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

Lilly Breaks Sweat [& One Bat]

Submitted by Mike Wellman on

After four efficient innings and a mere 51 pitches Ted Lilly called it a rehab at Principal Park tonight and headed for the clubhouse, maybe to call ahead and order a postgame spread for his temporary teammates.

Lilly fanned four, all swinging, and walked only one. He permitted only one hit, a wind-blown home run by Tyler Greene in the top of the 1st. His pitch counts by inning were 17, 12, 13 and 9.

There was no hint that he was removed due to the stiff back that's nagged him lately since his relief, Jay Jackson, was warming throughout the 4th inning and Lilly was even allowed to bat for himself and make the final out in the bottom of the frame. He had been expected to throw at least 60 pitches.

TRL III threw first-pitch strikes to 9 of the 14 hitters he faced. He picked the only baserunner he allowed off of 2nd base but Bobby Scales was daydreaming at 3rd and neglected to cover the bag. No matter - Lilly struck out Greene with his next pitch on a 3-2 count to end the top of the 3rd.

When he left the I-Cubs had scratched out a 2-1 lead, thanks in part to some aggressive managing by you-know-who. With the game knotted at one in the bottom of the 3rd and runners at first and second, #23 called for a hit-and-run with Scales at the plate. His bouncer up the middle was knocked down by the Memphis second baseman. Matt Camp never stopped running [I wanna say Sandberg Wendelled him around 3rd but I wasn't looking at him]and dove safely across the plate on a close play.

Lilly didn't reach the mid-80's with his fastball until the 4th but was sharp with his command of all his stuff throughout.

If he stays for another outing I would think it would be strictly for arm-stretching purposes based on how he looked tonight. We'll see if the post-game reveals any ailment-based reason for his early removal. I left as soon as he did to get home and put this up.

Oh yeah; it was Matt Pagnozzi's bat that he sawed off on a grounder to short to end the 2nd.

Tags
Iowa Cubs Rehab Update

Comments

Submitted by Ross_Barnes on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 04:56 pm

Cashner tonight: 10 K + 0 BB in 6+ innings. Only 2 hits. He now has 20 Ks in his first two starts against 2 BB in 10.1 innings. Smokies are up 14-2. Looks like Brett Jackson is heating up in Daytona - OBP up around .500 and two hits including a 2B so far tonight. Great news on Lilly.

Submitted by Mike Wellman on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 04:20 pm

Cashner, wow! Wasn't he walking everybody in ST? Sounds like we may have a look @ him in DM later in the summer...

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 04:44 pm

Jeff Gray (1-0), called up from Triple-A Iowa earlier in the day, picked up the win, although he had an ugly inning of relief. He gave up back-to-back RBI triples to Carlos Gomez and Alcides Escobar in the eighth, which is still a trouble spot after eight games. "We're working on that," Piniella said about finding a reliable setup pitcher. "I've got some thoughts, and we'll share them down the road."
per Lou's Hint: one of the current 5 starters moves to the 8th inning...and since Marshall has been solid, I'm thinking the 8th will become Silva/Marshall turf once Lilly comes back. That could work as long as Gorzellany keeps pitching OK as a starter. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100414&content_id=92…

[ ]

Submitted by The E-Man on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 04:03 pm

Thanks Mike Wellman! Love the "Cubs West" reports. From BRUUUUUCE Levine's Blog: "Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee had a cortisone shot on Monday after sustaining an injury diving for a ball in Monday’s game. Lee expects to play Thursday. Normally a baseball player or athlete must sit out three days after a cortisone shot is administered in order for the medication to take its effect." I did not know he hurt himself in this manner (as well as the thumb). Strangely, while we do not have another DLEE in the house, The X-Man is a very capable sub, and a professional hitter. Certainly a step up from "Hoff". I am not sure I feel the same way about Chad Tracy.

[ ]

Submitted by Sweet Lou on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 04:05 am

TRN -- I think you are underappreciating Nady. Not only does he have a better hitting line than Hoffpauir, but he has two season of 20 or more homeruns under his belt. Also, the Yankees thought enough of him last year that he was their opening day right fielder. I don't think anyone expects Hoffpauir to reach those heights in his career. I'm not claiming that Nady is a HOFer, but I think he is clearly better than Hoffpauir.

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 04:33 am

Hoffpauir has had the misfortune to be stuck behind Lee. If you look at their Total Averages (or any other park-adjusted and league adjusted all incompassing stat) for the last three years - there's not a real big difference: 0.264 0.279 0.301 0.304 0.230 0.255 If you project Hoffpauir's HR rate out accross 607 PA's (what Nady got in his career year) that comes to 21.6 HRs. Then you lose defense, and you force more at bats for Fukudome against right handers.

Submitted by Jumbo on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 04:34 am

I posted this in the other thread, too, but would the Cubs consider adding Cashner to to Cubs pen to audition as setup man? Or do they really see him as a starter in the big leagues and want to let him continue on that course. It seems as though he could be doing better than a majority of the pen at the moment.

[ ]

Submitted by Andrew on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 04:10 am

Don't want to answer for him, but I believe AZ Phil said around the end of ST that the Cubs seem to be intent on seeing what Cashner can do as a starter. He's obviously more valuable that way. The question was how efficient he could be and his first view outings are impressive in that regard.

Submitted by Mike Wellman on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 04:22 am

Re: Lilly's velocity last night, or lack thereof, he's quoted in the local paper this morning as saying that he was, in effect, breezing; didn't attempt to throw his hardest...hopes his next outing is for the C-Cubs...

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