Cubs MLB Roster

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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 
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Cubs Deal Heilman to Diamondbacks

Submitted by Rob G. on

The Cubs have traded RHP Aaron Heilman to the Arizona Diamondbacks for two minor leaguers, LHP Scott Maine and 1B Ryne White. No one on the Cubs or their fans is probably gonna miss Heilman so I won't waste much space on him, but it was a good way for the Cubs to get something for a guy that was probably a good bet to get non-tendered.

White's a local boy that went to high school at St. Rita, not too far from MIdway Airport. He then went to college at Purdue and was drafted in the 4th round by the Diamondbacks in 2008. He spent that year in Rookie Ball and then the Midwest League for a handful of at-bats, so the Cubs probably got a chance to see him a bit there. Last year he went to Hi-A with Visalia and finished with a 266/371/356 with 65 BB's against 87 K's in 491 PA's. He'll be 23 next season.

Prior to the 2009 season, one scout.com article had him listed as a top 5 power hitting prospect in the Diamondbacks system, although he has yet to show that power. 

White suffered a power outage once he began to face Midwest League pitching. Still, between Purdue, Missoula, and South Bend, White combined for 34 doubles, a triple, 19 homers, and 99 RBI in 2008. He is a big pull hitter who figures to improves as he continues to receive professional instruction. There are several Diamondbacks prospects who displayed more power this year, including Harbin, Peter Clifford, and Isaias Asencio, but none of them has quite the ceiling that White does.

He played a little bit of right and left field as well last year for Visalia.

Maine's a 6-3" lefty that will be 25 next season and was drafted in the 6th round in the 2007 draft out of the University of Miami. He pitched for  both Double A and Triple A in 2009 and between the two leagues he had a 2.90 ERA in 2009 in 62 IP and a 8.9 K/9 rate and 3.2 BB/9 rate and a 0.3 HR/9. He was selected for the Arizona Fall League, but just made two appearances and gave up 3 runs in 1.2 IP. I assume he was replaced, but can't find any details on the matter.

He got hit pretty hard in 2009 by lefties, a .325 average versus .259 versus righties, but his K/9 rate was much better versus lefties, so it could just be a matter of bad luck.  His career minor league splits show a .259 BA against lefties  with a 10.59 K/9 rate compared to a .266 BA versus righties and 8.92 K/9 rate. He also seems to be able to induce more groundball versus lefties than righties (55.3% versus 42.0%).

Stuff wise, he comes from a low-three quarters delivery and features a fastball (89-92), curveball (wicked movement, difficult to control) and a changeup.

It should be noted that Maine has already undergone Tommy John Surgery way back in 2004 and also was in a very bad car wreck that shattered his skull and forced him to wear a protective face plate. At the very least, he's a good comeback story to root for...

Tags
Aaron Heilman
Cubs Roster Moves

Comments

Submitted by Andrew on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:41 pm

Seemed like a nice guy, but he was a head case on the mound. I always liked Heilman from afar, but when he arrived on the Cubs, I could see why he was hated so much in NY, for example. Considering he definitely wasn't coming back next season, it's somewhat impressive that the Cubs got what they did. How much will this save us in arbitration?

Submitted by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:46 pm

Heilman's situation reminds me a little of the Marquis situation going into last season - he didn't perform terribly as a Cub, but it was more about what he represented by his being here. With Marquis, he was always a very serviceable 5th starter but his salary was (rightfully) viewed as a roadblock to getting Jake Peavy and he had to go. When we didn't get Peavy at all, it was almost like some Cubs fans turned on Marquis and blamed him for having something to do with that fiasco. It was a shame to see Cubs fans boo him so mightily when he came back to Wrigley. To me, Heilman (along with Gregg) represents the overall failure of the bullpen to live up to expectations, so he had to go, even though he wasn't an awful reliever. Still, I won't be shedding any tears over his departure... it definitely opens up a spot for someone like Caridad for next season...

