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

The Fox and the Scrappy Middle Infielder

Jake Fox and his 17 PCL home runs are on their way to Chicago for today's game. To make room on the roster, Aaron Miles will be put on the disabled list with a sore shoulder that has apparently bothered him since spring training. Miles is barely good enough to play major league baseball when healthy, he certainly didn't need to be struggling through an injury all this time.

Fox - even with all his defensive misgivings - was putting up a line that he probably hadn't put up since his days in the Pony League: .423/.503/.886 for a 1.389 OPS.

Bruce Miles also says that Neal Cotts could be on his way out, possibly to Iowa as he states that Cotts still does have an option left. Arizona Phil and other outlets have been saying he's out of options, so we'll see what the loophole is here if the roster move does indeed happen. And if he did have an option left, what the fuck was the hold-up on sending him down?

UPDATE: Muskat says lefty Jason Waddell and infielder Andres Blanco are at the park as well and also says that Cotts should be looking for a Des Moines apartment.

UPDATE #2: Fox, Blanco and Waddell called up, Scales and Cotts optioned to Triple A.

Comments

Well, you're gonna have to try Fox at least once, and if there was a time, this is it, right? Scoring 0-2 runs per game on the road... It is a tough break for Scales - he at least had his "cup". The most enjoyable thing is that my dream has come true: COTTS IS GONE!!! My two most HATED Cubs as players - Neil Cotts, and Will Oh-man! (5.43 ERA - 1.54 WHIP, 2009)

Does it really matter if Cotts is out of options at this point? Way past time to fish or cut bait on the guy - his performances this year almost make last year's fiascoes on the mound look palatable. Shades of Wade Miller.

Interesting moves. I having a little trouble making sense of them. Blanco makes sense with Miles going to the DL. And Blanco will likely be a defensive upgrade over every infielder currently on the roster, no? And while it would be hard for him to be a worse hitter than Miles, his ML numbers aren't encouraging (though he has hit well at Iowa). I am STOKED to see Jake Fox up with the bigs, but what position does he play? Third base? Man, I guess we'll see. Should be fun! And Waddell...has Lou looked at Waddell's splits this year? Dude is not a LOOGY. Waddell might be Neal Cotts with a better BB/9. Maybe Lou has chunked the idea of a LOOGY and just wanted a lefty in the pen for some "balance"? I suppose this move also means that Marshall stays in the rotation, which is probably wise since the dude has the best ERA of our starting pitchers. Does this mean Wells goes to the pen when/if Harden returns? I HOPE these moves strengthen the team, certainly there's a good chance that Blanco and Waddell will be better replacements. And yes, tough break for Scales, who I think played well and I really liked him. I hope he re-joins the team later. I guess he is blocked right now by Freel. I wouldn't be surprised if Scales replaces him if Freel struggles or if Farney begins to bother people (there will be little salary lost if Freel is cut).

Freel lookled pretty shitty last night - DP'd when the Cubs were still threatening for tack-ons. Unfortunately, Fonty, Freel, Blanco, Theriot, Scales - they are all like the same player to varying degrees - bench players assuming starting roles. None of these are close to the clutch hitter that A-Ram is. Replacing his bat this early is really, really tough. Guess that's why Fox is at least getting a Fox - and for potential trades...

Good to see we have an upgrade to Cotts finally. And yes, just about any of our AA & AAA lefty relivers would be an upgrade. The problem is Cotts set such a low bar, simply being better than Cotts is not enough. Let's hope this guy can throw some strikes and get a few guys out. And I'm all for giving Miles tommy john or a hip replacement or anything it takes to keep him away from the active roster.

Iowa Cubs report that Scales has been optioned back & catcher Steve Clevenger [.364/.443 OBP] has been promoted from Tennessee [7th round pick by Cubs in '06]...nothing about Cotts...

Lou on Fox: "If Derrek Lee was still sick today he'd play first. Look he, he {stuttering} gives us a good bat off the bench. We haven't had that." Oooh, Gath, Freel, Farney, Miles... Ouch.

LF Soriano, SS Theriot, RF Bradley, 1B Lee, CF Johnson, C Soto, 3B Freel, 2B Blanco and P Zambrano. Marmol is back as well.

I-Cubs now say Cotts expected to join them "in a few days" - in other words; he'll probably do whatever he does when he's feelin' blue for the full 72 hour reportin' window...

Glad they called Fox up, now Lou has to find him some ab's. It's strange that they wait to call him up until after they score 14 runs in 1 1/2 games. Also, have you guys noticed how many players around baseball are out with the flu? The latest is Adrian Gonzalez.

