find out in about 5-10 years from now, everyone will be horrified. Meanwhile, he'll retire loaded and not giving a shit. I'm to the point now where I don't really give a fuck. Juice up Theroit, juice up Fontenot. At least let's have a level playing field. Fuck, the MLBPA will protect our guys, right? In the off chance someone DOES wipe the drool from Bud Selig's mouth and wakes the sleepy guy up in the next 3 years long enough to reprimand our juicers, fuck it, go find more juicers.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:11 pm

I'm not as concerned about who cheated and who didn't—particularly because villainizing the "juicers" just distracts from the asshole millionaires behind all of it, the owners. But the juicing needs to stop for the health of athletes. The shit these guys end up taking seems likely to fuck them up for life, though they may not see the nastiest side effects until later. I'm not a doctor, though. But that's my concern. I really don't want to see Sammy have Cancer all over his body when his 50, or something like that.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:15 pm

I just wonder what your opinion is based on. Do think that his offensive performance is proof that he has taken PEDs? Or is it his body type? Or is there something else? If it's his performance, then don't we also have to assume that Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, and Babe Ruth were all juicers? Or does the concurrence of his offensive performance and the time period make all the difference? I'm not saying I'd be surprised if Pujols juiced. I guess I'd be somewhat surprised if he didn't at some point use a PED, even if they were just uppers while he was in the minor leagues or something like that, but that's because I think probably almost everyone in baseball has used something at some point--it's a temptation. But I don't see any solid reason to conclude that he takes and has taken steroids on a regular basis. Reason for suspicion, maybe, but not reason to be sure.

[ ]

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 05:45 pm

I hate Pujols as much as the next guy, but that is simply not true. He hit .500 in his freshman year of high school in Missouri, he hit .660 his senior year. He then hit .461 in his only year of community college ball. He was drafted in the 13th round that June by the Cardinals, then in 2000 he was League MVP in A-Ball. He was promoted to AAA at the end of the year. He was projected to start there in 2001, but he tore up spring training and Bonilla got injured, so he made the team and of course had a 1.013 OPS and has never looked back. So while I think we can be suspicious because he is THIS good, we can't say he went from nobody to somebody great quickly like other suspicious players have. He has consistently hit the shit out of the ball basically since he started swinging a bat.

Recent comments

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

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