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, and eight players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, four players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-28-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Richard Lovelady
Hector Neris 
Daniel Palencia 
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
* Matt Mervis
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Pete Crow-Armstrong 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 8 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2
* Cody Bellinger, OF  
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 4
Kyle Hendricks, P 
* Drew Smyly, P 
* Justin Steele, P
* Jordan Wicks, P    

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Fragile (or not)

Submitted by Dr. Joseph Hecht on

Happy 65th Birthday Lou Piniella!

I put together some historical perspecitve on how solid or fragile things can be now that the 2008 Cubs are 83-50 (+33) and have the best record in baseball.

The 1984 Cubs finished in first place at 96-65 (+31) and their high water mark was 90-58 (+32) on Sept. 15th.

Go, Dernier, Sandberg and Sutcliffe, Go.

They lost in the NLCS to San Diego, 3-2.
----------------------------

The 1969 Cubs won their 5th in a row and were 84-52 (+32) on Sept 2nd. They had just beaten the Cincy Reds after an 8-2 win, still holding  a 5 game lead over the Mets.

This was the high water mark for the season.
Go Williams, Santo and Banks, Go.

They proceeded to lose 8 in a row and 11-12.
They became one of the most remembered teams not to go to postseason competition.
-----------------------------

The last time the Cubs had a team that was above +33 games over .500 was 1945.
The 1945 Cubs were 83-50 on Sept 9th. They finished in 1st place at 98-56 (+42).

Go Phil Cavaretta and Hank Borowy, Go.

They lost to the Tigers in the WS, 4-3. The franchise' last appearance in the WS.
-----------------------------

The 1935 Cubs finished at 100-54 (+46), they were 83-52 on Sept 7th.
They had a 21 game winning streak in September including winning 21 of their last 23 games.

Go Gabby Hartnet and Charlie Root, Go.

They lost in the WS to the Tigers 4-2.
-----------------------------

The high water mark for the 1932 Cubs was 89-60 (+29) on Sept. 20.

Go Lon Warneke and Kiki Cuyler, Go.

They lost in the WS to the Yankees 4-0.
-----------------------------

The 1918 Cubs were 84-44 (+40) before losing the last game of that season.

Go Hippo Vaughn, Go.

They lost to Babe Ruth's Redsox in the World Series, 4-2.

-----------------------------

The 1910 Cubs were 104-50 (+54) at season end to win the NL pennant.

Go King Cole, Go.

They lost to the Philadelphia A's in the WS, 4-1.

---------------------------

The 1908 Cubs were 99-55 (+44) for the season...including the Merkel tie game.
They were 83-51 on Sept. 13th.

Go Tinker to Evers to Chance, Go.

They beat the Tigers in the World Series, 4-1.
Paradise Lost?
------------------------------

The 1907 Cubs were 106-42 (+64) on Oct. 4th,  at their high water mark with 4 games left in the season.

Go Heinie Zimmerman, Go.

They won the World Series, beating the Tigers 4-0-1.

------------------------------

The 1906 Cubs were 116-36 (+80) at season finish. This is the franchise benchmark and the 116 wins was tied by Lou Piniella's Seattle Mariners in 2001 (116-46) although that team's high mark was "only"  +71.

Go Mordecai Brown, Go.

They lost in the WS, 4-2 to the Chicago junior circuit franchise.

Tags
Cubs history

Comments

Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:35 am

CUBSTER: To be fair to the 1984 Cubs, the team had earned home field advantage due to the record. However, because there were no lights at Wrigley, the Padres got the deciding game 5. It was bullshit, and frankly, the same bullshit that Miserable Dan Uggla has caused the NL this year. As I do believe somewhat in unique "Cubbie Occurances", I have dread that somehow Dan Uggla's fuckups will this year cost the Cubs home field advantage in the World Series, where the team has been pretty much unbeatable.

