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

Cubs Pursuing Pedro Martinez

The Boston Globe is reporting that the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs seem to have the most interest in Pedro Martinez. Both teams have sent scouts down to the Dominican to see him pitch (hitting 94 mph with his fastball) and are beginning to explore just how much it might cost to sign the future HOF'er (I would hope). It's said he's looking for $5 million.

On the surface, it certainly wouldn't make much sense for the Cubs to be looking for another starting pitcher, considering that's been the strongest part of the team. But if the Cubs could sign Pedro, that could open them up to move another starting pitcher for a much needed bat...or two...or five. I would think Z and Dempster are pretty much locks to stay. Lilly would certainly draw interest from contenders but they would probably want to move prospects and that's probably not what the Cubs are looking for and Lilly does have some sort of no-trade clause. Rich Harden is a free agent at the end of the year, so he could be moved to a contender at the deadline, but you run into the same problem of that contender probably wanting to move prospects rather than established talent. So that leaves guys like Sean Marshall or Randy Wells or both and now you might be able to make some moves with teams out of the race and be left with Z, Dempster, Lilly, Harden and Pedro as your rotation. I know I could live with that starting staff.

All just a bit of fun speculating, but we need some fun after the last two days (Thanks to Wes for the link).

Comments

Rob, they are saying he's throwing 94. Now, of course, it matters what that 94 actually looks like as it arrives on Sotos' mitt, but I don't think it's a bad idea if he has some sauce left in the gut.

Cubs don't need a bat. Everything will be fine. On a more serious note. If by some chance they play October baseball, Pedro would be an invaluable big-game pitcher. I don't know what makes a guy a big game pitcher and there's no way to quantify it, but you have to admit he would be one.

Hmmm... It is fun speculating on this one, ROB G. I have not looked at his last meaningful stats. Anything to speak of? Also, which pitcher would be more valuable in a trade: the lefty Marshall - basically a 5th starter at best many would say, or, Randy Wells, an "out-of-nowhere" converted pitcher whom no-one has figured out yet?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Pedro's stats from the past couple of years haven't been anything to write home about, but he'd been throwing 85-89 and not 93-96 like he used to. If he's REALLY throwing 94, we're not talking Pedro of old, but we're talking about a guy who's a lot better than the 5.61 ERA and 1.57 WHIP he put up last year. 3 fewer K/9 and one more BB/9 than his career line. Obviously he's not going to pitch to his career line if he does pitch for somebody this year, but I think if they aren't lying about him throwing 94, he can be a very valuable arm for somebody.

are the Orlando Magic the worst team to ever make the Finals? "How Not to Close Out an NBA Game" by the 2009 Orlando Magic on DVD everywhere

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Zzzzz why do we need to trade for Vernon Wells when we have Milton Bradley? I wouldn't trade Zambrano at all, he has been this teams most reliable arm for the last 7 years. It is extremly difficult to find starters who year in and year out can do what Zambrano does. I would like to take a flyer on Pedro but the time to do that was in spring training when Heilman, and Marshall were battling for the last spot and Randy Wells was still a nobody. Right now the only use we have for Pedro is in the bullpen which is where i think he could help us the most. Pay him 5 million for the rest of the year and see if he can just go balls out with his pitches and not have to worry about pacing himself for 6+ innings.

DeRosa 3/3 tonight with 2 BB's...did commit his 9th error though. Marshall or Wells & another Iowa arm for DeRosa?

''We just really did nothing,'' Piniella said of the finish to a 4-4 road trip that included three walkoff losses, the last two by 2-1 scores. ''Did nothing. And when we had chances, we were swinging at bad pitches out of the zone and can't make contact. Come on, this is major-league baseball. ''I know the game isn't the easiest in the world to play, because I played it for a long time. But it's not this damn hard. Come on. It's not this hard.'' Piniella's frustration and voice began rising as he started rolling. ''It's a difficult game to play because it's every day, every day. It's going to be mental. You've got to have toughness. You've got to be able to think. You've got to have ability. But at the same time, you make it too hard. You make it too hard. ''It's not that hard, come on. ... You get runners on first and third with no outs and can't get the damn ball out of the infield? Another time it's first and third, and we had a double play.'' http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1619288,CST-SPT-cub12.arti…

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In reply to by Old and Blue

you're going to be hard pressed to find much in the press with dustbag bashing a player or team....it's one of those things he's been vocal about not doing too much during his managerial career. he sees himself at a f'n ninja master or something...glosses over the media crap and does his thing in kung fu mentoring sessions in the clubhouse, on the field, in the office, etc. it's just his style...doesn't make for good reading during losing streaks, though.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

The most obvious places to put some bats right now are 2B and RF. However, I think Fontenot will come around (I hope that Bradley will come around too, and not get injured), and the Cubs have committed a ton of money to Bradley. 1B would be another place, but Derrek Lee has picked up his offense lately (and has that NTC, plus we already have Hoffpauir and Fox waiting to get their turns).