I guess we're a fickle bunch - we've been clamoring for Jake all year and now he's up all we can do is critize because he doesn't have a place to play? I for one love the fact that we have Hoff and Jake from either side of the plate for PH duties now - and with all the lefties coming up on the schedule, Jake should get some AB's

Well depends what site you want to get your stats from. ESPN says he is at .204 while CBS Sportsline, Yahoo, Baseball-Reference have him sitting at .196 and has never been above .200 according to their game longs this season yet.

seemed to wince after fouling off the first pitch in his third AB...didn't really run out his pop out and walked back gingerly to the dugout. sigh.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

munch munch. Me love options. Munch.

after Soriano played a single into a triple on the leadoff hitter, Z got a pop-up and then the ball bounced away from Soto on the next batter. Morgan came home, play at the plate and Z blocked the plate and thought he got him (replays look like Morgan just got his left hand in).

Z freaked and then ump leaned into Z while arguing and made contact with their shoulders, Z sort of shoved him away with his shoulder and got tossed and then went ballistic. Threw ball, threw glove, destroyed Gatorade machine...etc.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

The notion that guys are getting automatic suspensions for making incidental contact with the umps is completely absurd. Sure, a purposeful bump should lead to a suspension, but Milton's suspension was ridiculous, and I suspect Carlos will get some games as well, even though the contact was the fault of the umpire and in no way malicious. Z tossing the ump out of the game was high comedy, though.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I feel kinda bad for the Gatorade machine repair guy who had just fixed it. Has anyone considered the possibility that maybe these guys just don't like gatorade?

I refer you to my post on Monday wherein I described Jeff Samardzija doing his best Carlos Zambrano impression when a runner was called safe @ home on a close play resulting from a short wild pitch JS had just thrown. Samardzija cussed his way back to the mound but didn't get tossed & didn't bump the ump - no, he's no Zombie...

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Someone should point out to you that: 1. It is clear that Tito already knew #2 above because he noted that "Reedy" would equate with "Skinny". 2. "Reedy", as a word, is an adjective (see any dictionary). So by #1 above I can only assume you are first using the word "Reedy" as a new first name for Reed (and thus proper noun), and then taking that word and making it into "Skinny". The larger point is that his name is Reed Johnson, does he really need a nickname? Much less one derived from the observation that reeds are skinny combined with a word for penis?

Freddy Sanchez with the Moises Alou Memorial Baserunning Moment. Wow. I want to see Jake Fox at 3B, to hell with his defense, let the monster hit. The umps in this series are a fucken joke.

I've been out of touch for a few weeks, but did see Peavy gunned down a trade to the White Sux. Has anyone heard if we looking at getting him in the fold, or is our ownership situation just too messed up right now?

[ ]

In reply to by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree

probably not on the table right now, but the Cubs would probably like to get something resembling healthy first before addressing any needs. Right now, offense (catcher, 2B, RF when Bradley goes down) and the bullpen would be bigger needs than a starting pitcher. 3B too depending on how rehab goes for Aramis.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Dude, you are always railing about scalpers - anyone selling tickets for more than face - I have been reading your whining for a long time here. You pride yourself on your "tips" to others about how they can get tickets in the cheapest way possible. Because, it is beneath you to pay more than face for a ticket? You bitch about someone who has plunked down the big money and invest in the season tickets. Regardless whether the club has shit seasons like 2006, or winning ones like 2008. Yet here you are, asking "any Scalpers on the board have tickets for me for the Twins series...?" I just find some irony here. Its funny to me. Good luck, man.

"Go umps go, go umps go... Hey Chicago whaddya say? The umps are gonna win today..." Yes, big league baseball is all about the umps. Thank you umps for entertaining us! Lordy knows we're all paying money to go see you guys perform. Anyone know where I can get an official MLB umpire hat? You know, those sweet black ones?

Submitted by toonsterwu on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 11:21am.
Clevenger's really been excellent this year. Castillo might have better "upside" but Clevenger's got the more polished bat and is more consistent defensively. I'm excited he's at Iowa and I think he has an outside chance at potentially being our backup backstop in 2010.

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

TOONSTER: Welington Castillo's defense has improved a lot this year. In fact, he was one of the last cuts from Iowa at the end of Minor League Camp, getting assigned to AA Tennessee the last weekend of ST. Of course, now that his defense has improved, he isn't hitting. Oh, well...

But Steve Clevenger is indeed the one who is really sailing through the Cubs system, now getting a promotion to AAA. And he just started catching in Instructs post-2006! (Clev played SS in college and 2B his first year in the minors with the Cubs).

