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 Win Streak Ends at 5

The Cubs five-game win streak doesn't make it to six and and the loss coupled with the Cardinals win over the Dodgers, drops the Cubs back to second place. Ryan Dempster returned from the disabled list and was nothing short of awful. 5 IP, 9 H, 3 K and 5 ER, 6 total and the error was his own. But at least he didn't walk anyone! With the Cubs catching a huge break when Roy Oswalt left in the second inning with a back injury, the Cubs just needed some decent pitching to stay in this one and they sure didn't get it from Dempster or the bullpen. 

Armchair Managing: The Cubs first comeback started in the fourth when Wesley Wright just completely lost it and missed the strike zone on 10 straight pitches and quite a few more before and after as well. He walked the bases loaded on two occasions with a sacrifice fly in-between and with lefty Mike Fontenot in the original lineup with Oswalt starting, Lou went to the bench early and called on Reed Johnson to pinch-hit and he came through with a 2-out, 2-run single. Then a nicely executed double steal put runners on 2nd/3rd but also gave the Astros the opportunity to intentionally walk Koyie Hill and force Lou's hand with Dempster due up. Lou didn't take the bait and let Dempster hit and he naturally struck out. If you're already going for the big inning by pinch-hitting for Fontenot, I think you have to do the same with Dempster there. And if Lou called for the double steal, he basically ended the Cubs inning if he wasn't going to pinch-hit for Dempster, since you know Cooper would walk Hill there. This all leads me to believe that Lou is a terrible chess player. Dempster then rewarded Lou's faith by giving up a 2-run HR in the top of the fifth that gave the Astros a 6-3 lead.

Ramirez's three-run dinger int he bottom of the fifth neutralized the damage though and then the bullpen proceeded to flush the game and first place with it.

Half-Ass Parachat Recap:

  • Miggy's 3-run HR in the first
    • well it looked like a HR, sac fly instead
  • Debating Top 10 defensive plays of the decade
    • Was Giambi safe?
      • no
  • laughing at the Astros misfortune with Roy Oswalt
  • Valverde with Fulchino is delicious
  • Transmission's date with his sister
  • Following Buehrle's quest for back-to-back perfectos and congratulations on the new record...now go die!
    • "Ryan Dempster is NOT pitching a perfect game" - Ryno
  • Finding Trans a date on craigslist
    • We wouldn't have to do this if you weren't having dates with your sister.
  • I get bored doing the Parachat recap...
    • stupid blackout rules, bring Trans back to us
And congratulations to the Angel Fan Wife on being married to me for 8 years...I imagine it's been just as insufferable as being a Cub fan sometime over the last 100. Lots of expectations, but neither of us deliver....

 

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Comments

best parachat recap ever!

You're a thick gurl, and you've gone too far 'Cause you know it don't matter anyway You can rely on Trans's good lovin' Oh, you can rely on Trans's good lovin' And don't you know Don't you know...

I rarely pull the "I just knew it" card, but I just knew when Lou failed to ph for Dempster that he was going to suck in the next 1/2 inning. I'm more upset with the Dodgers though. What's the point of best record in the league you bastards? At least the Nats are embarrassing the Brewers.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

That is simply unbelievable. How is it even possible for a baseball player to suffer from dehydration? It was an 82 degree night game, no less. Not exactly the Gobi Desert out there. I've played basketball for 3-4 hours at a time and managed to not get rushed to the hospital. This idiot pitches 3 innings, and can't just take a couple sips of Gatorade?

I was flipping the dial last night and Dye hit a homer to put Sox up 1-0, and Stoney was recapping "with that blast Jermaine Dye has put the Cubs...I mean White Sox up one to nothing." Nervous laughter. Hawk made an angry chuckle noise and went back to the game. Classic.

This was a "Sacrificial Lamb" game. I realize it - however unfortunate I felt that the cards lined up that I had to be there for this one. However, the baseball gods gave a break to the Cubs when Oswalt got pulled. What had me furious was KNOWING in advance that Demp was going to throw no more than 80 or so pitches, and since he was up to 68 when his AB came up with the bases juiced, what the fuck is the difference in pulling him there, as ROB G states? So - you're going to wast a go-ahead scenario to save 13-15 pitches for the bullpen? This is one more reason why I will be happy when Lou does not return next year. That is just OLD. Not mentioned: Bourne's game-saving catch on Theriot which would have put the Cubs ahead 7-6 at the time. He had an All-Star night on us.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Then he pinch hits for an actual hitter, and uses a third player to replace Fontenot defensively then he double switches in Hoffpauir even though the pitcher he put in would have never come up, and Hoffpauir's defense in right costs us a run or two. Then he puts in Heilman to put out a fire, even though Heilman has been the worst guy on the team doing that this year. Finally, in the 9th, all of his pinch hitters used, in part because he used 3 for one at bat (2 on) when not using any for a different at bat (pitcher up bases loaded), and we need a walk, so he sends up Big Z, who is just about the least likely guy to take a walk on the team. Without a doubt the worst in game managerial performance by this guy since he was here.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

