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

When They Pull Out a Knife, The Cubs Pull Out Jeff Baker

The Cubs countered the Cardinals acquisition of Mark DeRosa with one of their own, acquiring 2B/3B Jeff Baker from the Colorado Rockies. It's like countering a handgun with a slingshot. Seemingly running out of players to put on the disabled list, Baker is already on it with a left hand sprain suffered back in April, so he should fit right in with the Cubs. He did start a rehab assignment in mid-June, so I presume he's ready to play again and the Rockies were just out of roster space.

The player the Cubs are sending back is unknown at the moment, most likely a player to be named later.

UPDATE: The Cubs send Hi-A Daytona pitcher, Alberto Albequerque to the Rockies. I can't tell you anything about him other than he was having a nice season for the Cubs and he had shoulder surgery back in April of 2008.

UPDATE #2: The Cubs will DFA Ryan Freel to make room on the roster. They have 10 days to try and trade him for a spare minor league part, but chances are he'll just get released.

Comments

where Baker fits in... He doesn't take Miles or Blanco's spot since he can't backup shortstop. That means taking Ryan Freel or Jake Fox's spot, which doesn't seem like someone we needed to replace. Unless he has options left, but then I would presume the Rockies wouldn't have traded him.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Well he plays the exact same positions as DeRosa and bats right handed, so all the people clamoring for DeRosa's return should be able to explain where he fits. Sam Fuld is also on the roster. Fuld and Baker would seem to make Freel redundant, or maybe the Cubs have another trade in mind with Fox being the centerpiece. Maybe they want to make him a straight platoon partner with the Fontenaught. BP has him as an average 3B a hair below average at 2B and a pretty poor outfielder. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/dt/bakerje03.php

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I should add that it wouldn't surprise me to see Fonte-not get optioned at some point here....

I assume Fuld is just holding Reed's spot and either Fox or Freel gets sent away with Aramis coming back Monday. I guess the other one gets sent awy with Baker. 

~shrug~

Jimmy Rollins, guy who challenged for the longest hitting streak record a few years ago is 0-for in his last 27! at bats. That's 0-27, folks. No hits in his last 7 games, also sat for four games. Hasn't had a big league HIT for nearly half a month. He dropped his OPS down to .569. It's puzzling because he's such a good contact hitter; He destroyed the WBC (24 AB, 417/500/750). FYI... Aaron Miles: .500 OPS, 123 AB

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

We talked about him a bit a few days ago. Though I didn't examine that 0-27 streak, it doesn't seem like he's striking out a lot. According to fangraphs he's traded about 5% of his hit balls from line drives to fly balls, and his fly balls aren't leaving the park. Bad luck and not squaring up on the ball quite as well as he did in his 'MVP' season. He's a great buy low candidate for the Cubs, though the Phillies fans would probably burn the town down.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I'd love to get him. It would improve us defensively at short and give us a 'reason' to get Soriano the hell out of the leadoff spot. We would need to give up a starter and Theriot, and I just don't see our starters being a good fit, unless they really like Zambrano. For Zambrano and Theriot I guess they'd have to add someone. Lilly would be the best fit for us to trade, but I doubt they would want to bring his flyballs into that ballpark. *edit: BP indicates that Rollins is losing it as a shortstop. I didn't notice last year, and don't know if I've even watched a Phillies game this year.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

That would be great. He's having a rough year, but he's NOT a 200 hitter. We all know that. The only problem I'd have with it is in the short term, this year, we already have so many guys under-performing, do you risk adding another under-performer? Plus the Cubs have relatively few trading chips (as in guys who are a good value for the money on their contract).

He played last night! 0/3 FWIW, I like Jeff Baker...except for the "but he's injured" part. He hits the ball hard when he hits it.

i kind of remember Baker was a decent pinch hitter but couldn't find his split stats as a PH on the baseball reference site. one thing I did notice though was his stats for Wrigley Field: .500 .556 1.000 1.556 (9 at bats, hohoho...) I do agree that Fontenot's roster spot is the most likely he will replace as Hendry addresses the importance of getting more right handed. and I wonder what it will take to take have one of the disabled folks push Andy Blanco off the roster...since he's the only true SS on the team.

I keep a list of Cub pitching prospects ranked according to K/9 minus H/9. Basically it's a list of guys with more Ks than hits allowed--the unhittables. Marmol is a good example: he gives up BBs, not hits. Anyway, Albuquerque has been moving up the list all season, and is in 6th place today. 34.2 innings, 26 hits, 14 walks, 44 strikeouts, 3.14 K/BB, 1.17 WHIP, 11.58 K/9, 6.84 H/9. So he's not the guy I would have traded.

Considering what we gave up, trading for Baker is a fine gamble. If he fails, all you really lost was a decent minor league pen arm, not the end of the world. I don't really like Baker all that much, but whatever. I imagine he'll get the shot at 2nd base. Seems like it's going to be another quiet international signing period for us, in regards to the big time talent.

