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, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* 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
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Rumor Round-Up: Bradley 3-Way, Chapman & More

Submitted by Rob G. on

All Milton, all the time...

- Foxsports's rumor mongering robot Robothal is hearing talks about a 3-way trade of Milton Bradley to the Blue Jays, Lyle Overbay to the Mets and Luis Castillo to the Cubs. 

The three-team possibility, according to one source, has "some legs, but not much." The Jays are opposed to the deal, one source says — perhaps because new GM Alex Anthopolous does not want a trade for Bradley to be his first major move.

Castillo is owed $6M each of the next two seasons, will be 34 next year has piss-poor UZR and Rate2 numbers the last few seasons and was the proud owner of a .337 wOBA(barely above average) last season thanks mostly to a .342 BABIP which isn't something he's shown he can repeat too often. So that's exciting...

But if the Cubs can indeed move the $21M owed Bradley for the $12M owed Castillo, well that becomes a no-brainer for the Cubs. Chances are they'll have to throw some cash which spins me right back to the not so exciting camp.

The same article says the Rays have been the heaviest pursuers of Bradley mentioning Pat Burrell again. Their salaries even out in 2010 according to Robothal, but Rays want Cubs to pay most of 2011 to relieve them of their headache.

- Bruce Levine chimed in earlier saying the Cubs have talked with Mets, Blue Jays, Rangers, Rays and Angels about Bradley. Levine reiterates that Rich Harden and Kevin Gregg are as good as gone, Cubs would like to resign John Grabow and Reed Johnson could be welcome back if he accepts a one year deal. He says the Cubs priorities are bullpen help, a leadoff hitter, center field and a veteran middle infielder...like Luis Castillo for example.

- Bruce Miles talked to Carlos Zambrano's agent and said he hasn't been approached about waving any no-trade clauses and thinks it's a "non-story".  Talk with Hendry included glowing praise of Starlin Castro and that a deal for Bradley isn't close.

- For what it's worth, which isn't much...Billy Williams would like to salvage the Milton Bradley situation in Chicago.

- Finally, the Cubs did inquire about the Cuban lefty fireballer Aroldis Chapman, but "seem to be going in other, cheaper directions"

Otherwise, be sure you don't miss Arizona Phil's Top 15 prospect list for something with some substance over this rumor mongering.

Tags
Cubs rumors

Comments

Submitted by thedirtbag on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 11:50 pm

I think Ken Rosenthal reads MLB Traderumors just like the rest of the MLB fan nation. The guy is a Type A douche bag. The Bradley for Castillo move would at least uphold the theory of left-handed on-base and free up roughly $9 million over the next two years, as long as the Cubs do not have to eat money in return. Personally, if this deal has legs (and all indications are that it does not), this would probably be as good as it gets. I for one am not for a Pat Burrell for Milton Bradley swap. The Cubs do not need another high strikeout non-defensive left fielder on the roster. The Cubs would just be faced with a $9 million dollar bench player. It is reported too that the Rays would want the Cubs to pick up the majority of Bradley's contract for '11, which the Cubs would almost be better off just rolling with the punches and see if he works out next year or creates a market for himself at all.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 11:16 pm

What about Derrek Lowe for Bradley? The Braves seem to think they have a starter to deal, and are probably wanting to get out of that contract. The Cubs could then turn around and trade Wells and a prospect for a good young (pre-arb?) center fielder... Felix Pie? OK maybe someone with a little better track record like...Dexter Fowler?

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:28 am

He's no sloth on the bases You don't think he's a bit overrated as a base stealer? 20-6 last year, 17-2 the year before (that percentage is actually very good), 19-6 in 2007, 25-11 in 2006, 10-7 (!) in 2005, etc. Most seasons he's been caught stealing quite a bit, sometimes even with his CS approaching is SB (2005, 2003). If they are dead set on selling low on Bradley, I'm not completely opposed to a Luis Castillo deal, mostly because I am a fan of OBP and he's at least decent in that department (or has been in the past). I'd feel a lot better about it if it was straight up with no cash exchange, though. I'd also feel better about it if it meant the end of Aaron Miles.

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:18 am

added to Blue Jays 40-man roster...

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:05 am

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 12:18am.
Dopirak added to Blue Jays 40-man roster

---------------------------------------

ROB G: 1B Brian Dopirak (by TOR), 3B Adam Heether (by MIL), RHP Juan Morillo (by MIN), and RHP Hayden Penn (by FLA), were added to 40-man rosters on Monday, just in front of the deadline for adding Rule 55 minor league free-agents to a 40-man roster by club selection. (Dopirak is currently leading the VWL in HR & RBI).

MLB will be releasing the list of Rule 55 minor league free-agents (Six-Year Minor League FAs) later this week.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:09 am