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:55 pm

Hendry sez he's got volume...can a donut joke be far behind? --- PWSullivan: Hendry cites bullpen "volume" in Heilman deal, namely Marmol, Grabow, Caridad, Samardzija, Gorzelanny, Marshall, Berg. Lou can sleep better

Submitted by navigator on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:20 pm

Big Picture: We traded Felix Pie (who got us Garrett "Peavy bait" Olson) + Ron Cedeno and have so far received in return: 1 year of Aaron Heilman (who you may recall wants to be a starter not a reliever--- and was another one of those players Hendry "admired ever since he played for Notre Dame.") RHP Hank Williamson AAA LHB 1B Ryne White A+ LHP Scott Maine AAA ------------------- I'm okay with this, although I have to admit if Baltimore wanted these guys I might trade all 3 for Felix Pie.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:46 pm

I thought the Bradley signing made much less sense after we traded Pie. We may have been able to carry Gathright a lot longer if the good hitters actually did their jobs (and Ramirez stayed healthy). This trade gives us another slot on the 40 man right? So technically it's like a 3 for 1 (these two plus the last man who would have been cut), assuming that the Cubs would have lost someone in the Rule V draft, which based on recent years seems likely.

Submitted by Tony S. on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:47 pm

I've been reading a bunch of blogs, tweets, etc. Someone said White was a "Matt Stairs type". That's good, right? (personally, I hope he breaks with the big club someday just to have another "Ryno" to cheer for) EDIT-- It was Hendry. It's mentioned in Muskrat's blog Rob linked to above.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:43 pm

Stairs is a clubhouse cancer, he's been on 9 teams over the last 9 years, despite a career 118 OPS+. He's really an interesting case study in a guy everyone likes to have but no one wants to keep. No one ever says anything bad about him, he does just what he's advertised to do, and every year, pretty much he has to find a new team. You want to look at his numbers and say that he's done, but I am sure people wanted to do the same thing after 2000 and after 2006.

Submitted by Romero on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:13 pm

I like that Ryne White was born in Chicago. Given that his birth year is 1986, it's clear to me where his first name comes from. Interesting.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:30 pm

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 7:03pm.
The lefty pitcher is 25 and finished last year in aaa.

He is probably on the 40.

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

DR AARON B: Maine is not eligible for the Rule 5 Draft until after next season, and White is eligible after the 2011 season. So neither player would need to be placed on the Cubs 40-man roster at this time.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:19 am

Submitted by thedirtbag on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 10:49pm.
Maybe Diamond is protected from the Rule 5 now. He has been doing fairly well in the Mexicano League.

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

T. Dirt Bag: Thomas Diamond is eligible for selection in next month's Rule 5 Draft, and if he remains on a minor league roster he will be eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league free-agent after next season, unless he is added back to an MLB 40-man roster no later than the 4th day afrer the conclusion of the 2010 World Series.

Also, the Cubs cannot add Diamond back to their 40-man roster prior to the 2009 Rule 5 Draft. Because he was outrighted to the minors in September, he would have had to be added back to the 40-man roster no later than the 4th day after conclusion of the 2009 World Series.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:23 am

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 8:06pm.
from that article link...

It would not be incorrect to say that some of the money saved in the Heilman trade will go toward Grabow's contract, which will increase about $1 million a year.

if it's 2/7.5, then we're talking 3.25 in 2010 and 4.25 in 2011.

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

ROB G: Don't forget the Hendry Incentives.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:40 am

He didn't walk much last year anyway...career in the minors he got on base decently... .293/.357/.528 I spose I'm in the minority for keeping Jake Fox? Put him in LF when Soriano gets hurt..put him at 3B when A-Ram gets hurt....power bat off the bench otherwise.

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Submitted by MikeC on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:51 am

Ummmm Jake Fox couldn't crack the lineup when Soriano and Bradley were gone. Personally i think Lou was correct that the league figured him out and sliders were death to Jake Fox. That being said I would have played him over Scales and Fuld, but i think Lou was trying to protect his trade value because in all due reality, Jake Fox has no position to play on this team and has no future with the Cubs.

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Submitted by Ryno on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:07 am

Talking bad about Jake Fox on TCR? Why you might as well be blaspheming Matt Murton... In all seriousness, Jake Fox isn't nearly as good as everyone thinks he is. He's got some pop. He needs some work and doesn't have a position. It's not a good formula. Who knows, maybe he'll be the next Adam Dunn... until then he's just Jake Fox: DH Lite. As far as clubhouse attitude he really seems like a great guy and I don't mind him playing a bench role and hitting 5 or 6 homers in the late innings in 2010.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:21 am

I actually thought his third base was pretty solid. His first base defense probably cost us at least one game, and maybe two. In left he looked like a drunk stumbling home from the bar, but for the most part he made the base cataches. That still doesn't explain Scales getting the PT, his defense cost us in back to back games against the Cards and he still went out there. I don't think the "he can't hit a slider" thing is true, no one hits sliders out of the zone. Just like everyone else he needs to see some more pitchers to get some more experience to lay off those pitches. Just based on his usage at the end of the year, you would certainly think he's not in Lou's plans for the 2010 Cubs. Just one more reason to dislike Lou, as far as I am concerned. If you wanted to protect him against slider pitchers - you would just bench him against right handers with sliders - that didn't happen.