Oneri Fleita and the Cubs Player Deveolpment people really love Clevenger. Despite his limited experience as a catcher, the pitchers like throwing to him, and he has really worked hard on improving his throwing and mechanics behind the plate. He is a baseball version of a basketball "gym rat" ("diamond rat?"). He had trouble with academics in college, but his baseball IQ is sky high. I believe he will be a manager some day.

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE THRU 5/25:

Welington Castillo – 13-22 CS (59%), 1 PB, 1 E
Steve Clevenger – 8-14 CS (57%), 0 PB, 1 E
Michael Brenly – 10-27 CS (37%), 2 PB, 1 E
Geovany Soto – 6-27 CS (22%), 1 PB, 1 E
Robinson Chirinos – 4-21 CS (19%), 3 PB, 0 E, 1 PO
Mark Reed – 5-33 CS (15%), 4 PB, 1 E
Chris Robinson – 4-28 CS (14%), 3 PB, 0 E
Mark Johnson – 3-19 CS (14%), 3 PB, 2 E
Luis Flores – 3-25 CS (12%), 1 PB, 2 E

Koyie Hill – 2-5 (40%), 0 PB, 0 E
Mario Mercedes – 2-5 (40%), 0 PB, 0 E
Jake Fox – 1-3 (33%), 2 PB, 0 E

I think it's a virtual lock that both Steve Clevenger and Welington Castillo will be added to the Cubs 40-man roster by 11/20 (if not sooner). Both will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time this December, and there is no way Hendry & Fleita will leave them exposed. In fact, Clevenger could be the Cubs back-up catcher (C-1B-LHPH) as early as next season, although Koyie Hill has certainly done nothing to hurt his chances to remain Soto's back-up until further notice.

It's nice to know that there are some other options behind the plate in case Geovany Soto turns out to be Rick Wilkins Redux.

And if Chris Robinson keeps hitting at AAA, he could get the Josh Paul Memorial 3rd Catcher Promotion in September. Robinson's defense is overrated, so he will probably have to continue hitting if he wants to get a look from the Cubs in September.

Regarding the (apparent) Neal Cotts Optional Assignment to the minors...

Coming into the 2009 season, Cotts had been optioned to the minors in three separate seasons, by the White Sox in 2003, and by the Cubs in 2007 and 2008. There is absolutely no question that Cotts used an option up in both 2007 and 2008, but 2003 is where there may be some confusion.

Here's what happened:

Cotts was acquired by the White Sox from AA Birmingham in August 2003, at which point he was added to the Sox 40-man roster (and 25-man roster). He made four starts for the White Sox in August and got creamed (8.10 ERA), and was optioned back to Birmingham on August 30th.

In one way it would have made sense for the White Sox to recall Cotts from Birmingham in September prior to his spending 20 days on optional asignment (to avoid expending an option year), except it was never reported anywhere that the Sox did that. Cotts was NOT added back to Sox Active List in September 2003.

However, the White Sox MIGHT have recalled Cotts prior to his spending 20 day on optional assignment (sometime prior to 9-18-03), recalling him but also ordering him "not to report." This would have meant that an option year would not have been spent, and that's how it is Cotts could have one minor league option left now. But again, it was never reported anywhere that the Sox recalled Cotts in September 2003.

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 5:04pm.
Az Phil: can you give your opinion on Brenly's progress both as a hitter and defensive catching skills?

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

CUBSTER: Michael Brenly is a better prospect than I would have thought based upon where he was drafted (36th round). It probably helps that he has a dad who was a big league catcher, and that could explain why he has more polish than the average young catcher you see in the low minors.

The problem with polished college players (and polished college pitchers) is that they have limited ceilings and sometimes make better impressions and look better than they really are. That said, Michael Brenly has a good chance to keep moving through the system, and it's possible he could develop into a #1 or platoon AAA catcher or even an MLB back-up catcher at some point.

I don't know if you have seen Michael, but he is a LARGE dude. He looks like a defensive tackle. And so he really needs to watch his weight and stay in shape. And for a guy who is that big & strong, where is the power?

But Welington Castillo has the best defensive tools of any catcher in the Cubs organization, and in fact I wouldn't be surprised that if Castillo can get his hitting stroke back, that he could supplant Soto as the Cubs #1 catcher by 2011. Castillo's big problem in the past was erratic defense (he liked to show off his arm by making needless pick-off attempts at all the bases, and he also used to dick around with his receiving mechanics and showboat too much), but he seems to have matured (he only just turned 22!) and smoothed out those problems, possibly at the (temporary) expense of his hitting. As I have said here many times, Castillo fits the description of the Missing Flying Molina Brother you sometimes see on milk cartons in the MLB office.

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.