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

Silva Bullet Can't Stop Sox

Carlos Quentin slugged a two-run homer in the top of the 1st and a three run home run in the top of the 2nd, giving the White Sox a lead they would never relinquish, as the Sox demolished the Cubs 15-3 in front of 12,712 fans and a national TV audience on WGN this afternoon at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in sunny Mesa.

box score

Acquired from the Seattle Mariners for Milton Bradley this past off-season, Carlos Silva got the start for the Cubs today and he is who we thought he was, allowing six runs on seven hits (including two Carlos Quentin home runs) in just two innings of work (43 pitches - 28 strikes, 0 BB, 2 K, 2/2 GO/FO).

Carlos Marmol worked the top of the 3rd and pitched great (1-2-3 inning: 3-U, Ks, Ks, 13 pitches - 11 strikes).

Down 6-0 at the start of the bottom of the 3rd, the Cubs mounted a rally, scoring three runs off Sox starter Dan Hudson, who was extended into the 3rd inning after facing only six batters through the first two. With one out, Geovany Soto laced a single, and Bobby Scales was hit by a pitch (the second HBP for Scales in two days). Ryan Theriot singled to load the bases, and then Kosuke Fukudome came through with a two-run ground single through the box into CF to score Soto and Scales and send Theriot to 3rd. Derrek Lee then got The Riot home with a line drive sac fly to right.

And that was the extent of the Cubs scoring today.

But the White Sox certainly were not finished.

LHP James Russell worked the 4th & 5th (36 pitches - 23 strikes, 3/1 GO/FO) and pitched well, allowing one unearned run (LF Alfonso Soriano over-ran a ball while trying to field a base hit with two outs in the 5th, allowing a runner to score all the way from 1st), two hits and a walk, with two strikeouts (including the fearsome Carlos Quentin).

Cubs 2008 #1 draft pick RHP Andrew Cashner pitched the 6th and 7th, and after a skittish first inning (25 pitches - only 11 strikes, with two walks on nine pitches to the first two batters he faced), Cashner settled-down and threw strikes in his 2nd inning (10 pitches - 8 strikes). Cashner allowed just one run (one of the walks scored in the 6th), but he was helped out the jam by a savvy pick-off at 2nd base by catcher Welington Castillo. On the play SS Andres Blanco suffered what appeared to be a right knee injury, and had to leave the game.

RHP Jeff Kennard entered the game in the top of the 8th with the Cubs down 8-3, and it was just plain excrutiating to watch. Kennard surrendered back-to-back home runs to Sox minor leaguers Brandon Short and Cole Armstrong to start the inning, and then after loading the bases on a single and two walks, Kennard gave up a bases-loaded two run single to another minor leaguer (Christian Marrero). At this point, Cubs Manager Lou Piniella made the slow walk to the mound and Kennard suffered a pitcher's worst Spring Training indignity... getting yanked out of a game without completing even one inning of work. For the day, Kennard allowed four runs on four hits (two HR) and two walks, with two strikeouts, throwing 37 pitches - only 18 strikes, in just 2/3 of an inning.

Mitch Atkins was brought in to complete the inning, and he struck out the only man he faced (Jordan Danks).

LHP John Grabow pitched the 9th (20 pitches - 12 strikes, 1 K, 0/2 GO/FO), and he was not a whole lot better than Kennard, allowing a single, a double, and then a three-run HR (to Jayson Nix). But at least Grabow finished his inning.

For the Cubs, Ryan Theriot and Geovany Soto had two hits a piece (all singles), but Theriot also hit into a rally-killing 4-6-3 DP with two on and no outs in the 5th. And after starting the Cactus League schedule 5-6 with three doubles, a single, and a home run, Tyler Colvin cooled-off a bit by going 0-2 with a strikeout (swinging) and a game-ending 6-4-3 DP.

The Cubs have a split squad doubleheader tomorrow, one game a rematch with the White Sox at Camelback Ranch and the other a home game versus the Dodgers at HoHoKam Park. RHP Jeff Samardzija and LHP Tom Gorzelanny are scheduled to start the games, although weather could be a problem, since rain is forecast with temperatures in the 50's. I believe one of the two games will be televised by WGN-TV, but I'm not sure which one.