/hallucinogenics and rants AZ Phil is awesome is my post preamble... Luis Castillo and Mike Cameron, these are just the type of bullshit moves Hendry always makes. That's why he'll never be a premium GM and why the Cubs will never get to the WS with this fat douchebag at the helm. How about mixing things up, Fat Boy? The Dodgers and Zambrano would make a perfect fit, make the big trade. Ask for Kemp or Ethier and a prospect. If they belch on taking on the size of that contract (unlikely, they have $$), take Furcal's contract off their hands, send them Theriot if need be. We only need a 1-2 year placeholder at SS anyway with all the young SS prospects the Cubs now have in the minors. One of them will work out....right?? Sure, I recognize a deal like this won't happen, but can't we have a big picture GM that at least PURSUES possibilities like this, for ONCE? And yes I know Z has a NTC, but you gotta figure LA would be his number 1 choice if ever traded. National League so he hits. High profile team that is a winner. Big hispanic presence. Love big personality figures in la-la land. He'd be perfect for them, and I bet he knows it. Count me in on the Bradley for Lowe talk, that would be great. Lowe had an off-year, you'd be buying low (he-he). He has a strong track record and has always pitched well at Wrigley FWIW. Has Tampa really soured on BJ Upton? Really? How can the Cubs get this guy? Billy Wagner, yes please. Lefty/righty 8/9 combo in Wagner and Marmol. Lefty/righty 6/7 combo in Grabow and Guzman. Lefty/righty middle relief in Marshall and Should Still Be Wuertz, But a Replacement Can Be Found, So Long as He's Not Named Aaron. What's wrong with that bullpen? I bet the Cubs could get Kerry Wood back pretty easy. He's not a kid anymore, so there's no reason to baby him, if he breaks, he breaks, and I bet he accepts that at this stage. So why not make him a starting pitcher again? Lilly, Dempster, Wells, Lowe and Wood, yeah, I'd take my chances with that bunch. /hallucinogenics

[ ]

Submitted by MikeC on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:45 am

The Braves are pretty big on the character of the individual. Milton Bradley is like Kryptonite to that franchise, they wont touch him with a ten foot pole. You can bank on a Bradley for Lowe deal never ever happening. The Braves aren't going to trade a proven winner for a proven loser. And for the Zambrano mouth breathers, you might want to stop hyper-ventilating and worry when he has a season with an ERA close to 5.00, rather than 4.00 before you want to give up on a 28 year old pitcher. Years 28-34 typically have pitchers enjoying their best runs. And you are not going to get no Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier for Zambrano, they want offensive production not another pitcher. Otherwise they would have just kept Derek Lowe. BJ Upton is a possibility only because Tampa has the next big thing waiting in the minors for the OF and believe he can play now, so between Upton and Crawford one of them has to go. Only problem is Tampa is a notoriously tough negotiator. Be prepared to pay more than you want to get either one of them. They are a small market team so they want great prospects in return, something the Cubs can't offer, which puts us far off their radar in getting either one of them.

Submitted by Barry on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:26 am

I so agree with Jim Hickman's Bat. If we're going to make some moves, we should go after championship level players...not players whose best days are behind them. For CF,Rowand,Granderson,Upton would all be significantly better options than Cameron. Re: 2B Castillo's best days are way, way behind him. The Marlins payroll next year is $36 million and they won't pay Uggla who would be an upgrade for us. I know his defense is suspect but has averaged 90 RBIs over the last 4 years in a very defensive ballpark. We have the trading chips in our minor league system to make some significant moves (thanks AZ Phil for the thumbnails). We also have lots of underperforming players (some with NT clauses) that Hendry should try to move anyway. It's time for Hendry to get bold and creative...unless he is satisfied with winning 83 games again next year.

[ ]

Submitted by The E-Man on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:38 am

The items you discuss would be great IF the team did not have the back-loaded contracts it is saddled with making them unmovable. Take Z off the staff, and you are left with a rotation barely in the middle of the NL pack, and it would put even more wear and tear on the pen. The payroll is not going up, and if you were another GM, knowing that as fact, how the hell is Hendry going to get out of the hole he created? What prospects from the Cubs farm team would you be interested in getting back for the names you suggest? As armchair GM, the Jim Hickman's Bat guy's rant is fine. In the real world, it just will not make sense under the current scenario.

[ ]

Submitted by Jace on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:32 am

Take Z off the staff, you could replace him with another #3 starter EASILY and you are left with a rotation equivalent to what it was last year. He averaged pretty much exactly six innings per start, which is it self putting plenty of strain on the bullpen. With his contract, this guy is VERY replaceable.

Submitted by Barry on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:22 am

With many of our mainstay players such as Lee, Aram, Fukudome, Theriot, Soriano, Dempster and Lilly all on the wrong side of 30, this team has a narrow window of opportunity to win. With the exception of Cashner and Castro, we should be willing to part with any of our other prospects in order to obtain the kind of players who can get us to the playoffs and WS. Why not? I am not ready to settle for another 100 years of futility. Hendry is an idiot if he thinks that this team will win with just some minor tweaking. Our record against winning teams is awful. Compare our lineup to LA or Philly and I'm sure you'll agree that we just don't measure up. Under the current economic conditions many small market teams need to cut payroll and we should take advantage of that. I am tired of hearing about BS players like Cameron and Castillo whose best days are long gone. It's time to make some significant changes. Let's see if Hendry and Ricketts have the balls to do it.

Submitted by navigator on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:46 pm

It's lunchtime at the GM meetings. Jon Heyman (SI) tweets: milton bradley's "like oddball kid in class" with #cubs teammates. "no way he can go back," source says. some of these milton bradley rumors are wild. but he has to go somewhere. word is, many #cubs stars wont even talk to him. ============================================================ on THE SCORE, Heyman elaborates that Zambrano, Ramirez, and Soriano generally just don't talk to him. They avoid him.

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:18 pm

How could a team, with a straight face say "Well, who is going to pay for it if we give Milton Bradley 600 PA's?". I obviously don't have the temperment to be a GM.

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:34 pm

Hopefully his contract will paralyze the front office for the entire off-season.. or maybe we will decide to keep him, then have him speak at the Cubs Convention, only to be booed so severly that Hendry will decide he has to trade him again before the season starts. That would be smart.

Submitted by jacos on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:22 pm

Boers also said his insider told him that Bradley was an "actively evil influence in the clubhouse."

Recent comments

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

Click HERE for the last 50 comments