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

Home Run Howry Returns to Cubs

UPDATE: Apparently CSN Chicago jumped the gun on that one as Sullivan is saying that nothing has been agreed upon, although the Cubs are interested in bringing Howry into the bullpen fold.


It appears that Carlos Zambrano's return to the rotation can be partially credited to the return of Bob Howry to the Cubs. He'll join the team this weekend after being released by the Diamondbacks earlier in the week.  Howry was 1-0 with the Diamondbacks and that's where the good news ends. He also had a 10.69 ERA in 14 IP, 1.674 WHIP, struck out 6, walked 6 and I guess this isn't a typo, but gave up 6 home runs in those 14 IP.  Howry did have a decent season with the Giants last year with a 3.39 ERA albeit a 2-6 record to follow up the 5.35 ERA he put up with the Cubs in 2008. If Fangraphs data can be trusted, his fastball is averaging 89.4 mph, down about 2-3 miles from where he's been most of his career.

Speaking of Z, he'll throw a 60-70 pitch simulated game on Monday and he may have found his spot in the rotation after tonight. Sloth was pitching a gem against the Phillies before a line drive knocked him out of the game hitting his bare pitching hand. Grab-Ass came in to finish the 7th inning and they head to the bottom of the 8th, up 2-0 and looking for their 4th straight win.

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Of course I have. I just would have never thought to do a image search for the term "holy macaroni", much less expect that there would be a picture that could adequately convey that idea effectively. Cubster seems to come up with surreal visuals (video or pictorial) that address an incredible array of topics we discuss here at TCR. It's a talent that deserves commendation, not trivialization. Anyone can type in a Google image search. Few have the vision to make it yield so much.

sounds like a play theriot might [wink, wink] not have made...howry? really? don't you wish you were in a fantasy league w/ hendry?

Actually, I thought Tim Stoddard looked pretty good in the booth with Len and Bob the other day; why not sign him?

Anyone know the single season record for K's per inning pitched? And, anybody know what Marmol is on pace for? Seems like about 2 per inning.

via ye olde world o' roto: "Kerry Wood suffered a massive implosion on Wednesday night, blowing a save and giving up five earned runs while getting just one out against the Royals. Wood tossed his glove into the stands as he was booed off the field." wow.

So is this actually confirmed anywhere? Len and Bob reported on the air during the game that the team explicitly denied the reports that a deal had been reached with Howry, and I don't see it reported anywhere else. Still annoyed at watching Howry get rocked down the stretch in 2008 while seeing Eyre help the Phillies get to the World Series

“If it happens, it would give us some experience in our bullpen from the right side,” manager Lou Piniella said after Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. “I’m not saying anything’s going to happen. I’m saying when we had him before he was a rock in the clubhouse. He was great with the younger pitchers.”
sounds like Kaplan is closer to the truth than Sullivan, probably just waiting for a physical and medical reports.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Oh goody, a clubhouse chemistry move. What could possibly go wrong with that? But no, I see the need. Young pitchers like Russell and Marshall have clearly been the problem, and it's not like the Cubs have anybody like Greg Maddux around to lend them a word of advice. Can he also be a rock with veteran pitchers? Can he hit Grabow with a rock? /had my Sarcasm Wheaties this morning

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I'm still annoyed at 2003 when Beck had 20 saves and a 1.78 ERA in 35 IP for the Padres after leaving his Des Moines trailer, while we watched guys like Afonseca and Veres suck it up on a regular basis. Maybe Beck improves the bullpen down the stretch, maybe the starters don't throw so many pitches in August and September, maybe the playoffs turn out differently. We will never know. I'm generally a fan of Hendry, but seeing bullpen guys like Beck, and Eyre, and Wuertz get away, while he continually signs guys like Grabow (and maybe now Howry) irks me.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

So by that logic, GMs with high payroll's can never be good at the their jobs? That makes no sense. Also, this year and last year the Cubs were third in payroll, but in previous years they were 8th, 8th, 7th, 8th, 6th, and 11th. You can find all of those rankings here: http://www.stevetheump.com/Payrolls.htm#2003payroll Take a look a many of the teams with higher payrolls than the Cubs. A lot of top 10 payroll teams suck. This should prove to you that even with a high payroll, the GM has to know what he is doing. Hell, the team ranked 2nd the last two years behind the Yankees is the Mets! Also, you can find all of Jim Hendry's signings and trades here, with my commentary below them: http://wiklifield.thecubreporter.com/Jim_Hendry_Transactions The vast majority of the time he unloaded veterans at the right moment. Gained prospects who developed while trading away Cub prospects who did not. And his gambles like signing Ryan Dempster paid off. Yes, he has screwed up a bunch of times, sometimes royally, that's to be sure. But on the balance, I think he has done a pretty good job. You are, of course, free to disagree with me.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

I guess I think it is more than just the Ramirez-Lofton and Karros-Grudzielanek trades. See Choi for Lee for example. On that page I linked to you can see dozens of trades in which the Cubs gave up nothing and got something, even if it was just a bench bat or a reliever in return. He comes out ahead way more times than not. Also, there were 28 other teams who could have picked up Ramirez then if it was so easy, but no one else did.