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Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:55 am

NEAL, et. al.: You guys are right, and my memory gets worse each year. HF advantage was alternating, so would not have made that much difference - but it was unfair. I believe that if you have earned the best record over an entire season in any sport, you deserve the advantage of having the extra potential games in your backyard. Even in the NCAA March Madness, teams are rewarded based on their records, with regional seeding. Only a dickhead like Bud Selig would make an exhibition game mean the decisive factor in the all-important post season for his sport.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:40 pm

I don't mind the HF advantage determined by the all-star game. It wasn't determined by best record before anyway. The all-star game is less arbitrary than altnernating, which is what happened previously. If you give it to the team with the best record, then teams with weak schedules (the Angels, the D-Backs?) have an advantage. If you give it to the league with the best interleague record then the Cubs have to suffer because the Nationals suck. The Cubs sent a shit load of players to the ASG, so they had an opportunity to influence the outcome. Plus, interleague games had made a joke out of the ASG, so I like the fact that they did something.

Submitted by Q-Ball on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:36 am

We did what we were supposed to do in August, which is beat up on the weak (18-6). Now it gets alot tougher, other than 3 at Cincy, it's all .500+ ballclubs.

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:53 am

E-Man: The one important trend I see is that the Cubs have won 13 of their last 14 ROAD games, including Az, Milw and Fla...but even if they friggin' win out...it won't mean a thing when the post-season starts. I do agree though, that Lidge and Uggla should be flogged.

Submitted by John Beasley on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:51 am

First NL teams to 83 wins: 2008: CHC (?); Aug. 27 2007: AZ (lost NLCS) and NYM (collapsed and missed playoffs); Sept. 12 2006: NYM (lost NLCS); Sept. 1 2005: STL (lost NLCS); Aug. 28 2004: STL (lost WS); Aug. 25 2003: ATL (lost NLDS); Aug. 23 2002: AZ (lost NLDS); Aug. 25 2001: HOU (lost NLDS); Sept. 7 BaseballRace.com and Baseball-Reference.com Just looking at the decade, does that mean we only have a 1 in 8 chance of a pennant?

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Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:59 am

Hmmm...compare our three top starters w/the staffs of the above. Post Season is about pitching. If you have the time, it'd be great to see comparisons. As I have said all year, the only team that gives me pause for thought is the Phillies in the NL.

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Submitted by Q-Ball on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:43 pm

I couldn't agree more, the postseason is about shut-down pitching, specifically the top 3 starters and top 3 bullpen guys on the staff. By that measure, the Phillies though don't scare me. Beyond Hamels and Lidge, and maybe Durbin, they don't have the muscle I don't think. The teams that scare me are the Brewers, because that's Sheets and Sabathia 4 times in a 7-game series, and Arizona, because Brandon Webb is money. Are we built for the playoffs? If our pitching is basically Good Z, Demp, Harden, Marmol, Shark, Wood, I like our chances.......

[ ]

Submitted by Ryno on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:08 pm

'08 Cubs are much better equipped for the playoffs than '07 Cubs, imo. Not that '07 Cubs were bad or anything, but they were going to need to hit a hot streak for the playoffs. Instead they hit a cold streak. I think the '08 class will be a little bit more immune to a cold streak.

Submitted by O.Julius on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:16 pm

You know what's a real kick in the balls? Linking to a Sting video at work. I'd rather be RickRolled.

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:30 pm

Later in the evening... I'm an orthopod, not a urologist. I probably better wear a cup. Maybe it was a reference to Nuts on Clark?

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:22 pm

I finally saw the highlights from last night's Cards-Brewers game - Villanueva really pissed off Pujols mightely with all of his jawing. That was just plain stupid. Pujols even said after that he "woke up a sleeping giant". They ended up scoring the next inning to win the game.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:44 pm

Well if the Cardinals are sleep walking through games agianst the team they're chasing for the wild card slot, they probably deserve to be laughed at. Sort of reminds me of the time when Bonds said that Zambrano would learn respect. Barry, he's still waiting for his lesson.