Comments

Silva looked wild today, yet didn't walk anybody. The announcing crew made the comment that one thing Silva does is "throw strikes." It occurs to me that he might not be a great strike thrower despite having low walk totals, but I can't confirm that without some eye-witness reports. Here's what I'm wondering: Does he have good control, or does he just give in (aim for middle of the plate belt high) when he falls behind in the count?

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

he's a control pitcher with 2 pitches...and you don't need to swing at anything but his fastball if you're a capable hitter. his lack of deception makes his complete game useless...i seriously wouldn't even trust his arm in the pen. another year that "3rd pitch dujour" he's supposedly working on won't be incorporated into his stuff, i'd imagine. is it the change this year or the splitter...maybe a curve? =p the only thing he's got going for him is a chunk of those zillion hits he's bound to give up generally don't fly over the wall.

I remember thinking that Silva had a worried look on his face before he started pitching in the top of the first inning. It didn't get any better as time went on. If confidence is a big part of success as a baseball player, he could be in real trouble (Captain Obvious here).

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

Other problems become obvious if you look over his fangraphs page (as I just did for the first time). Although there is nothing wrong his fastball, over his MLB career he's thrown it 75.9% of the time with the other percentages mostly split between the slider and the changeup. Obviously he needs a better secondary pitch and a passable third pitch so that he can cut that fastball down to the mid 60s at least. Very few pitchers get away with throwing that many fastballs. Looks like Greg Maddux was in the vicinity at 69.2%, but he was also an excellent locator and had a good changeup. Wonder if Maddux can do something with Silva, or will he just stay far away from the whole mess and work with the youngsters? Seems like he could do a good Bob Howry impression in the bullpen (who has thrown fastballs 78.2% of the time in his MLB career with about the same average velocity).

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

The myth of the heralded Cub prospect-turned-bust is a fan favorite. Sometimes I wonder, though, how great these prospects were. When was Cedeno highly regarded, and by whom? Look at his terrible A-ball numbers. At 19 at Boise and Lansing: 539 pa, 486 ab, .214/.270/.296 (.567 OPS). At 20 at Daytona, 420 pa, 380 ab, .211/.257/.295 (.552 OPS). Yeah, his resume has a lot in common with Vitters and Castro, or Hak-Ju Lee, who at 18 at Boise was named #1 prospect in the NW League.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Where were you in in 2005 when at age 22 Ronny Cedeno jumped from AA to AAA (where he hit .355/.921) to the Cubs(where he batted .300) and DustyHendry handed him the starting SS job the next year? Cedeno was near the top of the Cubs prospects lists: 2005 Top Ten (Callis) 1. Felix Pie, of -may breakthrough this year with Orioles 2. Mark Pawelek, lhp -bust 3. Ronny Cedeno, ss -Pirates 4. Angel Guzman, rhp -broken down 5. Rich Hill, lhp -bust 6. Sean Marshall, lhp -on the Cubs' active roster 7. Ricky Nolasco, rhp -top of Marlins rotation when healthy 8. Ryan Harvey, of -bust 9. Brian Dopirak, 1b -bust 10. Eric Patterson, 2b -showed signs last year with A's

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

At 22 he had a good half season at Iowa. At 24, he had another good half season at Iowa. That's all he ever did, as of today. I will give you this: after the 2005 half-season numbers at Iowa, Cedeno had a brief moment as a legit prospect. Going into the 2006 season, when Cedeno would be league-age 23, he was #94 on Callis's ML prospect list and honorable mention on BP's top 50. I doubt he was considered a legit prospect prior to that brief moment by anyone outside of the Cubs. Compare that to the respect given to Castro and Vitters entering their league-age 20 seasons, or B. Jackson entering his age-21 season, or H-J Lee already at league-age 19. The point I'm making is that we haven't seen prospects like Castro, Vitters, Jackson and Lee fail before, because with the possible exception of C-Pat, we never had them. Cedeno was not comparable.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

