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

A Stefani September: Lieber. Angel.. Music.. Hoff-power.

I started a thread regarding the Sun-Times article this morning stating that many of the Cubs September call-ups may be delayed as the Iowa Cubs clinched the playoffs. The I-Cubs will host the Oklahoma RedHawks (Texas Rangers AAA affiliate) starting Sept 3rd in a best of 5 game series. The debate over what value the AAA playoffs bring vs getting a September reward as a call-up for a contending team doesn't get my debating shoes polished but it's interesting to see how the Cubs brass is going to handle this issue.

From the Gordon Wittenmyer notes:

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.

I suppose getting Lieber is an upgrade on last year where Hendry dropped AAA talent on the Orioles for a near worthless Steve Traschel. Angel Guzman just might be another solid compliment in our bullpen. Micah Hoffpauir, well there is a big fan club out there rooting for some September Hoff-Power.

The biggest addition might not get up here until after the AAA playoffs. This is when Koyie Hill gets the call-up to add 5 mph to the pitching staff's fastballs. That's "Serious" music to my ears.

 

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Chad

I think his statement does prove he doesn't know shit about what's really important in this country (baseball). As per fair weather, may he's just saying he's not going to jump on the bandwagon just because they're winning. Though, I'm not sure how that makes too much sense, because the White Sox are winning too. He's clearly unaware of how many Cub fan voters there are in this country. Although, McCain is from Arizona, so whatever.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

I actually think it was kind of a telling statement. He grew up on the South Side and was a Sox fan. It would be easy for him to say he likes the Cubs because they have more fans and are doing well. Or he could say some of the usual bullshit like: "I'm a Chicagoan first and I wish the best for both teams." But he disses the cross-town rival in favor of his team. As much as we disagree with it personally, we would hate it if a candidate were saying he were a Cubs fan and then said he likes the Sox.

[ ]

In reply to by Chad

I think that is Obama's (and Sox fans') point. "Cub fans don't care about good baseball -- even when the team sucks, people go to drink beer, have fun and check out the babes." I have never really understood why going to the ballpark to enjoy yourself is a bad thing, but it seems to be a point of honor with Sox fans that they recognize bad baseball (by not showing up) and thus are much mroe knowledgable baseball fans.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Well, he moved there when he was almost 24, and I doubt he lives there now. He went to law school in MA when he was 27. He probably lives in a bus or in DC. I am guessing Cabrini Green wasn't filled with too many guys with degrees from Columbia. I don't even consider him an American. The fact that he has an opinion on the Cubs/Sox rivarlry speaks more to where he thinks his votes come from than from hanging out with the homies in front of the tube on a Saturday evening. Actually, if you look at his history, all he's been doing for the last 6 years is running for office.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Well, he moved there when he was almost 24, and I doubt he lives there now Huh? He lives in Hyde Park, which is part of the South Side. I am guessing Cabrini Green wasn't filled with too many guys with degrees from Columbia. Cabrini Green isn't part of the South Side. I don't even consider him an American. Huh? . The fact that he has an opinion on the Cubs/Sox rivarlry speaks more to where he thinks his votes come from than from hanging out with the homies in front of the tube on a Saturday evening. No... it speaks to the fact that he has lived in Chicago for many years, he was a State Representative from Chicago, and he now is a Senator from Illinois.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Huh? When you're a state senator, you do that from your home district? When you're a US Senator, you do that from your home state? Do you think President Bush lives in Texas? Do you think the Clintons are die hard Mets fans? Facts: they're a bitch. Born in Hawaii, to a non-American father. Spent his primary education years (you know, when the rest of us were saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day) in Indonesia, while his mother was living with a 2nd non-American. I just like my presidential candidates to be 'Americans' (not white). Born and raised in America by 2nd generation Americans. I also don't like them to be panderers (in the Gorgian sense) but that's another story. *Minor note from the Wikipedia article on Gorgias "He says that rhetoric is to government what cooking is to medicine" Obama '08

