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

Game 131 Thread / Cubs @ Pirates (1 of 3)

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP *Ted Lilly
SP Jeff Karstens
  12-7, 4.25, 148 K, 56 W, 161 IP 

2-2, 2.25, 11 K, 8 W, 28 IP
       
LF
Alfonso Soriano CF
*Nate McLouth
SS Ryan Theriot
2B Freddy Sanchez
1B Derrek Lee
C  #Ryan Doumit
3B Aramis Ramirez
1B
*Adam LaRoche
CF *Jim Edmonds
RF
 Jason Michaels
2B Mark DeRosa
LF *Brandon Moss
RF *Kosuke Fukudome 3B Andy LaRoche
C Geovany Soto
SS Jack Wilson
P *Ted Lilly
P Jeff Karstens

 

The Cubs open a three-game set at PNC Park, concluding their 9-game stretch against the Reds, Nationals, and Pirates before they resume play against Major League opposition. (Yes, I'm tempting fate: Friday's smug game preview was just a preamble to an ugly 13-5 loss to the Nats, but 30 games over .500, I'm feeling smug all over again.)

Coming off a tough luck defeat in which he held the Reds hitless for the first 5 innings and wound up yielding just 2 hits in 7 IP, Lily has reduced his ERA to a season-low 4.25.The lefty has given the Cubs Quality Starts in 8 of his last 10 turns, and that defeat to Cincinnati was his first after five consecutive W's.

This will mark Lilly's fourth start of the year against the Bucs. He's 1-0, 5.63 in the three previous starts, with a butt-ugly 8.38 ERA in his two outings at PNC.

Karstens, who landed in Pittsburgh as part of the deal that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yanks, makes his fifth start as a Pirate. In his first, back on 8/1, he blanked the Cubs over six innings. His second time out, he was even better, carrying a perfect game into the eighth inning at Arizona, before eventually closing out a 2-0 complete game win. His last two starts have been much more ordinary—16 hits and 7 ER in 13 IP—and more like what you'd expect from a guy who has fanned just 11 men (and walked 8) in 28 innings.

The Cubs have won 11 of the 15 meetings between the two clubs this year, including 4 of the 6 played in Pittsburgh. 

Lastly, on Sunday, Mark DeRosa became the first Cub since Fred McGriff (2001) to homer in four consecutive games. If DeRo connects tonight, he'll join Sosa ('98) and Sandberg ('89) as the only Cubs since 1956 to go long in five straight.

 

  Sandberg (1989)
Sosa (1998)
McGriff (2001)
DeRosa (2008)
Patsy #1  
Andy McGaffigan 
Livan Hernandez
Jim Brower Josh Fogg
Patsy #2
Dennis Martinez Jim Parque
Wil. Rodriguez
John Lannan
Patsy #3
Bryn Smith
Carlos Castillo
Shane Reynolds    
Garrett Mock
Patsy #4
O'Neal/Mulholland*   
James Baldwin      
Tim Redding
Jay Bergmann       
Patsy #5
Larry McWilliams
LaTroy Hawkins

 ???

*Sandberg homered twice against the Phillies on 8/10/89 and eventually wound up with 6 HR in 5 games. What a stud.

 

Comments

I made the mistake of tuning in to ESPN1000 over the internet. OMG, Mac, Jurko & Harry are annoying. I sometimes forget important facts like that in my quest for a Cubs fix. DeRo interview in a few minutes, if I can hold out that long...

[ ]

In reply to by 10man

He gawked at it when he first hit, about a quarter to half way down the first base line before he realized it wasn't going out. Then put on the "afterburners" when he saw it bounce away from McLouth to get the triple. Not that big a deal...just the same shit he did with the Cardinals but no one cares because he's a Cub now.

From Cubs Mail Bag!! Didnt Zambrano do this a few years back? Who was the last switch-hitter for the Cubs to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same inning? I say it was Mark Bellhorn, but a buddy of mine says no Cubs switch-hitter has ever done that. A free dinner rides on the answer. -- Charlie P., New Johnsonville, Tenn. On Aug. 29, 2002, Bellhorn homered from both sides of the plate for the Cubs in Milwaukee in the fourth inning. Enjoy your meal.