"then he double switches in Hoffpauir even though the pitcher he put in would have never come up." Hoffpauir was the third batter in the Cubs next half-inning. Guzman had only faced one batter and was going to stay in the game. Lou tends not to overmanage, but sometimes he yanks guys punitively. It was out of character for Lou to pinch hit for a starting second-baseman early in the game, but I assume he was pissed at Fontenot for the missed bunt the night before. And Bradley got the hook (in favor of Hoffpauir) after another terrible left-handed at-bat in the bottom of the fifth. He came out in the top of the sixth.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

You're right on that first part. So after he fucked up by leaving Dempster in, the next stupid thing Lou did was taking out Marshall, which he meant he had to use 3 players instead of 2. Hey Lou, the game is 6-6 in 6 innings and you just had a 13 inning game the night before. Try not to burn 2 players in single at bats. It's just simple math. "It was out of character for Lou to pinch hit for a starting second-baseman early in the game, but I assume he was pissed at Fontenot for the missed bunt the night before." If he was mad at him for the night before he should have started Blanco or Baker, not burned through his bench before the 7th inning was over.

Espn-1000 radio said Cubs calling up Mitch Atkins for a fresh arm in the bullpen, not confirmed elsewhere yet...nor the other roater move...they did interview Samardzija so I doubt he's going to Iowa

TRN: Do the Houton fans believe they are playing way over their heads, or do they expect this post-asg hot streak?

from the I-Cubs site: Aaron Miles is with the Cubs on his second Major League rehab assignment of the year Miles has been on Chicago's disabled list since June 21st with a hyperextended right elbow. He joined the I-Cubs on July 16th and is batting .213 (10-for-47) with four doubles, four RBI, and three runs scored 11 games on this rehab stint. Question: what is the limit allowed (if any) for a mlb rehab assignment? Somewhere I recall it's in the 2-3 week range and Miles is at 13 days now. --- also noted in BJ Ryan's outing.. Pitches 11- Strikes 5. Kind of odd but innocuous considering a 5 pitch walk. He got a fly out (3 pitches, 2-0 count), walk (on 5 pitches), double play (3 pitches, 0-2 count)

lineup, via len and bob twitter... RJohnson (CF), Theriot, DLee, ARam, Bradley, Soriano, Baker, Hill and Wells

looks like Victor Martinez could be on the move as well from Indians, Red Sox and Rays seem the most interested....

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Four of the six starters the Cubs could expect to face in a first round playoff series are now left handed. Wonder if this inspires the Cubs to look at doing something a little bigger than adding a reliever. It's hard to argue, even healthy, that we're better than the 3rd best team in the league now.

of Whoop-ass on Mike Hampton! That's a fun thing to see in the first inning!

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Nice start!! Bet by next inning Hampton grabs his elbow like Rodney Dangerfield in "Caddy Shack" Oooh!Oooh! Its broken.

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Typical f'ing Cubs. Score a touchdown the first time on offense, then miss the extra point.

Aramis Ramirez is a beast. And since Fonzie is going to hit now, it's cool that he can do it with guys on base.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I always find this a very bizarre "conventional wisdom" argument. No stats, but I am willing to bet that in less than 5% of MLB games does a catcher leave the game due to injury (or, in Michael Barrett's case, get tossed for punching a prick). Maybe less than 1%. With a 10-0 lead, on a warm, humid day, with a catcher who has caught every game for weeks, I'd be willing to roll the dice that Fox wouldn't get injured so badly he would need to leave the game in the last 2 innings. If he came up to bat, tell him not to swing so he won't foul a ball off his foot.

I tip my cap to Koye -- catching every game, a day game after a night game, and he gets 2 hits. "When the hell is this offense gogin to score some......why won't they move Soriano down in the....Soriano can't hit with runners in scoring....they can't expect A-Ram to come back and be the same..." Aw, forget it.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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)

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  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

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  • 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...