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

When you're a state senator, you do that from your home district? Actually... in Illinois, Senators and Reps spend more time at home than they do in session. When you're a US Senator, you do that from your home state? You spend half of your time at home, and half of your time in DC. He lives in Chicago. It is pretty clear. And Barack is home, in Chicago, when the US Senate is not in session, and also travels home every weekend. Facts are only a bitch when you get them wrong. And you are getting them wrong. You were wrong about Cabrini Green. You are wrong about him not living on the South Side. You are wrong about how much time state senators spend at home. Facts: they're a bitch. Spent his primary education years (you know, when the rest of us were saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day) in Indonesia He only spend a couple of years in Indonesia. But as you say, facts: they're a bitch. I just like my presidential candidates to be 'Americans' This is absurd. Barack Obama is American. He was born and raised in America by Americans. So what is your definition of American? Must never live outside the country? Must have two-second generation American parents?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Facts: He spent years 6-10 in Indonesia. He was in US schools in Hawaii (part of America) from 5th grade on - saying the pledge of allegiance (not that that should really matter at all for his policies). His mom's second husband only went back to Indonesia because the government made all students studying abroad come back - he wanted to stay in the US. If it makes you feel any better, he worked for fucking Mobil Oil while he was there - you really can't get any more "American" (read Republican) than that. Fact - Obama has lived and traveled around the world, and that is a GOOD thing. Fact - His mothers parents are descended from European colonists, mostly from England, who settled in the American colonies in the 1600s. The idea that you vote on some silly standard that both parents of a candidate have to be 2nd generation Americans, considering we are a country founded by immigrants, and that a candidate can have never lived abroad while growing up sickens me. I'm guessing you won't be sending your children to study abroad? If only people actually voted on what policies they thought would be best to run the country...

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

If only people actually voted on what policies they thought would be best to run the country... Obama forms his 'policy' based on whatever he thinks the particuarly audience wants to hear. Decriminalize marajuana? Sure, if you're speaking to college students, but says he's against it when he's speaking to an older audience. Immediate withdrawl of troops from Iraq? That's responsible. But now, he's just talking about lowering the presence, or a 16 month withdrawl, or deferring his right to make a decision when he's President. The guy is a panderer, and people who defend his 'policies' as what is best for the coutnry is the height of naivete. Yeah, I will take an American raised by Americans rather than some carbet bagger politician who's more interested in acquiring power and money than what is in the best interest of the country. Call me crazy, call me un-American. Call me someone who at least knows how many states there are.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

The guy is a panderer The guy is a politician - they all pander. rather than some carbet bagger politician who's more interested in acquiring power and money than what is in the best interest of the country. Again... so he is just like every other politician. But you do know that he actually has pretty clear and firm policies, don't you? Or are you like Chad who likes to pretend Obama doesn't have policies so he doesn't actually have to do the work to learn about them. Yeah, I will take an American raised by Americans Again... he is an American, and he was raised by Americans.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Naivete? Your naivete comes out when you have to resort to names such as "carpet bagger" and continue to display a bias towards Obama because his family background doesn't quite match your own. This is 2008. It's ok to be black. It's ok to be a woman. It's ok to be gay. It's ok to have college degrees. It's ok to have lived abroad. It's ok to be a child of an immigrant. Also, for politicians seeking power and money see exhibit a) Bush, and exhibit b) McCain. If you want to keep voting for old, white, rich, socially conservative men, who keep bringing us the same policies that continue to weaken our country, then fine, go for it - there is nothing anyone on a Cubs blog can do to convince you otherwise. But we reap what we sow. All of those people who voted for Bush because they wanted to have a beer with him and because he isn't different and is conservative like they are, are the ones hurting the most. The economy is killing them and Iraq is killing their kids. But because they think gays have cooties and abortion is the devil they keep voting against their own interest. It's quite sad really.

