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

Ryan Dempster to the Bullpen?

This is just me speculating on what the Cubs will do on Saturday when Ted Lilly returns to the rotation. The most likely option is still either Tom Gorzelanny or Carlos Silva with odds favoring Gorzelanny heading to the pen as Lilly just replaces another lefty. And then either James Russell or Jeff Samardzija going back to Iowa, although someone in the pen still has a week to get their ticket punched.

Lou did not commit to it being Gorzelanny or Silva as of yesterday, even if that's the most likely scenario:

``I didn't say that. I never said that. You all [media] can say what you want. All I said basically is that somebody's got to leave the rotation to go into the bullpen. That's all I said.''

So then that opens the door for someone struggling like Carlos Zambrano, but he's being paid the most and hasn't pitched out of the pen in like 8 years. And Z doesn't seem like the character that would be too thrilled with the move. Plus, if you're actually trying to fix the pen, wouldn't the idea be to put someone back there who is actually pitching well?

So are Randy Wells or Ryan Dempster options? Most likely not, but Wells - as Arizona Phil noted - spent the bulk of his minor league career as a reliever including finishing 26 games. It was 2007 that he last saw regular work out of the pen with a handful of relief appearances in 2008. And then there's Dempster, the Cubs closer from 2005-2007 who racked up 87 nerve-wracking saves and coined the term, "The Ryan Dempster Experience". Nonetheless, he does have the most experience in late-inning situations and he certainly does seem like a different pitcher over the last two years that I for one, believe he'd probably do a lot better and help stabilize the troublesome pen. It probably wouldn't even be a permanent move, just something until the next injury or a trade can materialize. And Dempster seems to have the personality to go along with what might be best for the team (as I'm sure Wells would).

It's not something I envision happening and it would be more of a short-term solution to try and help the team gain some confidence and hopefully go on a nice run. And undoubtedly Dempster the starter is far more valuable, but if he could go 2 innings at a time every few days after being stretched out as a 200+ inning starter, that's certainly something the Cubs could use right now if they're looking for short-term fixes.

Comments

Castro hits his first home run of the season... Rockies president found dead in his hotel room in Utah some "name" pitcher tested positive for PED, could be announced today, apparently not from NY, but sounds like the NL http://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/12527621296

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"some "name" pitcher tested positive for PED, could be announced today" Maybe it's Z and this whole starter to bullpen stuff works itself out.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Thanks for signaling that the Smokies had an early game today. Another happy minor-league box score to read. The Smokies sure bunch a lot of hits at the top of their batting order. Probably not coincidentally, they lead the league in runs and wins. The Cubs . . . don't. First homer, but Castro is tied for the league lead in RBI at 12.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Check out Theriot's splits last year. He had 64 at bats with two or three men on base. He produced 14 hits, for a BA of .219. With the bases loaded he hit .188 (3 for 16). I think that he gets out of his comfort zone when he tries to go into RBI mode. Not that he's comfortable being a leadoff hitter, either. "Nobody wants to lead the league in singles." He doesn't do the pesky little things that leadoff hitters have to do (like laying down a bunt) to avoid going 0 for 4 and 0 for 5.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

After he led the league in 2008, he was interviewed about it, and remarked that "Nobody wants to lead the league in singles." That's just Theriot. A lot of guys would be happy to lead the league in singles. But they're leadoff hitters.

Silva to the bullpen, did it earlier in his career. Don't need anymore lefty's in bullpen. Shocking news about Rockie's pres.

I've read now in a few articles the last few days the Cubs say that the long term plan for Russell is as a starter. So my guess is that Gorz goes to the pen and Russell goes down. I'd like to see Samardzija go down as well and Diamond come up. Or maybe Zambrano is the big name suspended and no one goes down.

while Gorz and Silva have pitched well, they also had the luxury of 2 poor offenses in Cinci and Houston...well poor imo. Z has gotten Atlanta, Reds and Milwaukee...and pitched (mostly) well against the Reds.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I don't see why that would rule out Z, unless you think that he is a "big" name. I certainly don't think he is a "big" name. He has always had "big" potential but he's proven to be way too much of a head case to actually be "big". I think that, at best, he is "semi-big".

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I remain concerned that it could very well be Z. I am especially suspicious of foreign-born players, especially those that go back to their foreign countries during the off-season. Many PEDs are not illegal at all in many countries, and I have read many accounts of how easy it would be for players to do cycles of these in the offseason, and then stop well before training camp in order to get them out of their system. Until I see who it is, I will be concerned.

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

good to see the Cubs near the top in something though The New York Mets organization had the most players suspended in that four-year span (16), followed by the Chicago Cubs (13) and St. Louis Cardinals (12). The Marlins were in the middle of the pack with six. At the major league level, only nine players on 25-man rosters were caught, each one from a different team.

Updates on the PED issue say its a semi-big name but not a big name. This is just totally my speculation, but it might be Marquis. It wouldn't surprise that he would take something, and him finding out about the positive test might explain his terrible start the other day.

I like the Z to the pen idea. Maybe he will focus a bit more in short stints. It's hard to believe I am saying this, but Silva hasn't done anything to merit being "demoted" - he does tend to throw strikes, which is nice.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

i'd love to see that in the cubs bleachers. a crew of 20-30 year olds un-distracted by the game on the field would rip out the TV monitors to beat each other over an argument over which cubs player was the crappiest and which one of them is more homosexual than the other.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I liked what you said in an earlier post about just having guys who play good fundamental baseball and surround them with 2 guys who can smack the shit out of the ball. Although, there are not a lot of Pujols in the world. Pujols is actually my worst nightmare. I hate the Cardinals almost obsessively and he comes along. I would probably be okay with a dirty nuke in St. Louis, that's how bad it is.

confirmed that he starts suspension now http://twitter.com/jcrasnick so what's the deterrent for PED use if you're having major surgery and a lengthy recovery?