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Submitted by WISCGRAD on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:58 pm

Well, this was Villaneuva walking off the mound after striking out a batter with the bases loaded. So the Cardinals weren't sleep walking, they were in the midst of a rally that came up short. Afterwards, Villaneuva looked right at the Cardinals dugout, threw both hands up in the air, held them up there, said something, punded his chest with both hands, said something else, etc. All while looking at, talking to, and walking towards by the Cardinals on his way off the field. Pujols walked from the on-deck circle towards him and kept telling him to shut the fuck up (easy to read his lips on sportscenter) and the home plate ump had to get between them and had to yell and Villaneuva to get his ass in the dugout.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:11 pm

More on the Alvarez deal from BP (can read a bit if a non-subscriber) http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8004 I hope that the Pirates can find a way to sue and beat Boras. If I were an MLB team I simply wouldn't deal with him. The only possible exception I would make is if I had the #1 overall pick. Otherwise there's just too little difference between a Boras and a non-Boras client to deal with the headache.

Submitted by Tito on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:39 pm

Prior hit Bonds, I think on his mega-elbow pad, and Bonds jawed at him. Z, I think, got Baroid on a weak liner back to the mound, then pumped his fist and yelled. I was in favor of both. Sorry if this has already been covered.

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Submitted by jacos on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:21 pm

I remember Wood got Bonds to swing on a strike three but to appeal at third and ump called it a check swing this was at Pac Bell. Next pitch Bonds either double or homered and Wood got the ball back and you can see Wood looking at the third base ump and said "Fuck You". And I do remember Prior not backing down to Bonds when he jawed at him.

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Submitted by crunch on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:19 pm

yeesh. when jay m. finally dies the sun-times are gonna take a trip to his grave to drink 40s and piss on his corpse after they dig it up. not often a head writer with constant national exposure leaves and a paper goes head over heels to make damn sure they stick it to him publicly. those "fan reactions"...wow...yeah i "get it"...but printing a whole list of them that's pretty much nothing but negative...wow.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:16 pm

to Daytona...suppose to start tonight. Clearly a move to give him some experience in a more high pressure environment. Daytona is a half game up in the 2nd half standings with 5 to play. The last four against the team trailing them..Jupiter.

after walking 9 batters in his first 2.2 IP. He's "only" walked 9 in the next 13.2 IP. Baby steps...

He did have 16 K's in 16.1 IP.

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Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:21 pm

Jay Jackson still pitching well in Daytona. 21 K's through 17 IP with a 1.58 ERA and 0 HR's. He's walked a few more folks and has 7 with Daytona.

Between Boise, Peoria and Daytona, he's thrown 50 IP with 72 K's, 13 BB's and 4 HR's with a 2.88 ERA.

 

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:25 pm

had no idea the pitching matchup was Hamels vs Dempster tonight. Sweet.

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Submitted by crunch on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:26 pm

that's the thing...all i see differently is maybe a few inches on his downstride while landing. he's still got pretty much the same swing unless im missing something..right down to the leg kick and opening up his view "stepping away" from the pitch on his swing. got a friend who's a little more adamant that he's not doing anything differently, but fuku's got so much unorthodox movement in his swing i dunno if im missing something. -edit- btw, i dont have the numbers so it could all "blow up" on inspection... nonetheless... the guy seems to really feast on crapballers...and a righty with a good slider is murder to him. be interesting to see if he starts tonite vs. hamels. hamels is kinda vulnerable vs. lefties with his slider thing. he's always got his curve, his fastball is *meh*, but taking away his slider pretty much takes him down to 2 pitches vs. lefties.

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Submitted by big_lowitzki on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:40 pm

that's the thing...all i see differently is maybe a few inches on his downstride while landing. A few inches could make a big difference. Adjusting your swing or step by a few inches is a big adjustment.

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Submitted by crunch on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:46 pm

he lands really wide, though. those few inches are in his follow though which leaves him well into 3-4' wide. he's still got a lot of weird movement in his swing. its kinda a hybrid of a popular japanese stance where some batters will even go as far as to set up nearly facing the pitcher rather than making it part of their swing. tony bautista had a variation on it if anyone remembers him.