[ ]

In reply to by Indiana JJ

Remember though, it wasn't always like this! The Cubs drew below league average during the 1970s and early 1980s. I mean they averaged about 12,000 people a game. 1984 was the first year since 1972 they were even above league average for attendance. They then held right around league average until 1998. That year they jumped from 27K average to 32K. In 2003 it jumped again from 33K to 37K, and we've been sold out pretty much every game since. Granted the capacity of Wrigely changed a few times over the years. But while the die-hard fans are by no means fair weather, if you look at it historically, this is a relatively new phenomenon: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/cubsatte.shtml

According to WSCR Zell said ownership bids down to five including- Cuban Canning Family Riggetts(?) Also instant replay could be inplace as soon as Thursday.

jacos: Zell said ownership bids down to five including- Cuban Canning Family Riggetts(?) I think George W. Bush should get back in the biz by buying the Cubs. He can send the pesky Brewers to Guantanamo Bay and he can name Pujols an enemy combatant. Of course, the Cubs books would be in the red in a matter of months, but who cares. Deficit spending yee haw.

If anyone is actually seriously upset by Obama's comments, you should lose your right to vote. (Kidding, sort of). Anyway, his point is what every single Sox Fan in Chicago always says. People don't go to Wrigley for the Baseball, they go to drink and have a party and be seen, or whatever. Of course, that doesn't account for the fact that the Cubs do significantly better in TV ratings...but Sox fans don't pay attention to facts anyway.

The biggest addition might not get up here until after the AAA playoffs. This is when Koyie Hill gets the call-up to add 5 mph to the pitching staff's fastballs. That's "Serious" music to my ears. Dr. Joseph, I keep think of Koyie after seeing Z go through a rough slump recently. I remember he caught Z the next game after the Barret incident and worked off of Z fastballs for most of the game. Z had an excellent game, but recently I haven't noticed him hitting anywhere near mid 90s as much or consistently as last year. Your thoughts...

H Rod: the Koyie Hill isn't quite the same as what we saw last June-July. Yet, he's a medical miracle that he's catching at all at this point. Here's the link from Scout.com (hope you can read it as I think it's a subscription site) http://cubs.scout.com/2/778025.html Last October, Hill accidently severed the pinkie and ring fingers from his right hand with a table saw... The blade completely cut off the pinkie finger on his right hand, and left the ring finger hanging on by the skin near the base of the joint. It also cut deeply into the middle knuckle of Hill’s middle finger and lacerated his thumb. ...the rest of the story details his return to AAA, so a call-up should be quite an emotional story for Hill. I expect we will see him in Sept. As for Z...whatever is going on is probably something with his mechanics but he goes thru funky periods of badness and pulls out of them just as mysteriously. I doubt it has to do with who is catching him as Soto seems to know what he's doing (he's rarely criticized for game calling ability). Blanco similarly is considered to be a good at calling a game. Here at TCR, Koyie was attributed with magical abilities in handling the pitching staff last year...hence the +mph fastball reference. His inability to hit a lick forced the Jason Kendall trade although Soto arrived on the scene for good in his September callup and as they say...the rest is history.

It would be no big deal for the Cubs to recall Pie, Hoffpauir, Wuertz, and Hart, and select K. Hill right at the start of September, if they feel the additions would be of benefit (and they quite possibly could, too, especially in an extended extra innning game where a team can run out of position players and/or pitchers).

While the AAA Iowa Cubs are in the PCL playoffs and are guaranteed to be playing at least until September 6th (if not beyond), AA Tennessee is out of contention for the Southern League playoffs, and with the Tennessee regular season ending next Monday, the Cubs could very easily promote the four Tennessee players who spent time at Iowa previously this season (CF Sam Fuld, 1B-LF-RF Jake Fox, RHRP Dumas Garcia, and RHRP Gregory Reinhard) to Iowa on Tuesday (the PCL playoffs start on Wednesday) to replace Pie, Hoffpauir, Wuertz, and Hart, plus Tennessee catchers Chris Robinson (who played for Team Canada in the Olympics), Mark Reed, or Welington Castillo could replace K. Hill on the Iowa roster and back-up Tony Richie.

BTW, besides Iowa, the only other Cubs minor league team with a legitimate shot at making its league playoffs is the Daytona Cubs (Florida State League).

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • 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.