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

it's sick he's even involved in baseball. MLB shows us all these roids commercials..well, the same 2 for the past 10 years...and what they deliver is the continued hiring of the players. ...now they're in charge of coaching youth...and getting standing O's... jason giambi could teach kids something, himself, when he gets finished with his continued employment in the game.

Volquez statement: Dominican doctor prescribed medication to help me and my wife start a family. Those meds were also an MLB-banned drug

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Agreed....Soriano needs to pull his head out of his ass. However, a bigger story might be Ramirez hitting like Mick Kelleher, and the bullpen putting out fires like Mel Rojas. Soriano's lack of hustle is nothing new...it's just exacerated by his horrible defense and increase in swinging at every breaking ball in the dirt. Yeah...he's hitting a little better..but meh...

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

To me his swing looks a lot more loose, "loopy".
I don't think you're imagining it. There's a loop at the back of his swing right now. He might be timing the ball okay but the super-slo-mo on HD showed him swinging on a different plane than the ball was on, time after time.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

You were correct then and you are correct now. The only thing I'll add is that Soriano had some goodwill built up over the years. Him sucking in 2009 could be somewhat forgiven because he had been an important part of two playoff teams in the two previous years. Milton Bradley didn't have any goodwill built up with Cubs fans. In fact, he came loaded down with baggage. There was no forgiving Bradley for his transgressions. I think Soriano's goodwill account has about run dry. He'd better start building it up again quick if he doesn't want fans to completely turn on him.

[ ]

In reply to by Sweet Lou

soriano's "goodwill" was just a bunch of words, anyway. people put so much value on those who accept blame, but so little value on what they're gonna do now that they've accepted that blame. it's easy to accept blame or give yourself a peg-down, but hard to follow-up on it...it's harder when no one holds you accountable and it's up to you to actually get it done.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Crunch -- I don't agree. In fact, until Soriano said something about Bradley last year, I don't think I ever even heard him speak. The goodwill I was thinking about was his on-field play in 2007 and 2008. I think it also helped that Soriano joined the Cubs after his terrific seasons in Washington. Unfortunately, being a 40/40 man in Washington and then helping the Cubs to two consecutive playoffs only buys you so much forgiveness. Fans are no longer in the mood to accept his shoddy defense and him admiring fly balls that stay in the ball park.

[ ]

In reply to by Sweet Lou

Soriano said something interesting the other day, now that the media is obsessed with his death spiral. He said, "baseball is a hard game." Look. I know he makes scads of money. More in one day probably than I make in a week and I have a good job. But this isn't fucking Russia. We're supposed to like it when people reach the pinnacle of a profession, and Soriano has. How many MLBers are there. Fuck this booing bullshit. Just let him end his career here with some dignity and hope to got the Wrigleys -- I mean, the Ricketts, find a way to eat his contract. Jeesus fucking christ sometimes I think some of you have actually played the game on a professional level. PS not meant for Sweet Lou OR Crunch. Just a general diatribe.

lulz... felix pie gets injured, l.montanez gets recalled. today the o's sign corey patterson to a minor league deal. awesome.

Sending Dempster to the pen makes no sense for tons of reasons. One, he was shit as a reliever. Two, having a reliever who makes $12-14 mil per year is insane. Three, he's actually been good as a starter, much better than we can expect Gorz to be, so move Gorz to the pen and send Russell down and be done with it. - On another note, allowing cheating drug offenders to serve their suspensions while on the DL is complete bullshit. That's no punishment at all. It's just more proof that Selig and MLB doesn't give a damn about cheating. I still say the best punishment for drug cheaters is to cut their arms and legs off. No suspensions necessary.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

it makes some sense if they actually want to improve the pen, but it is bloody unlikely. But if criteria is past performance in the role, Gorz is sporting a 6.88 ERA as a reliever in his career. And if I kept track of my arguments, you believe Dempster is an overpaid starter living off one good season, so you probably wouldn't mind seeing him out of the role.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/04/brenly-rips-into-soriano-d… "He called me because some media asked the question, 'Why didn't I run?'" Soriano said. "But I explained to him why. I could've made third, but I don't want to make the second out at third either." I take it all back about Soriano being selfish. He's clearly just stupid. (for those that didn't catch it, the rule of thumb is don't make the first or third out at third base). Piniella said he told Soriano: "'When you hit the ball, even if you might think it's a home run, leave the box, and when you recognize it is a home run for sure, then you can go into your trot." Awesome that this little league rule, needs to be explained to your highest paid player (need to be telling Aramis the same thing fwiw).

Zambrano 80 pitches thru 4 innings. at least it's easy to do the math for how many pitches/inning he's at... and Pelfrey is coming off of his save (the Mets only save on the year) and now is working on a no hitter, geez.

9 SB's by the Rangers tonight off Wakefield/V. Martinez through 6 innings

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Yeah, I'm perfectly okay with signing him. He can't pitch any worse than the bullpen has already. Maybe bringing a veteran relief guy back into the fold to maybe solidify the front end of the bullpen, if he comes cheap, it absolutely makes sense. If they try to start him though, I'll be thoroughly angered. If you kick out Gorzo and Silva, for frickin Looper, I might give up on being a Cubs fan. The first situation wouldn't anger me at all though.

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.