Recent comments

  • Bill (view)

    It is easy to quibble about details, but the major thing I see is that I believe that PCA will return to Iowa when Bellinger comes back, regardless of how well he does until then.

    Mervis will be going down.  He needs consistent playing time, whether to get him ready for the Cubs to bring up, or to improve his trade value.

    Madrigal and Mastrobuone are pretty interchangeable as far as value is concerned.  I doubt that the season will be substantially changed no matter which one is chosen.  Madrigal may win one game with a timely single, while Mastrobuone may win one with a timely home run, but I would expect a wash for the season.

    The pitching staff will be all of the above.  Wesneski, Keagan, Alomonte, et al will remain on the Iowa shuttle whenever someone is temporarily overworked and a new rested arm is needed.  I doubt that will change.

    Right now it looks as if the Cubs are performing at the upper end of their team potential.  But their talent level is nowhere near elite level, and adding one or two players, whether closer or hitter, is not going to bring them up to an elite level, equal to the Dodgers, Braves, or Yankees.  We are going to have to wait another year or two for that, when the PCA, Cassie, Horton, Brown, Alcontara group not only come up, but have a year or two experience behind them.  And of that group, Horton and Brown are the only ones that can really make an immense difference.  

    One elite pitcher is much more valuable than one elite hitter.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    18-11 and gave a way a "few". Leading the division on April 30th
    So, I'm going to pose a question based on the idea of the injured players coming back and the roster appearing stable. 
    => Steele-Taillon-Imanaga-Assad-Wicks-Brown-Wesneski-Keegan-Leiter-Alzolay-Neris are locks. That leaves Almonte-Brewer-Palencia-Little-Smyly-Lovelady for the last three pen spots. Hendricks is out for me.
    => Amaya-Gomes-Busch-Nico-Dansby-Morel-Happ-Belli-Seiya-Tauch-Wisdom-Madrigal are locks.  That means it's PCA-Mervis-Mastro for the last spot. If PCA out performs Mervis and gets routine ABs, I think Jed will keep him up. I still wonder if Mastro is a better option than Madrigal but's probably a waste of time to consider.
    The Question: what are the spots we need to "add" ? 8th/9th Inning Bullpen spot, right?
    If PCA can hit, I think our best lineup is Belli at 1B, PCA in CF and Busch at DH. Tauch seems to hit better when he's a fielder and not a DH. Maybe Tauch in CF. But Belli is certainly our best 1B defender !!
    So, who can we add for late Bullpen help?
    The dream is Clase from Clev, but they're winning so he isn't going anywhere.
    Mason Miller from A's, but he'd cost a fortune.
    How about Kopech from the Southsiders? He hits FAgency in 1.5 yrs. He turned 28 today.
    Thoughts?
     

  • Charlie (view)

    Well, game 29 on the year was a hell of a game. That felt like a throwback, too. I had a feeling Morel had a shot at catching up to that fastball.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil,

    Any thoughts/details on Carico and/or JP Wheat?

  • crunch (view)

    MIL loses!

    cubs finally get to sole control of 1st place in the central.

  • crunch (view)

    MIL out here stealing 3rd with 1 out and down by 1 in the bottom 9th.

    it worked.  this MIL team is annoyingly fun to watch so far this year...

  • crunch (view)

    it took him 24 pitches, 2 walks, 2 Ks...but he got it done.  woo.

  • azbobbop (view)

    Full pack!

  • crunch (view)

    neris still doesn't have his command/control...

    i don't expect it to dog him all season, much like i don't expect alzolay to be a HR machine.

    i'll take alzolay over neris to close out a game, though...over leiter, too.

  • crunch (view)

    MOREL HR!  his first homer in like, 3 years or something...or feels like it.

    top of the 9th, 2 run shot off f'n diaz to break the tie.

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