Submitted by MikeC on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:48 am

I like this Ryne White kid if his power ever develops and Maine looks to be a decent arm. Very nice haul for Heilman. Now if an organization would just make Heilman a starter and be done with it you might get a pretty good SP you didn't know you had. His heart is really as a starter, not a bullpen arm.

Submitted by Chifan on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:17 pm

It looks like another nice by Jimbo of getting good value for a 24 or 25th guy type. Maine should be in the bullpen mix sometime mid-year if injuries happen and White at worst could develop into a Sean Casey type and the organization does lack a 1B with MLB potential.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 11:01 am

Based on what we've heard that sounds pretty accurate. Maybe it's just my pessimism coming through, but I am waiting for the other shoe to drop on one or both of these guys. Regardless, considering many of us thought that Heilman shouldn't have been pulled back from waivers, it looks like a good trade - assuming one of these guys can provide more major league value than their cost (Heilman's salary - his performance - their salaries + their major league performance + the performance of the guy we added to the 40 man roster who we would have lost).

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    i'd just like to take a moment to express to the world i'm still pissed willson contreras is not a cub when the pricetag was 5/87m (17.5m/yr).

    it would be nice to have a legacy-type player to stick around, especially one with his leadership and the respect he gets from his peers.  cubs fans deserved more than 1 season of contreras + morel...that was gold.

  • crunch (view)

    happ, right hamstring tightness, day-to-day (hopefully 0 days).

    he will be reevaluated tomorrow.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I guess I'm not looking for that type of AB 

    Just a difference of opinion

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I don’t see Tauchman as a weak link in any position. He simply adds his value in a different way.

    I don’t know that we gain much by putting him in the outfield - Happ, Bellinger and Suzuki and Tauchman all field their positions well. If you’re looking for Taucnman’s kind of AB in a particular game I don’t see why it can’t come from DH.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Tauchman gets a pinch hit RBI single with a liner to RF. This is his spot. He's a solid 4th OF. But he isn't a DH. 

    He takes pitches. Useful. I still believe in having good hitters.

    You don't want your DH to be your weak link (other than your C maybe)

  • crunch (view)

    bit of a hot take here, but i'm gonna say it.

    the 2024 marlins don't seem to be good at doing baseballs.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Phil, will the call up for a double header restart that 15 days on assignment for a pitcher? Like will wesneski’s 15 days start yesterday, or if he’s the 27th man, will that mean 15 days from tomorrow?

    I hope that makes sense. It sounds clearer in my head.

  • Charlie (view)

    Tauchman obviously brings value to the roster as a 4th outfielder who can and should play frequently. Him appearing frequently at DH indicated that the team lacks a valuable DH. 

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally onboard with your thoughts concerning today’s lineup. Not sure about your take on Tauchman though.

    The guy typically doesn’t pound the ball out out of the park, and his BA is quite unimpressive. But he brings something unique to the table that the undisciplined batters of the past didn’t. He always provides a quality at bat and he makes the opposing pitcher work because he has a great eye for the zone and protects the plate with two strikes exceptionally well. In addition to making him a base runner more often than it seems through his walks, that kind of at bat wears a pitcher down both mentally and physically so that the other guys who may hit the ball harder are more apt to take advantage of subsequent mistakes and do their damage.

    I can’t remember a time when the Cubs valued this kind of contribution but this year they have a couple of guys doing it, with Happ being the other. It doesn’t make for gaudy stats but it definitely contributes to winning ball games. I do believe that’s why Tauchman has garnered so much playing time.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Miles Mastrobuoni cannot be recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is recalled to replace a position player who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And for a pitcher it's 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled, unless he is replacing a pitcher who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, or Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And a pitcher (or a position player, but almost always it's a pitcher) can be recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader regardless of how many days he has been on optional assignment, but then he must be sent back down again the next day. 

     

    That's why the Cubs had to wait as long as they did to send Jose Cuas down and recall Keegan Thompson. Thompson needed to spend the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he could be recalled (and he spent EXACTLY the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he was recalled). 

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