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

Morelli Strikes Out A's

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

RF Jesus Morelli threw a strike to catcher Matt Cerda with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, nipping the potential tying run at the plate and preserving the victory, as the EXST Cubs edged the EXST A's 4-3 in Extended Spring Training action at Papago Park Field #2 in Phoenix this morning.

18-year old Australian RHP Adam Spencer entered the game in the bottom of the 9th after the Cubs had come back to tie and then take the lead with two outs in the top of the 9th, thanks to a two-base error by the A's shortstop and a clutch RBI single by Jose Guevara.

Spencer gave up a lead-off triple into the left-field corner, before getting the first out of the 9th on a pop-up to short CF, with the runner holding at third. The next A's hitter lofted a lazy fly ball to medium deep RF, and Morellii got a good read on it, getting himself into position to throw by circling behind the ball, and getting all of his momentum moving forward, before throwing the game-ending strike home to just barely nab the runner trying to score.  

Morelli has struggled with the bat, so I'm sure he feels great having contributed to a victory with his defense. The 19-year old Dominican was all smiles as he high-fived his teammates milling round the pitchers mound after the game ended.

RHP "Big Jon" Nagel got the start for the Cubs today, and allowed one run in three innings of work. He was not as sharp as he had been in his previous couple of outings, as his sinker just wasn't sinking like it usually does, but he still managed to get four punchouts along the way with a nasty slider.

The Cubs tied the game in the 4th and then took the lead 2-1 in the 6th, with 18-year old Australian LF Sean Williams scoring both of the runs after getting on base to lead off both frames. once by walk and once by single. Like Morelli, Williams has struggled with the bat, so he has to feel good about reaching base three times and scoring twice today.

But the A's rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 7th when Cubs lefty reliever Marcos Perez had control issues, and the A's took the one-run lead into the 9th.

John Contreras led off the Cub 9th with a line-drive double into the left-center alley, but PR Alvaro Sosa couldn't move up as Jericho Jones fanned and George Matheus popped up weakly to the second-baseman.

Then Sean Hoorelbeke hit what should have been a routine game-ending 6-3 grounder, but the ball caromed off the shortstop's glove into short LF, allowing Sosa to score (just barely) from 2nd base with the tying run. Morelli was hit by a pitch, and then Guevara lined his game-winning RBI single to CF.

In EXST Cubs injury news, 18-year old Korean OF Jae-Hoon Ha is listed as "day-to-day" with a sore wrist.

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

LINEUP:
1. Jose Valdez, CF:         1-2  (1-3, 5-3 SH, 1B, BB)
2. Logan Watkins, 2B:     2-4  (1B, 1B, 4-6 FC, K - 1 RBI)
3. Matt Cerda, DH-C:        0-4  (L-3 DP, 6-4 FC, 4-3, 1-3)
4a. John Contreras, 3B:   1-4  (P-3, 6-4 FC, L-7, 2B)
4b. Alvaro Sosa, PR-3B:   0-0  (1 R)
5. Jericho Jones, DH #2:  2-4  (6-3, 1B, 1B, K - 1 PO)
6a. Hak-Ju Lee, SS:         0-2  (F-8, 5-4 FC)
6b. George Matheus, SS  1-2  (1B, P-4)
7. Sean Hoorelbeke,  1B: 0-4  (F-7, L-5, 4-6 FC, E-6 - 1 R)
8. Jesus Morelli, RF:         0-2  (4-3, K, BB, HBP - 1 SB)
9. Jose Guevara, C-DH:    1-4  (K, 6-3, K, 1B - 1 RBI)  
10. Sean Williams, LF:     1-2   (1B, BB, BB, F-9 - 2 R)

PITCHERS:
1. Jon Nagel -              3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 3/2 GO/FO
2. Rogelio Carmona -  2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2/2 GO/FO
3. Marcos Perez -        1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 2/0 GO/FO
4. Melvin Vasquez -     1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/2 GO/FO
5. Adam Spencer -      1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 0/3 GO/FO

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Matt Cerda - 1 PB

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

ATTENDANCE: 9

Tags
Adam Spencer
Sean Williams
EXST Cubs
Jon Nagel
Jesus Morelli
Jose Guevara

Comments

Submitted by mannytrillo on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 05:05 pm

It's deja vu all over again. 1 measly run...woo hoo. Poor Wells. Welcome to the bigs Scales & Fox, tough AB's in the 9th.

[ ]

Submitted by Wes on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 05:56 pm

Yeah, that's the way you really, really hate to go down, especially with the bases loaded. Just make SOME contact somewhere. But, it's been that kind of season so far. Didn't even have to face Broxton, either.

Submitted by Jeff_Pico on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 05:29 pm

This team is just so frustrating. When will they break out? Still lots of games to be played but the offense is just so sluggish. The pitching has been fine. Hoping to split this series now seems optimistic. Tonight was the night to get that first W.