C-Pat was the #2 or 3 prospect in baseball by BA for two years in a row, Castro is 16th, Vitters has been 43rd and 51st and 70th, Jackson 74th and Lee not even in the top 100. Guys in the ballpark with Castro are Choi at 22nd, Dopirak at 21st and Felix Pie at 27th. If you use the BP top 100 done by Kevin Goldstein who use to work at Baseball America, he has Vitters at 31 and Castro at 37. He had Vitters at 34 last year, Soto at 37 the year before and Felix Pie at 42 the year before that.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Well, I asked for evidence that the Cubs had high-rated prospects circa 2005, and you gave it to me. Changing my emphasis a bit, I would point out that you're not a bust if you fizzle as soon as you go above low-A ball, like Patterson and Dopirak did. You're just a flash in the pan. Patterson skipped high-A and then had decent power numbers at AA, but a BA of .261. In other words, he was a former top-three prospect who was performing like Tyler Colvin in AA. Then he took a turn for the worse at Iowa. Dopirak had that one memorable season at low-A and then lost his prospect status very soon after. Cedeno, as I pointed out, was a terrible hitter in the low minors but put up solid numbers at triple A. I guess I would want a genuine prospect to "keep the dream alive" at more than one minor-league level. Castro could be a one-year wonder, I suppose, but it was a hell of a year, in which he skipped two levels, hit quite well at two others, and then distinguished himself in the AFL. I'm looking for Brett Jackson to have another season like 2009, not only to do well at Daytona but to advance to Tennessee and do some good there. If he struggles at Daytona, I will start to consider him a bad first-round pick but not a bust. He hasn't earned that stature. Choi and Pie actually had pretty good numbers at several levels at young ages, and in that sense could be considered busts, although Pie is still making progress toward becoming a major leaguer. Like Dopirak, Choi played a defensive position (poorly, as I recall) that is not a very good springboard to the majors. But I guess if a first-base prospect can ever be considered a bust, Choi qualifies.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

So, I'm curious about what in my post prompted this response. None of the posts preceding yours had anything to do with Castro, Lee, or Vitters. They were about Guzman and Cedeno, who were both in the Cubs' top 10 prospects in 2005 and whose careers have both dwindled into marginality/nothingness albeit for different reasons. No one said "busted" or derogated Cubs development. It was a comment about how these two careers have gone over the past 5 years. Were you preempting somebody?

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

No need for an apology, I was just curious. There was sort of a free association theme to this thread. To comment on your point, though, I haven't noticed many people trying to beat Castro, just a group of people who favor a cautious approach with a guy a prospect who they think cannot yet equal Theriot's at the major league level (including myself) arguing with a group of people who think that challenging Castro by putting him on the MLB team would be the best thing for both Castro and the team. Okay, some of us have been snarky about it *cough* Rob *cough*.

Blanco out 1 week-to-10 days with sprained ankle? As if anyone here cares...

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I just have to note that the Cubs trainer abandoned Blanco on the way back to the dugout and Blanco, hopping on one foot, nearly fell down the stairs. !What an organization....

I hope the front office doesn't feel an obligation to keep Silva on the 25-man roster and use him because of the money he's being paid.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Well, Vizcaino did make the opening-day roster last year, and they let him pitch 3+ innings, at roughly $1 million per. At that pay rate, Silva should get at least 16 innings. Actually, when he wasn't getting clubbed around, mostly by Quentin, he did throw strikes and miss some bats. I thought he looked better than I expected. It might help if Theriot could ever make a play on a ball that isn't hit right to him. I'm thinking of a couple of choppers toward short by Andruw Jones, one of which impacted Silva's performance.

It has been reported this morning it is his knee. Which is it? --- Andres Blanco sprained his ankle yesterday on a pickoff at 2nd base (throw by Wellington Castillo). I saw the play on TV. Mark O'Neill came out and did the full trainer thang. To quote Wanny: "it's an ankle" where did you see/hear a report it was his knee? I'm on a crusade to right media medical reporting wrongs. :D

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)

    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...