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, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* 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
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

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




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Youngsters Show Flash of Future at Fitch Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Playing in front of his family visiting from South Korea, 18-year old bonus baby Hak-Ju Lee ripped a three-run inside-the-park home run to key a four-run 7th, but the Cubs couldn't hold the lead, as the EXST Angels rallied to tie the EXST Cubs 5-5 in Memorial Day Extended Spring Training holiday action at Fitch Park Field #3 this morning. in hot & sunny Mesa, AZ.  

The Cubs got off to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st when Jericho Jones bounced a single through the infield to score Logan Watkins from 2nd base. 

Meanwhile, 18-year old Dominican LHP Jeffry Antigua and 19-year old Venezuelan RHP (and Carlos Zambrano clone) Larry Suarez were mowing down the Angels hitters, combining to throw six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and no walks over the six frames, while striking out 11. 

The Cubs then plated their four-spot in the bottom of the 7th.

Jericho Jones led-off the inning with his second hit of the game, a ground single to RF. Juan Medina followed with a line drive single to CF, sending Jones to 2nd. Then with the Angels expecting a bunt (and defending the expected sac-bunt with the "wheel-play"), Jose Valdez crossed 'em up and hit-away, chopping a single over 2nd base into centerfield, scoring Jones and sending Medina to 2nd. 

Lee was next, lining a fastball over the centerfielder's head to the batter's eye in dead center, and then high-tailing it around the bases to score (sliding) across home plate, just barely beating the relay throw from the Angels shortstop.

Fortunately Dusty Baker wasn't present to see it, because lead-footed catcher Juan Medina was the lead runner at 2nd base, and he really clogged the bases, as Valdez and Lee (essentially half a 440 relay team) almost ran up Medina's ass before Medina could score, with Hak-Ju rounding third before Medina could cross the plate, and Valdez having to put on the brakes and slow down to avoid passing Medina between third and home. With a more-timely relay by the Angels, all three of the Cubs very well might have been thrown out at the plate on the same play.

In Fitch Park Alumni news, the Cincinnati Reds acquired LHP Mark Pawelek from the St. George Roadrunners of the independent Golden Baseball League for ca$h con$iderations this past Friday. 

As most of you probably know, Pawelek was the Cubs 1st round round draft pick ($1.5M+ bonus) in 2005 after setting all kinds of high school pitching records in Utah. but he was unable to move forward with the Cubs over four frustrating seasons, finally getting released during the last week of Minor League Camp this past March when the Cubs decided he just wasn't getting anywhere. 

While Pawelek has seemingly struggled with his command more and more every year since signing with the Cubs, he is only 21, he has a clean medical history, and he throws a 93 MPH four-seam fastball and a hard-slider that breaks into the back foot of right-handed hitters. It will be interesting to see how Pawelek fares after getting a second chance with a different organization.

Here is today's abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:

1. Francisco Guzman, CF:  0-5  (4-3, F-8, 5-3, 3-1, K)
2. Logan Watkins, 2B-SS:  1-4  (1B, K, L-5, E-6 - 1 R, 1 SB)
3. John Contreras, C-3B:  0-4  (5-3,. E-5, K, L-6 - 1 SB)
4. Jericho Jones, 1B:  2-3  (1B, HBP, 1B, F-9 - 1 R, 1 RBI)
5. Juan Medina, DH-C:  1-4  (1-3, F-7, 1B, F-7 - 1 R)
6. Jose Valdez, LF: 1-4  (4-3, 5-3, 1B, 3-1 - 1 R, 1 RBI)
7. Hak-Ju Lee, SS-DH:  2-4  (K, 1B, HR, F-7 - 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 SB)
8. Sean Hoorelbeke, DH #2:  0-4  (K, F-8, 6-3, 5-3)
9. Jesus Morelli, RF:  1-3  (1B, HBP, 5-3, K - 1 CS)
10. Jose Made, 3B-2B:  1-4  (K, 2-3, K, 1B - 1 SB)

PITCHERS:
1. Jeffry Antigua - 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 2/1 GO/FO
2. Larry Suarez - 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 2/2 GO/FO
3. Josh Lansford - 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 3/2 GO/FO
4. Cedric Redmond - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/FO

ERRORS: (2)
1. 2B Jose Made dropped ball (E-4) while attempting to tag baserunner on run-down play between 2nd and 3rd, allowing runner to get back safely to 2nd base.
2. SS Logan Watkins bobbled potential DP ground ball (E-6), allowing batter to reach base safely, eventually leading to two unearned runs scoring (including the tying run).  