Submitted by Old and Blue on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 05:33 pm

I hate Sam Zell. He represents everything I hate about 21st century leveraged capitalism. It's not enough he bought the Trib with a heavily leveraged package? Now, he's trying to squeeze the Ricketts family for a few hundred million more than the damn team is worth, and he wants it financed. The dude is a douche bag.

Submitted by Chifan on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 05:42 pm

Tonight loss is on Pinella, how do you keep your best Lefty off the bench in your pocket? Hoffpauir should have taken Scales at-bat. Who cares about 10th inning defensive allignment when you are losing. If Hoffpauir crushes a double game over and you dont even have to worry about it. You play to win the game and at that point in the game you needed to tie the game and Hoff gave us the best chance.

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Submitted by Chifan on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 05:11 pm

If your tied I can see the point in keeping Scales in to play defense, but when your behind you need to play the percentages to tie the game. If you only get one run and your stuck with Fox and Soriano playing infield in the 10th so be it. Put in Marmol in the 10th hope he strucks out the side and then hope the top of the lineup scratches one across. I can handle losing in 10 because of a Fox or Soriano error, I cant handle losing in the 9th if your best PH not getting a chance to try to tie or win it.

[ ]

Submitted by Chifan on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 05:55 pm

Yeah, the guy who put up wiffle ball numbers in AAA and had been 2 for 2 in the bigs to that point sucks because he struck out in his 3rd at bat. Maybe had he started he would have done better aganist Wolf than Blanco or Fontenotagoodeverydayplayer did striking out pathtically both times they faced him.

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Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 05:52 am

that's cute...problem is Bobby Scales just accounted for the only run the inning before and although he seems a little better from the right hand side than the left, the Cubs needed another pinch-hitter if Fox or Scales got on and it was still tied. Plus with one out, Hoffpauir is a better double play candidate.

The actual screw-up was whatever happened that they announced Koyie Hill and lost him for the game in the 8th when they used Fukudome.

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 05:01 am

"plus the Cubs needed another pinch-hitter if Fox or Scales got on and it was still tied." This is the same kind of logic that caused us to lose the Monday game. It's flawed at best. If you lose a game because you don't use the best player you have at your disposal, hoping that later you will get to use him... sorry, but that's just stupid. You don't put Cotts in to protect a one-run with a fresh Angel Guzman twiddling his thumbs in the bullpen and when you have the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th down by 1 run, you don't worry about getting a big inning.

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Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 05:42 pm

I agree about the Angel Guzman incident, not about this. Transcosco (sp?) is a sinker ball pitcher and Hoff and Scales have in their brief appearances struck out at similar rates (20 to 25%) this year (16 versus 20% in the minors). You want to stay out of the DP there and Scales just hit a home run and so far has been hitting better than Hoff.

Of course, he's not a better hitter, but he has been so far and there's no reason to pinch-hit there and replace him with a guy that's 4 for his last 23.

Fleeting as it may be, Scales has hit so far in the majors...I don't think you pinch-hit unnecessarily there. I'm not as worried about burning Hoff there, although I think you need to take it into consideration, I don't think you pinch-hit there because it doesn't get you much more.  When you're talking about just one at-bat, how much of an advantage is it really to replace Scales with Hoffpauir considering Scales has a much better chance to avoid a double play and has been hitting better and all you need is a single.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:34 am

We have widely differing opinions on the hitting abilities of Scales and Hoffpower. For their minor league careers Scales hit groundballs about 50% more often than Hoffpauir has. That alone more than makes up for the difference in foot speed. I also disagree that a single wins the game (though I can't remember who was on 2nd off the top of my head). A flyball ties the game, and double definetly wins the game and Hoffpauir is vastly more likely to delivery either of those events than Scales was. Scales HR came off a pitcher who was gassed. He was over matched by this Troncosco chap. In short, Micah is a major leauge hitter, and Scales is not.

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Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 05:53 pm

so did Jake Fox, they should have pinch hit for him too...

Hoffpauir just looked like a school girl versus the backup to the backup closer...he should never hit either.

Soriano looks like a school girl about 100 times a year...usually with people on base.

but back to the original point, phitting with Hoff there wouldn't have been the right move.

Submitted by Hagsag on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 05:02 am

Phil, is there any news on Julio Castillo, the Animal.? I saw in the BA trans. that he has been reinstated. Thanks.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 05:53 am

Submitted by Hagsag on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 7:02am.
Phil, is there any news on Julio Castillo, the Animal.? I saw in the BA trans. that he has been reinstated. Thanks.

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

HAGSAG: Julio Castillo is on the EXST Cubs Active Roster (which presently numbers 45 players - 26 pitchers, five catchers, eight infielders, and six outfielders), but he has pitched only sim games at Fitch Park so far.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

  • crunch (view)

    booooooooooo

    also, wisdom and taillon are both in chicago.

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