Nice win today. Edmonds and Fukudome looking sharp. I sure wouldn't want to face our lineup on a day when we're firing on all cylinders. There's not a starter that I don't think can contribute offensively on any given day. I sure hope Fukudome can put it back together again. We're on track to have six starters finish the year with over 20 HRs and all 8 starting position players have over .340 OBP. Add our terrifying trio of starting pitchers, Lily as our #4, and Wood, Marmol, Samardzija, Marshall, and (maybe) Lieber out of the pen. Hot damn. I think this team's got a real shot at it! Nothing like pounding the 90 pound weakling in the division with your #4 starter going 7 strong to make things look rosy.

Suntimes article about the bottom third of the Cubs order: As impressive as DeRosa's and Soto's numbers are, consider this: The Cubs' No. 7 spot in the order was hitting a major-league best .310 with 20 homers and 83 RBI (entering play Monday). No. 8: .293 with 11 and 64. And perhaps most impressive of all: The pitchers' spot, No. 9, was hitting better (.227-8-52) than four American League teams -- Kansas City (.226), the Los Angeles Angels (.226), Baltimore (.225) and Oakland (.218).

this tidbit in the S-T: The Class AAA Iowa Cubs are back in the playoffs for the first time in four years, and one small ramification at the big-league level is that a few anticipated September roster additions might stay with Iowa through its playoff series. The exceptions: Pitchers Jon Lieber (foot) and Angel Guzman (elbow) are expected to be activated from the DL when rosters expand, and lefty hitter Micah Hoffpauir, who's having a monster season, is expected to join the big club right away. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1126488,CST-SPT-cubnt26.ar…

[ ]

In reply to by Andy

Part of it is reward for battling the entire year and playing well. Part of it is experience in a playoff atmosphere and winning a championship. While it is not the same as it is at the Major League Level, having your minor leaguers know what it takes to win is important. Getting your teams more swings and pitches against the best competition in pressure situations can't hurt at all. Also, the first round best of 5 series starts on September 3rd. So depending on how that goes, the potentially call-ups might only be called up a few days later than normal. If they make it to the next round the best of 7 starts on the 9th. So even if they go all the way they could still be up for 2 weeks instead of 4 with the Cubs. And if they really thought they'd help out the big league team they will get called up regardless of the playoffs - like Hoffpauer will.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

A batting average of .368 is not the same as .314. Really? I thought they were the exact same! Of course... you also ignore the fact that Hoffpauir currently has a .365 BABIP in AAA. That is not sustainable. I'm not so sure we'll see him in September. Wanna' put money on it? What's the point? He's not even the right callup if you just want someone to steal bases. Well... being that he is probably the best defensive outfielder in the Cubs system, and better than anyone on the active roster, base running wouldn't be all he is good for. And stealing bases is not the only aspect of base running.

We have to root for the Cardinals. The Brewers' schedule is much, much easier than the Cubs' from here on out. I like being in first, but five games is just not that much. Consider: --these two games are the last time the Cardinals and the Brewers play each other this year --the Cubs will play a total of 5 more games against below .500 teams this year --the Cubs play over a third of their remaining games against Milwaukee and St. Louis --while the Cubs have had a great August so far (16-5), the Brewers have kept pace (17-6) Here's the rest of the schedule as of today: Cubs: 31 games left (18 away, 13 home) 2 @ PITT, 4 PHI, 3 HOU, 3 @ CIN, 3 @ STL, 3 @ HOU, 3 MIL, 3 STL, 4 @ NY, 3 @ MIL Games against above .500 teams (26): 4 PHI, 3 HOU, 3 @ STL, 3 @ HOU, 3 MIL, 3 STL, 4 @ NY, 3 @ MIL Games against below .500 teams (5): 2 @ PITT, 3 @ CIN Brewers: 31 games left (15 away, 16 home) 2 @ STL, 3 @ PITT, 3 NY, 4 SD, 3 CIN, 4 @ PHI, 3 @ CUBS, 3 @ CIN, 3 PITT, 3 CUBS Games against above .500 teams (15): 2 @ STL, 3 NY, 4 @ PHI, 3 @ CUBS, 3 CUBS Games against below .500 teams (16): 3 @ PITT, 4 SD, 3 CIN, 3 @ CIN, 3 PITT Cardinals: 30 games left (15 away, 15 home) 2 MIL, 3 @ HOU, 3 @ ARI, 3 FLA, 3 CUBS, 3 @ PITT, 3 @ CIN, 3 @ CUBS, 4 ARI, 3 CIN Games against above .500 teams (21): 2 MIL, 3 @ HOU, 3 @ ARI, 3 FLA, 3 CUBS, 3 @ CUBS, 4 ARI Games against below .500 teams (9): 3 @ PITT, 3 @ CIN, 3 CIN

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.