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Juan Medina - 0-3 CS

WEATHER: Hot & sunny, temperature in the 90's.

ATTENDANCE: 33 people, three dogs, and a couple of dozen pigeons.

Tags
Mark Pawelek
Hak-Ju Lee
Jericho Jones
Larry Suarez
EXST Cubs
Jeffry Antigua

Comments

Submitted by Wrigley Rat on Mon, 05/25/2009 - 05:46 pm

Hey Phil - I'm doing something with catchers in the Cubs organization. Any way you can rank the five that are in EST (John Contreras, Matt Cerda, Jose Guevara, Alvara Sosa, and Juan Medina) in regards to defense, offense, and overall potential? Also, any hunches on where they will end up when EST ends? Thanks in advance. P.S. Are you sure you weren't counting some people twice? 33 in attendance! Wow!

Submitted by Rob G. on Mon, 05/25/2009 - 05:46 pm

at least the offense woke up... har har...sigh.

Submitted by The E-Man on Mon, 05/25/2009 - 05:09 pm

AZ PHIL: You were so RIGHT about this being a "long season". I am so bummed. ROB G said this is 2004 redux - good team on paper. I'm thinking 2006, with a good pitching staff. If Neal Cotts is not sent to the minors after tonight, Jim and Lou are bigger dumb bells then I already think they are.

Submitted by Romero on Mon, 05/25/2009 - 05:52 pm

Thanks for your continued reporting, AZ PHIL! As for tonight's Cubs game, I am choosing to be optimistic about it. I didn't watch the game, but a few positive and/or non-neutral things I will take from it: 1. FINALLY FUCKING SCORED RUNS. If tonight's game means Milton Bradley starts hitting, then fucking Hallelujah. Also, Theriot's three hits hopefully means he's out of his own slump. 2. SEVEN Bases on Balls. This is the most number of walks in a game since....uh...? 3. Dempster will not always pitch this poorly-- especially on a night when apparently Bob Davidson was squeezin' the zone. 4. Neil Cotts blew that game and we already ALL knew that he sucks and will likely not be around much longer. 5. Patterson pitched two scoreless innings! We WILL beat Ian Snell on Tuesday. Mark it down.

Submitted by toonsterwu on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 05:01 am