[ ]

In reply to by Craig A.

It's a wiki article, so I was hoping others would add to and update it when I put it up last year! It's also not formatted too well. Feel free to make any changes. But I thought it would be nice to have a record of transactions all in one place. I also hate when looking at transaction lists that I have to go to baseball reference to look up the stats to see things like "how did he do after getting traded away." So I tried to put those types of things in there as well.

Happy to pick up a game on the Cards and Reds. More disappointed that we're just a half-game ahead of a team with a -100 run differential.

Anyone else have an ominous feeling about today's game? I think this is gonna be one of those throwaway games that Lou pulls, where he blatantly forgets that even games on getaway day count. I see Hill at C, Baker at 3rd, Fonty at 2nd, Colvin in LF, Nady at first... The regulars will be on the bus by the 7th inning...

Lineup per Muskat... Fukudome, Theriot, DLee, Byrd, Soriano, Fontenot (3B), Castro, Hill, Dempster ARam held out due to a sore thumb (per Sullivan tweet) Marshall will be in closer role today, giving Marmol and Z day off (also Sullivan)

TO THE PEN!!! that was some dumb pitching...3-0 on Rollins with first base open and he lays it down the middle.

6th inning Another throw by Marlon Byrd that goes wide right of target allowing a runner to take second. The Chicago media doesn't seem to notice his wildly innacurate arm, but believe me, opposing team broadcasters do.

the cubs are like the car in front of you in traffic; you must follow @ a safe & sure distance...monitoring on a daily basis, the # of failures to score w/ 1&3; no outs, etc. really lead to madness - didn't they do the same thing in the 1st inning last night? so much for the 'streak' -

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5202119 Re: if Lou will finish the year with the Cubs...
"As the owner I don't guarantee anything, it's Jim's decision. (edit) I think [Piniella finishing the season] is what to expect. The fact is we like Lou, we support Lou. He's done very well for this team. He wants to win. He's the kind of guy you want leading your team. The players respect him and he's doing a good job.""
~snip~
"I think everyone has been very impressed with [Sandberg's] performance as a manager," Ricketts said. "He's done really well. That kind of decision is in Jim's court. You hire a general manager, you make him accountable for what happens on the field. To try to take that decision away or to try to control it kind of undermines the guy you are supposed to support.
"When that discussion comes up, we'll be in the room and see what the reasoning is behind any decision. Ultimately, you've got a guy you've made accountable for winning, and you can't overrule him and then get mad at him for not winning. We've got a guy we trust who has put together some pretty good teams over the years, and we're going to back him."

loads the bases with 0 outs in the 9th and a 2-run lead -edit- and coughs up 3 runs for the loss

The stats look good so far overall, but would like to see more results - steping up more to the challenge as the team's defacto staff ace. 4 runs in 6 IPs not getting it done to keep the team hot.

Levine reporting Howry signing tomorrow, will be in Texas.

Is Lou too feeble to remember to give Stevie Grabow the Scott Eyre or Will Oh-no-Man doghouse treatment? I'm hating the fact that Lou continues to use Grabs as a one inning guy, he needs relegation to blowout games or one batter Loogy at most. Based on Iowa performances, I'm excited to see Thomas Diamond and Andrew Cashner get their chance in the bullpen at Wrigley...Shark and Gray still sucking with the I-Cubs (which probably is a good thing, consider them to have blown their chances this season).

Holy balls, Howry? That doesn't make much sense. Even if the Cubs were still in this thing (and after going 1-5 to the Pirates, how can you seriously still consider yourself "in it"?), even if, how does Howry help? I'm not as much as a Howry hater as some around here, but still, this move doesn't make sense to me.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Submitted by QuietMan on Fri, 05/21/2010 - 1:35pm. Patton's number don't look good this year. Maybe they felt this was a good time to get him off the 40 man and not end up losing him to another team. But I'm no expert like AZ Phil. ============================================= QUIET MAN: I believe that's exactly what the Cubs werre thinking, because it would have been very easy to open up a roster slot for Bob Howry by simply transferring Angel Gznman to the 60-day DL. But having had a terrible Spring Training and Minor League Camp, then getting demoted all the way down to Daytona, and then even struggling there, Patton's value is pretty low right now, and if the Cubs want to get him through waivers, now would probably be a good time to try it.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

our berg was drafted in 03 and is from wisconsin. that said...check this out from 05 “When I heard I would not be a good candidate for LASIK, I was disappointed,” said Berg, who is in Tampa at the Yankees’ spring training facility. “However, I was an excellent candidate for an implantable contact lens and Theda Clark and Dr. Vrabec have more experience than just about anyone.” dude has implanted contact lenses.

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.