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

Interesting how the Cubs decided to focus revenue to Australiasia yet rarely if ever goes for top Latin American players. The Real Neal mocked me for stating we should try to sign all of our draft picks (and therefore draft more players in late rounds that fall for signability reasons) to try and further develop our farm system. Personally I think a realistic effort, overpaying for some (though not to an unreasonable level). Two examples from this draft are Erickson and Addison Dunn. Both are players that appear to have major league potential, both are unlikely to sign. I feel the same about international signings. The Real Neal scoffs at spending significant money on high school sophomores. And from past history and looking at the players individually, it is unlikely a particular player will make the majors, much less be a star. But if you scout well and sign many of them, you can potentially find Vladimir Guerrero and Alfonso Soriano. And the Cubs sign all their draft picks and some of them (like Lincecum, Laporta, Greene, etc.). I think my ideas could have cost $80-$100 million over the last 10 years. But it would have saved some of that money by removing some of our free agent signings (not sure Marquis ever signed, Dempster not resigned, etc.). I am sure this idea will be mocked. And probably 9 out of 10 times (if not more) the signings will not make major impact on the Cubs. But a few successes and the Cubs could have more stars on their team from the farm. And for a team that depends so heavily on free agents for its stars(our whole starting OF, for example), rebuilding our system to where it was earlier this decade (or better) would be great. And money needs to be spent to do it.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

Sorry if I came off as mocking. It's just that, look at the low percentages of guys who are first round picks who become stars. If you drop an average of $2 million on say, 10 'overdraft' kids and latin kids every year, that's $20 million a year. How do you get to $80 to $100 million over $10 years? Note, the Cubs are already spending probably $5 million a year on these kids bonuses, and some years (Prior, Smardizija, Vitters) more. You're just not being realistic. You're assuming that way too high a percentage of these guys are even going to become Jason Marquis (who was a 35th overall pick).

with whose spot Baker is taking...

If it's been mentioned, I apologize. But I hadn't realized that Casey's newborn passed away until reading this article. Best wishes to his family for the tragic circumstances they are going through. http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/story/806469.html. He's back with Boise now.

So Freel is the fall guy. A week ago that would have made more sense as he looked lost, but getting to play a couple of days in a row he looked like he was just beginning to become the Ryan Freel Sparkplug we used to see in Cincy. Interesting.

[ ]

In reply to by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree

Paul - in case you didn't get it, I wasn't really calling you a moron; I was trying to find a place to add in this link, which I think is hilarious. I always love it when people call other people "morans", because it is irony (and white trashiness) at its finest!

[ ]

In reply to by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree

I got it. I think that picture was up at Desipio for a long time, or was it here? I haven't seen it in about a year.

[ ]

In reply to by Chad

Apologies for being a moran, friends... I've only been frequenting this site for 6 months now, so I have no knowledge of what has been posted before that (and no desire to look back and find out). Sorry for my ignorance - where does the 3/44 come from? By now, I realize it means "old news", but how did it come about?

[ ]

In reply to by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree

It's Jason Schmidt's contract with the Dodgers. A lot of TCRers broke the news those first two days, and then again the day after that.

[ ]

In reply to by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree

Jason Schmidt's contract with the Dodgers. News of it was broken over and over again.

[ ]

In reply to by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree

I was merely giving you a mild ribbing. I know you are newish. 3/44 comes from the day that the news broke that the Cubs had offered free agent (at the time) Jason Schmidt a 3 year 44 million dollar contact. People posted it about a 100 times. And actually, I was the one who coined the term. Oh yeah, long time ishers, it was me.

[ ]

In reply to by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree

there was a rumor that the Cubs offered Jason Schmidt a contract for three years/$44 million and everyone kept repeating  the news and links for the next day or two and then it became a TCR meme...3/44 for repeating ourselves.

It was replaced briefly by Scott Eyre is broke, but that doesn't quite ring like 3/44.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Thanks, guys and Chad, for the explanation. I was actually scared that it was some sort of gay leet-speak, or crap like that...

[ ]

In reply to by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree

Well, it is true that you're now gay. Someone upthread should have mentioned that.

[ ]

In reply to by O.Julius

Dang it all, now I need to start waxing my bum and give the old lady the heave ho...

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 8:53am.
where Baker fits in...

He doesn't take Miles or Blanco's spot since he can't backup shortstop. That means taking Ryan Freel or Jake Fox's spot, which doesn't seem like someone we needed to replace.

Unless he has options left, but then I would presume the Rockies wouldn't have traded him.

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

ROB G: Jeff Baker is out of minor league options, and has been since 2007. He signed a Major League contract and was added to the Rockies 40-man roster straight out of Clemson post-2002 (he was a teammate of Khalil Greene at Clemson), and he was optioned to the minors in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 (he got four minor league options under the so-called "Todd Van Poppel Rule").

Baker can refuse an Outright Assignment and opt for free-agency beginning on 8/15 when he reaches three years of MLB ST, but if he were to get outrighted prior to that date he could not refuse the Outright Assignment  

Also, Baker will be eligible for salary arbitration for the first time in his career post-2009, unless he gets non-tendered on 12/12/09 (or gets outrighted prior to 8/15/09).

TCR 2009 Cubs Payroll, 40-man Roster, and Depth Chart have been updated.

As for Alberto Alburquerque, he has had arm problems (elbow and shoulder) for much of his carerer, but he's finlly healthy this season and was throwing in the mid-90's at Daytona.

I would compare him to Marcos Mateo (but Alburquerque has a better fastball), and as of right now, I would have rated Alburquerque as one of the Top 5 minor leaguers most-likely to get added to the Cubs 40-man roster post-2009 (along with Welington Castillo, Steve Clevenger, Tyler Colvin, and John Gaub).

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.