I guess I'm disappointed, but not that much. Admittedly, it's a horrible bad streak that we are on. That said, it's not like the competition in the division was a shock out of LF. The Cardinals and Brewers both looked real solid if certain things fell their way. The Cardinals main issue was to sort out their pitching, otherwise known as keeping Chris Carpenter healthy. I thought Gallardo would be a rock, but didn't really expect Dave Bush's solid start. The Reds had been hyped up as a sleeper all offseason (although I still have my doubts about their youth/veteran mix being a good mix for this year). All three teams have systems that will allow them to make moves, if they so desire (although with Mozeliak, seeing is believing, and with the Brewers, they might have to get creative). As for the Cubs, I can't say the areas that have struggled are all that stunning. The bullpen was somewhat iffy entering the year. The known warts were there. The rotation was a little overhyped, as regression from a guy like Dempster should've been expected. Offensive inconsistency is a hallmark of this squad due to the way it's been constructed at the top. Add in the injuries, some individual struggles, and playing .500ish ball - well, I'm not that down yet. I'm cautiously optimistic in some ways. I think the BP will sort itself out/is in the process of it, as Jose Ascanio/Angel Guzman could add the options late. This could help lessen the workload of Marmol and prevent a Samardzija call up that doesn't have Shark pitching in critical innings (I'm not against callinig Shark up for late inning pen duties, but mop up stuff or random stuff, I'd be annoyed with.) I think we saw signs of Lee snapping out of it a little bit, and Bradley's too talented to stay this bad. Aramis will be back at some point, and I think the addition of Freel makes our bench more versatile. I think the rotation will get better as it gets healthy. Our system is looking a bit better, IMO, particularly with arms that look to be developing. Still ... this is a team that should be shopping at midseason, assuming Crane Kenney was honest when he said we had budgetary room (Al Yellon had an interview with Crane that suggested that, IIRC). The ideal scenario is the next to impossible dream - finding a leadoff option to bump Soriano down to reshape things. I wouldn't haphazardly drop Soriano down, but if a solid guy was there, that'd be the dream, but I'm also not sure that Lou would definitely drop Soriano down. I'm actually not against Fukudome moving to leadoff if he maintains his performance. The other warts that could use a midseason look, as of right now, are all fairly clear. If Fontenot doesn't turn it around, a middle infielder could be looked at. I like DeRosa, and I'm sure there will be clamoring for him if he's shopped, but I wouldn't go too hard. At the right price, sure, but with Freel in place as a versatile option, the need isn't as heavy for DeRosa's versatility. If a shortstop popped on the market, the idea of Theriot to 2nd could be pondered, but that's a bit unlikely. I doubt anyone in the system would be pondered (really, the only option would be Tony Thomas, but he probably needs the full year in the minors, and should probably start 2010 in the minors). If we do pursue a 2nd baseman, I would like a guy that could hit in the 2 hole. Fukudome's fine at the top, but if can stay a solid hitter, I wouldn't mind sliding him down to the 6th spot to give the 5th hitter some protection (I imagine that Lou will have Aramis there in his return, but who knows). Of course, if Fontenot can be the player that some Cubs fans envisioned based off last year, then we'd be alright. Or, we could pursue a 2nd baseman that can be a solid 6th option that protects the middle of the order. I'm no sabrmetrician, but it looks like some bad luck has befallen Fontenot, but also that he's hammering the ball into the ground a lot more. A lefty pen arm is certainly a need, as Cotts, nothing personal to him, is atrocious. Even if Marshall moves to the pen, I wouldn't mind adding another lefty. The only two system options that seem possible right now would be Lambert and Gaub. Getting back to Fukudome - I can't help to be a bit concerned. He's taken a dip in production of late, and after last year, little things tend to get the attention. I think it's just a slump, which had to happen after his insane start. Here's hoping, at least. To be honest, I don't love the construction of the bench. Hoff/Freel/Hill are fine. I like Johnson and Miles, but ideally, I'd like to see a better pinch runner off the bench and a righty bat with some pop off the bench. That's me, but I think those two assets would balance out a solid pen. I understand having Reed Johnson around, as he's the righty bat to Fukudome and he's a capable enough offensive player. With Freel here, I don't see the point of Miles to be honest. I'm not against pursuing a SP upgrade if Harden and Z are back and dealing, but I think it has to be at the right price.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Miles Mastrobuoni cannot be recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is recalled to replace a position player who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And for a pitcher it's 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled, unless he is replacing a pitcher who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, or Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And a pitcher (or a position player, but almost always it's a pitcher) can be recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader regardless of how many days he has been on optional assignment, but then he must be sent back down again the next day. 

     

    That's why the Cubs had to wait as long as they did to send Jose Cuas down and recall Keegan Thompson. Thompson needed to spend the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he could be recalled (and he spent EXACTLY the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he was recalled). 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18.  We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
    But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
    I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
    Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
    I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
    Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
    With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.

    My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
    It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
    I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
    We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
    But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.

    If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.

    Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.

    Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose  that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.

    Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.

    When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?

    But I digress…

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

Click HERE for the last 50 comments