Is Slowey still throwing a boring 89MPH fastball? I think the Cubs should be able to hit him as long as he throws strikes. If he throws them in the dirt, however, they'll likely be shut down hacking at earthworm-height fastballs.

face it; we're basically stuck w/ who/what we got - pretty much what Lou said; just keep trottin' the high-paid under performers out there & wait for progression towards the norm

[ ]

In reply to by Mike Wellman

You're totally right about that, no blockbuster deals this year with the owners dicking around with millions of dollars, balance sheets, and bankruptcy court. I think Fox & Wells are legit trading chips and it would be nice to see them traded while their '09 numbers are still crazy good. Kenny Williams was ranting about blowing up the team if they didn't start playing better. I think it was mainly B.S., but if he's serious Thornton would fit real nice into our bullpen.

Wind blowing out today, to left, Neal. At least right now. Too bad we cannot use the DH rule this home-stand. Jake Fox could help out. It will be interesting in the Crosstown in that the two teams are neck-and-neck among the bottom four teams in the MLB in success with RISP. That will make for some really long games potentially.

Isn't this about the time a team's hitting coach gets scapegoated? Thanks for the memories Gerald. Maybe we can bring back Sosa's guru - his name again? Or kick Von Joshua upstairs from Des Moines...

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In reply to by Mike Wellman

I am going to have to give Perry the benefit of the doubt, being that the Cubs lead the league in runs OBP last year. Mostly we need to get two of our three outfielders going at the same time now that Lee, The Fontenaught and Soto seem to have bee released from the morgue. Bradley and Soriano are pressing, and Fukudome's got some mechanical problem, he's swinging at the correct pitches, just missing them.

[ ]

In reply to by Mike Wellman

The team is pressing at the plate. A tense batter grips the bat a bit tighter and I believe they pull the bat in a little tighter, too. The result is Milton Bradley trying to hit the ball to South Holland, Michigan and either rolling over it or missing it all together. You can see the guys loosen up after they score a few runs and they end up scoring a ton. That's why there's no middle ground with this crew. I don't know what you do. Mandatory 30 minutes in the jacuzzi before game time? Massages from Cindy Sandberg? Crotch massages from Ceasar Izturis? Who knows.

i said scapegoated; not that it's his fault any more than last year was his doing; just the old "you can't fire the whole team" thing...

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Pedro's gonna want to sign with a team to start, so no...

As I said, gives depth to the rotation to make a deal...although I should add that they could maybe move Harden in a 3-team deal, Harden going to a contender, contender giving up prospects to help get Cubs whatever they're looking for...

Same could be said of Lilly but he has a NTC...

is blanco out of options?

[ ]

In reply to by ddp33

Submitted by ddp33 on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 2:14pm.

is blanco out of options?

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

DDP33:Yes, Andres Blanco is out of options.

And if the Cubs were to try and outright him back to Iowa, even if he isn't claimed by another MLB club off waivers, because he was previously outrighted in his career (by KC in October 2007) he would have the automatic right to become a free-agent immediately, or he could accept the outright assignment and defer his right to be a FA until after the end of the regular season.

If Blanco (or "Whitey,",as his teammates call him) did get outrighted and then deferred his right to be a FA until the end of the season, the Cubs could retain him by adding him back to their 40-man roster anytime before the end of the MLB regular season. If he is not added back to a 40-man roster by the end of the season, he would have the right to file for free-agency as an Article XX-C minor league FA starting on the day after the end of the MLB regular season up through October 15th. 

BTW, most players who have the right to be a free-agent if they get outrighted defer their right to be a FA until after the season, because if the player opts for free-agency immediately, he unilaterally terminates his contract, and there is no guarantee he would get a better deal (or even the same deal) from somebody else. After all, before the player got outrighted, any of the other 29 clubs could have claimed him off waivers, but didn't.

That said, occasionally a player just wants out, either because he feels like he would have a better chance to eventually get back to the big leagues with another organization, or because he doesn't like the AAA manager, or the AAA town he's playing in, or who knows what.

In the case of Blanco, he chose to sign with the Cubs as a minor league FA both post-2007 AND post-2008, so the fact that he opted to come back for a second year at Iowa must mean he likes Des Moines OK, and that he likes the Cubs organization.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • 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.